NationStates Jolt Archive

I know there is at least one very informed and intelligent Muslim in General, although I can't recall your name. (Sorry about that.)

I was hoping you could explain the tradition and practice of muta'a to me. I ran across an article in USA Today that briefly described the practice, but I can't be sure that it isn't incomplete or biased. I would appreciate it very much if you could give me a more description of the practice, particularly from a Western and Islamic point of view.

Thank you.

Article I saw:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2005-05-04-pleasure-marriage_x.htm

Somebody help me out here. Is it Keruvalia that I need to talk to? Am I finally remembering the right name?

Somebody help me out here. Is it Keruvalia that I need to talk to? Am I finally remembering the right name?
Yeah, Keruvalia's the guy to ask.

The ezdevaj-i-muwaqat or muta'a was established to prevent men who would be away from home and family to avoid laying with prostitutes, something strictly forbidden in Islam.

It is a temporary marriage, arranged and agreed upon in duration and dowry by the husband and his permanent wife. If the wife, however, says no muta'a, then NO MUTA'A! The words of Qur'an always take authority over any hadith or sunnah and Qur'an expressly forbids a man to marry a second woman without the consent of the first.

However, muta'a is Hadith. There is no basis in Qur'an for temporary marriages and I, personally, find the practice detestable and it should be abolished by all Muslims just as the second Caliph, Omar, abolished it way back in the day.

This sort of practice, as anything from the Hadith, Sunnah, various fatwahs, and even the tin talaq - practiced in many Islamic countries even though it has no basis in Qur'an - can be overridden by Qur'an 2:256 "Let there be no compulsion in religion".

In the end, people must decide for themselves that which is pleasing to Allah. Allah gave us everything we need: Torah, the teachings of Isa (Jesus), and the Holy Qur'an with which we can glean that which is pleasing.

If anything, and I mean *anything*, contradicts or is not expressly enjoined within the holy words of the Almighty - and that "anything" includes the weak ahadith of muta'a - then all Believers (Muslim, Jew, Christian, et al) should blow it off as unimportant. 2:256 continues by saying "Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects Evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks." In the case of muta'a, search your gut reaction, ask yourself, "Is this right?". No, it is not. Truth has stood out clearly from Error.

Thank you for bringing this story to my attention, though. About a month ago I began a letter writing campaign to various clerics, imams, mullahs, etc concerning Islamic Reformation and a return to Qur'an. I shall include muta'a in future letters.

Sala'am

Edit: Oh ... and the Ulema has said that muta'a is hara'am (forbidden). It is mainly a shi'ite practice and very rare among world Muslims. Though that it happens at all is an affront to Islamic marriage.

Wow ... someone asked a question, it was answered, and that was the end of that. I am duly impressed! :D