The Controversy of the Hadith Interpretation of Early Marriag ...
Abstract
The Muslim community interprets the hadith differently, leading to the early or young age marriage controversy. This study aims to map the arguments of acceptance and rejection of young marriage among Muslims derived from the interpretation of hadith on young marriage. This qualitative research employed primary data sources from anti-dating millennial community social media and the interpretation of ulema on online media. The study results showed that the anti-dating movement campaigned for young marriage by partially quoting hadiths, which distorted religious texts, resulting in misreading, misinterpretation, and misquotation of the Prophet’s hadiths. Based on the results of this understanding, millennial Muslims believe that young marriage avoids adultery to increase piety. In contrast, progressive Islamic scholars (ulema) reject young marriage by citing the hadiths on marriage comprehensively and by considering the negative impact of young marriage and the purpose of marriage in Islam. The young marriage controversy is based on different methods of understanding hadith, different sources of knowledge about hadith, different marital experiences of young marriage partners, and different environments that influence young marriage. The reinterpretation of the hadiths that legitimate young marriage, which is influenced by patriarchal ideology, is absolutely necessary to follow the principles and values of Islamic teachings that are humanist, inclusive, and egalitarian.