What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding the prohibition of marriage for girls under the age of eighteen?

Question:
Peace be upon you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner says: Some people today call for preventing the marriage of young girls and demand that the minimum age for marriage be set at eighteen years. What is your opinion on this?

Answer:
This is a false statement that has been refuted by the Book, the Sunnah, and scholarly consensus. It is permissible to marry a young girl if it is in her interest and she has reached that stage. There is no specific age limit for a woman's marriage. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married 'A'ishah when she was a girl; he contracted the marriage when she was six years old and consummated it when she was nine, while she was still a child. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: "And marry the unmarried among you." This is a general statement that did not specify an age for marriage, neither for the husband nor for the wife. It did not set a limit, as long as he is a believer and not already married, he may marry to protect her. Their setting of an age limit for marriage is a false statement with no evidence for it. In reality, this is a hindrance to marriage. They want to obstruct marriage, and this is among the things they use to obstruct marriage. Yes.