We must outlaw child marriage

The young girl would be ignorant of her legal rights about property and could be induced by the old man to forget about those rights.

She would not have any locus standi in law and society. She would be mere chattel like other household properties and considered to possess no soul.

She would be bound in marriage not for conjugal love and happiness but for satisfaction of lust and passion and also for her husband’s caprice.

The Quran says that women (not a child) possess intellect, wisdom and a soul (Q.4:1).

The ideal wifehood in Islam is love and affection, not servitude and subordination. A child cannot prevent her husband from falling into slippery grounds of immorality.

Prophet Muhammad was married at 25 years to his wife who was 40 years. It is imperative to understand that we live in the 21st century where child marriage must be outlawed.

AHAMAD KHAYYAM Curepe