Islam and sexuallity.

[Mystic]

I found the following on the internet and it makes me realize this another teaching of the Quran Muslim scholars heedlessly ignore, and favor hadiths over.

وَابْتَلُوا الْيَتَامَىٰ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغُوا النِّكَاحَ فَإِنْ آنَسْتُمْ مِنْهُمْ رُشْدًا فَادْفَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوهَا إِسْرَافًا وَبِدَارًا أَنْ يَكْبَرُوا ۚ وَمَنْ كَانَ غَنِيًّا فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ ۖ وَمَنْ كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَلْيَأْكُلْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ فَإِذَا دَفَعْتُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فَأَشْهِدُوا عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا

The term used in the above verse, 4:6 is 'balagh-un-Nikah' which means when one is baligh (mature) enough for nikah (marriage).

[Pickthal 4:6] Prove orphans till they reach the marriageable age; then, if ye find them of sound judgment, deliver over unto them their fortune; and devour it not by squandering and in haste lest they should grow up Whoso (of the guardians) is rich, let him abstain generously (from taking of the property of orphans); and whoso is poor let him take thereof in reason (for his guardianship). And when ye deliver up their fortune unto orphans, have (the transaction) witnessed in their presence. Allah sufficeth as a Reckoner.

[Yusufali 4:6] Make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; if then ye find sound judgment in them, release their property to them; but consume it not wastefully, nor in haste against their growing up. If the guardian is well-off, Let him claim no remuneration, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. When ye release their property to them, take witnesses in their presence: But all-sufficient is Allah in taking account.

So it seems obvious that there is an 'age of marriage' and that one is not free to marry at any age, specially during infancy or early childhood. Or at least so it seems, because I know the scholars have different opinion.

Though, one can question what the age of marriage is, I think if we relate the other similar verses to this one, we can get an idea:

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۚ وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا
[Shakir 17:34] And draw not near to the property of the orphan except in a goodly way till he attains his maturity and fulfill the promise; surely (every) promise shall be questioned about.
[Pickthal 17:34] Come not near the wealth of the orphan save with that which is better till he come to strength; and keep the covenant. Lo! of the covenant it will be asked.
[Yusufali 17:34] Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfil (every) engagement, for (every) engagement will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۖ
[Shakir 6:152] And do not approach the property of the orphan except in the best manner until he attains his maturity, and give full measure and weight with justice--
[Yusufali 6:152] And come not nigh to the orphan's property, except to improve it, until he attain the age of full strength; give measure and weight with (full) justice;

Since all three verses are about the same thing, and the terms 'balagh-un-nikah' and 'balagha-ashuddahu' are used to indicate the same time period, which means that the age of marriage = age of maturity/strength. Therefore, I think there is a certain age of marriage in Islam and it is when you're physically ready for marriage. And this applies to both men and women since the orphans discussed in above verses include both.

As we can see, per Quran:

The age of marriage, is the age of maturity/full strength. The word is ashudahu which means at the age of most strength, which suggests it's not even just puberty but when a person reaches their prime in strength.