Temporary Marriage
A Plea from A Muslim Sister
I was fourteen years old and my relationship with my parents was on the edge just like any other teenager. I started to become interested in boys. I felt as if no one understood me, not even my friends. I especially didn t feel pretty with my braces
It all changed when I met him . It was fascinating to know that a college student would care so much about me. He was the most wonderful person. He treated me like a queen, and soon we became the best of friends. I felt I could tell him anything. As our friendship progressed, we talked about different topics including religion. He had different beliefs than me; he was Shia while I was Sunni. We always argued upon the differences. He had a way with making things sound bettter than what they were. Soon I became very confused.
One day he mentioned the idea of Mut’a. He told me that it was a type of temporary marriage, which was halal even in Sunni books. At first I didn t believe him, but he used sources such as Bukhari and Muslim. I took his word for it, and before I realized, I was into a lot of trouble. I was in Mut’a for four years. As time went by, I learnt that I had lost my honor and dignity to someone who had done this to several other girls. Allah helped me open my eyes and realize what I had gotten myself into. By now, I was on the verge of switching beliefs to be a Shia. At this point, I decided to really search for the truth. Since I cannot present the whole research, I have tried to give a very brief idea about Mut’a.
I hope to inform and educate the people about the disease of Mut’a, which is spreading rapidly in the sunni community. It is the goal of certain Shia individuals to do Mut’a with innocent girls, who lack knowledge of religion and experience of life. They convince them with their beliefs, and create confusion in their minds. I beg every sister, brother, father, mother, and friend to take a closer look at their dear ones, and make sure they do not become victims to the concept of Mut’a.
Mut’a is a form of temporary marriage where a man can marry a woman for an agreed amount of time and money(mahr). In Mut’a, the husband is not financially responsible for the wife. There are no set limits in this kind of marriage by the Shias. According Shia beliefs, no witnesses nor a permission of the guardian is needed (the Sunni father does not believe in Mut’a), and there is no limit on the number of Mut’a one can do.
Also, the time period can be as little as one hour to as long as sixty years. In addition, a man who is permanently married can do as many Mut’a as he feels like, even with married women. This is very similar to prostitution indeed
In the history of Islam, The Prophet allowed Mut’a twice in his lifetime. The first time the Prophet allowed it for three days, at the war of Khaiber, and after three days it was made haram . Once Ali argued with a man who believed in Mut’a and told him that the Prophet made Mut’a and the meat of donkey haram on the day of Khaiber (Bukhari vol. 7, pg. 287 and vol. 4 pg. 134). This hadith can also be found in Shia hadith books, which I will mention later. The second time the Prophet allowed it was at the conquest of Mecca, for three days, and then he made it haram again till the day of Judgment (Muslim vol. 4 pg. 133). Notice, the practice of Mut’a was then made haram till the Day of Judgement.This is confirmed with the hadiths in the following books: Imam Ahmed s Musnad vol. 16 pg. 192-193, Muslim vol. 4, pg. 132, Bayhaki vol. 7 pg. 293-294. Since there was a time when Mut’a was halal. Therefore, one can find hadith saying that it was halal. However, the latter hadith, which follows the final order of jurisprudence set by the the Prophet, takes precedence over the former hadith.
Ninety-nine percent of the companions followed this opinion, but there was one percent who believed Mut’a can be performed in extreme case of necessity in the land of war. This one percent is divided into two groups. One says, it is allowed with the Caliph’s permission, and the other says there is no need for the permission . Those who do not believe in Caliph’s permission say that it was Umar who made it haram. Their proof is based upon an opinion by a companion namely Ibn Abbas. People misused this opinion of Ibn Abbas until he clarified himself and said, Wallahi I did not mean what they did! I meant similarly to what Allah meant when he allowed the meat of dead animals and pork to be eaten in extreme necessity. This is referring to the time when people abused the rule of necessity at time of Umar, following the understanding of the one percent. Finally, Umar declared and taught it to be haram when a lady came to Umar complaining about how her husband in Mut’a, who was married, would not take responsibility of the child. He realized how the society was becoming corrupt with similar conditions to adultery. Thus, he had to teach people and make Mut’a haram even in the case of the one percent opinion
The Shia themselves have a hadith narrated by Ali (r.a.a) which states that the Prophet made Mut’a haram on the day of Khaiber (Book of Tahdeeb: vol. 7, pg. 251, rewaya 10). The author states that Ali lied for the purposes of Taqiya. In Book of Istebsar: vol. 3, pg. 142, rewaya 5, there is a declaration by Ali that Mut’a is haram. Again they accuse Ali of lying for Taqiya.
With the given confusion in the books of Shias regarding Mut’a, and it being haram among the sunnis, should really make one think hard before believing that they are doing marriage in a halal way and in the name of Allah.
If Mut’a is not an excuse for satisfying lust, then what is it! It seems to be the easiest solution for adultery. If Mut’a really was to be done in case of need then why is it permissible for a married person to do Mut’a? Also, if one cannot marry due to financial insecurity then how can one be responsible for supporting the child and not be able to support the wife? And how is he going to know if the child is actually his, not someone else’s?
The Shia also use the Qur an, Surah 4 ayah 24, as a reference to support Mut’a. They use this Ayah without consideration of the previous or following verses. The Ayah cannot be looked at alone. An example of this is Surah 107 verse 4 “So woe to the worshipers,” If we look at this Ayah alone we would think Allah is angered by the worshipers, but if we read on it says in verse 5 “who are neglectful of their prayers.” This gives a better understanding of what Allah is telling us. If we read till the end, we will get a better understanding of what Allah is trying to say.
for you Islamabad
I hope we all have this kind of attitude and discuss issues in peace.
What about the ashabs, would they even consider comitting adultery? I really dont think so. If you think thats what mutah is all about, then your mistaken.
