Even the english version of sahih albukhari and sahih muslim have translated the word muta alnisato temporary marriage,and they also translated istimtaato marrying temporarily, and the traditions in that section which is a section in the chapter of marriage, gives the total picture of. Muhammad and nikah almutah temporary marriage as a form of prostitution the prophet of islam allowed his followers to practice a form of prostitution called nikah almutah. Oct, 2011 the adherents of sunni islam have been vocal in criticizing the shia practice of temporary marriage called muttah. Shia islam allows a man and woman to marry for a fixed period of time, ranging from an hour to a century. The main difference is that the temporary marriage longs only for a specified period of time, and man and woman will become stranger to each other after the expiration date without divorce. To combat the problem of premarital sex in iran, leaders are reinstituting the practice of muta, or temporary marriage, in accordance with the teachings of muhammad. But the way i see it, my faith is rooted in the wisdom of god and that of his messenger.
An increasing number of muslims in britain are reviving the islamic practice of temporary marriage, according to a recent bbc television documentary focusing on the taboo subject. Irans interior minister, mostafa pourmohammadi, has started promoting temporary marriage as a solution to the countrys social problems. The temporary bride by jennifer klinec was wonderful. Permanent marriage muta marriage or temporary marriage a shia of the male sex may contract a muta marriage with a woman professing the muslim, christian or jewish religion, or even with a woman who is a fireworshiper. Temporary marriage in shii iran contemporary issues in the middle east. Islamic state jihadis engaged in temporary marriage with nonmuslim sex slaves jul 19, 2019 9. The temporary marriage, or nikah mutah, is an ancient islamic. He told me that it was a type of temporary marriage, which was halal even in sunni books.
You will have to have some money for it and then find someone who is willing to do this with you. But many fewer are aware of its rough equivalent in the sunni world, namely the misyar, or travelers marriage with increasing frankness, however, the englishlanguage. In an unusual tradition, in iran you can specify the length of your marriage, from a few minutes to 99 years. Betwa sharma talks to one young american shiite whos on his 25th i do. Oct 19, 2010 the practice of temporary marriage has long been common in shiite muslim communities, especially in iran. According to boston university professor shala haeri, in her book law of desire. Mutah or temporary marriageappendix from the book shia by allamah tabatabai and sayyed hossein nasr. The latter view has defenders in iran as well as other muslim countries. The 82page report, issued by irans parliamentary research branch, is alarmed at the findings and recommends that the government push for the use of temporary marriages that may last no longer then the tryst itself. The marriage of mutah from the book questions on jurisprudence masail fiqhiyya by abd alhusayn. Temporary marriage is hence practised today only in shia communities, mainly in iran and occasionally also in iraq. Oxford encyclopedia of modern islamic world to differentiate between marriage nikah and mutah. Temporary marriage in islam part 1 a shiite encyclopedia.
Jennifer klinec went to iran to learn about persian food and ended up. But the contract can just be verbal, and a cleric though often. Muhammad and nikah almutah temporary marriage as a form. It is normal to be confused by topics such as these. Jul 19, 2019 islamic state jihadis engaged in temporary marriage with nonmuslim sex slaves jul 19, 2019 9. Revisiting muhammads permitting a form of prostitution known as muta. Feminist political scientist condemns temporary marriage as exploitation. The requirement for a muslim marriage is so the marriage will be legally recognized in iran, and for that you will be required to convert to islam which can be done in approximately 15 minutes. But many fewer are aware of its rough equivalent in the sunni world, namely the misyar, or travelers marriage. Perhaps for the first time in the history of islam, in clear, deliberate, and. Travel to iran hitchhiking, tinder and a 30day marriage.
Although frowned upon by society, it today constitutes a loophole in the often rigid law, which young people often take advantage of. I was a temporary bride life and style the guardian. Temporary pleasure marriages offer unwed muslims a way around the islamic rule against premarital sex. The prophet said, if a man invites his wife to sleep. Iran is a country where rules are fluid, where people of all classes and. Iranian women fight controversial polygamy bill amnesty. In fact, understanding of reasons for agreement and disagreement regarding temporary marriage, can provide a more accurate and expertise reference for reading possible in the muslim world. A mutaa marriage is subject to a contract that specifies its length and the amount of compensation given to the temporary wife. In 2017 in iran, females comprised just 19% of the paid workforce with seven percent growth since 1990. According to islamic law albukhari 48514852, in the book of marriage. Let each one of you clothe the other with righteousness. As if dating werent hard enough, imagine if you could get jailed or whipped for having a boyfriend. Syrian female refugees aged 14 and 15 who fled their country to jordan and iraq are being forced into pleasure marriages nikah almutah.
Mar 06, 2012 discrimination in iran s temporary marriage law goes unchecked iran s sigheh law gives men right to have as many sexual partners as they wish but discriminates against women fazel hawramy. The films female director, sudabeh morterzai, gives viewers a rare insight into a very complex society. The temporary marriage, or nikah mutah, is an ancient islamic practice that unites man and woman as husband and wife for a limited. Jun 02, 2007 iran s interior minister, mostafa pourmohammadi, has started promoting temporary marriage as a solution to the countrys social problems. It is an exploration of the culture of a place that most of us will know very, very little about iran. Two decades later, irans shiite clerics continue to endorse temporary marriage as a sexual escape valve. However, given this definition, there are two distinct types of marriage currently practised in iran. What is the concept of temporary marriage in islam. It is something akin to a vegas marriage for good muslims. Oct 04, 2000 temporary marriage is one of oddest loopholes in islamic system in iran, where people of all classes and degrees of religiosity pride selves on finding loopholes. This custom is practiced among the shiites of iran and iraq, although not a part of quranic teachings. One misconception regarding temporary marriage is that some people think that the woman engaged in temporary marriage can have contract every other hour. Permanent marriage muta marriage or temporary marriage.
The recent statement of a saudi arabian woman who asks why women. A shia of the male sex may contract a muta marriage with a woman professing the muslim, christian or jewish religion, or even with a woman who is a fireworshiper, but not with a woman following any other religion. The religious beliefs and practices of shiahs differentiate and segregate them from the entire muslim ummah. If a marriage is temporary therefore the family this kind of marriage upholds is also temporary. The union can last for a few hours, days, months or years and when the. Temporary marriage and the economy of pleasure tehran bureau. May, 20 media caption sara explains why she wanted a temporary marriage.
The world economic forums 2017 global gender gap report ranked iran 140 out of 144 countries for gender parity. Therefore, the existence of the childrens total personality is a hoax. Istamtaa means contracting temporary marriage sahih muslim, english version, v2, chapter dxli titled. Originally, sighe in iran was geared toward widows. In a country where most marriages are for life and all divorces are a scandal, the idea of the contract or temporary marriage is beginning to catch on. Temporary marriage in iran facts culture same sex people. Is irans mullahbacked system of temporary marriage a godsend for the. Aug 21, 2014 the 82page report, issued by irans parliamentary research branch, is alarmed at the findings and recommends that the government push for the use of temporary marriages that may last no longer then the tryst itself. Sunni variations on the theme are also on the rise throughout the middle east. Sep 11, 2012 syrian female refugees aged 14 and 15 who fled their country to jordan and iraq are being forced into pleasure marriages nikah almutah a preislamic custom allowing men to marry for a. A man can also have any number of temporary marriages or sigheh, as they are known. Temporary marriage is one of oddest loopholes in islamic system in iran, where.
Will the author of this book please kindly tell me how i can convince myself to embrace islam and the iranian traditions and thinking if many put justice to polygamy. Temporary marriage in shii iran, nika mutah is a preislamic tradition of arabia still practiced by a minority. In tehran, you can choose a marriage that lasts for three. Mutta marriage or temporary marriage contract in shia islam.
Discrimination in irans temporary marriage law goes unchecked irans sigheh law gives men right to have as many sexual partners as. Temporary marriage is one of oddest loopholes in islamic system in iran, where people of all classes and degrees of religiosity pride selves on finding loopholes. Fadel is associate professor at the faculty of law, which he joined in january 2006. But in the book law of desire, shahla haeri, a boston university. I thought i would spend the whole day cooking with women in. Dec 18, 2010 muta marriage is valid type of marriage in shia jurisprudence. Sigheh has proven to be a successful tourist attraction for the muslim world. In an interview with the bbc, khola hasan, a sunni muslim and spokesperson for the islamic sharia council of britain, says temporary marriage is actually forbidden by sharia law.
The practice of temporary marriage has long been common in shiite muslim communities, especially in iran. Moreover, who could we find better that jabir ibn abdillah alansari ra, the great companion of the prophet, who according to sahih muslim said. My favourite kind of writing, beautiful detailed and evocative descriptions of places, people and food. The adherents of sunni islam have been vocal in criticizing the shia practice of temporary marriage called muttah. Roya kashefi of the association of iranian researchers works closely with womens rights activists in iran. In muhammads time, a muslim could pay a woman for temporary marriage, which would last a few hours, days, weeks, or months depending on the agreement. Nonmuslim man and muslim woman traveling together in iran. In iran, womens rights are limited compared with those in most developed nations.
I dont know the rules for traveling as a couple in iran with an iranian woman so i. Islamic state jihadis engaged in temporary marriage with. Inside the islamic republic, sigheh marriages are controversial. The teenager whos been married too many times to count. Aug 21, 2009 as if dating werent hard enough, imagine if you could get jailed or whipped for having a boyfriend. Jan 01, 2016 getting into a mutah relationship is actually not that easy. A few rules for a happy marriage the muslim marriage guide. The books of hadith and fiqh written by shiah scholars define mutah as a temporary marriage contracted for a fixed period in return for a compensation. The belief in the sanctity and virtues of mutah is an integral part of the shiah faith. The shiahs have specific beliefs about the attributes of allah, the attributes of allahs messengers, the position and mission of prophet muhammad pbuh, and the reliability of the. When i came back to mazarisharif, i continued,a he says.
It is a temporary marriage upon agreement of the two parties. Mar 20, 20 according to boston university professor shala haeri, in her book law of desire. Jun 22, 2003 the shiite institution of muta or sighe temporary marriage is quite well known, being the subject of an 1989 englishlanguage book by shahla haeri, law of desire. A leading islamic scholar and an adviser at the saudi royal court, abdullah muhammad almutlaq, has given muslim women the permission to refuse to have sex with their husbands during the coronavirus outbreak. Even the english version of sahih albukhari and sahih muslim have translated the word muta alnisato temporary marriage,and they also translated istimtaato marrying temporarily, and the traditions in that section which is a section in the chapter of marriage, gives the total picture of its meaning. Bbc news middle east iran talks up temporary marriages. The idea is that rather than having an affair, a man who wants to be sexually involved. Temporary marriage that is permitted in some socalled muslim societies is no more than a thinlyveiled term for prostitution which is strongly condemned by god in the quran. Temporary marriage in iran to combat the problem of premarital sex in iran, leaders are reinstituting the practice of muta, or temporary marriage, in accordance with the teachings of muhammad. Osama abdallah has produced two audio files where he tries to refute my charge against nadir ahmad bottom of this page that muta in islam is nothing more than a form of prostitution. But a shia woman may not contract muta marriage with a nonmuslim. An islamic discourse on female sexuality by shahla haeri kjn a cold november day in 1990 the iranian president, hashimi rafsanjani, stunned his huge audience by a speech he delivered as his friday sermon.
At first i didn t believe him, but he used sources such as bukhari and muslim. This form of marriage is a valid part of the shia doctrine and is being followed predominantly in iran and several parts of iraq after the fall of saddam hussain. I personally know of 3 men egyptian who have travelled to iran to. I took his word for it, and before i realized, i was into a lot of trouble. Massoume price, december 2001 i say these words to you, marrying brides and bridegrooms. The phenomenon of temporary marriage in the islamic republic of iran is explored in the documentary in the bazaar of sexes. Temporary marriage in shii iran, nika mutah is a preislamic tradition of. Our study showed that criteria for permanent and temporary marriage differ based on their relations duration and its expectations. A memoir of love and food in iran by jennifer klinec is published by virago. In what countries is nikah mutah temporary marriage legal. A recent frontpage article in a weekly tabloid, world of medicine, about a. Lets talk about mutah, or temporary marriage in islam. May you two enjoy the life of good mind by following the laws of religion. Jun 04, 20 in an interview with the bbc, khola hasan, a sunni muslim and spokesperson for the islamic sharia council of britain, says temporary marriage is actually forbidden by sharia law.
Temporary wives generally face social ostracism, and their children may face difficulties in accessing public services such as education because if the marriage is unregistered, it may be hard for the mother to prove paternity. Getting into a mutah relationship is actually not that easy. Such is the case in iran, where young people are smart, informed, and stylishto wit, the gals. In contrast, the rest of the muslim ummah considers mutah as prostitution.
Misyar temporary marriage in sunni islam daniel pipes. Media caption sara explains why she wanted a temporary marriage. Temporary marriage easily in the top 5 most controversial islamic topics. To be fair, the end of the hadith also seems to suggest that the practice was later forbidden. It does not satisfy my taste for a scholarly book, because it rarely maybe. Four wives, mutah, and maybe even the hijab has got you all twisted. This temporary marriage was a custom amongst eastern countries, as it was also practised by some men at the dawn of islam on their missions trips. If you were a really rich man and also pretty famous, youd probably get a lot of women. But why are young british muslims adopting the practice now.
That is to say, marriage clearly involves the sale of a womans vagina to a man. Temporary marriage and the economy of pleasure tehran. This article was first published on the alborz website on january 9, 2010 in iran, temporary marriage, which was. Mutta marriage or temporary marriage contract in shia. Anonymous in the west, temporary marriage is, basically, a contractual deal between a man and a woman who decide to be married for an agreed period of time varying from one hour to 99 years. Marriage is a sacred relationship designed by god, and involves love and care towards ones spouse 30. The early muslim sources are not consistent on this issue. The shiite institution of muta or sighe temporary marriage is quite well known, being the subject of an 1989 englishlanguage book by shahla haeri, law of desire.