Al-Mut‘ah (Advantageous Marriage)

“In response to my question before abu Ja’far (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage), he (the Imam) said, ‘It is mentioned in al-Quran, “If you marry them for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) you must pay their dowries. There is no harm if you reach an understanding among yourselves about mahr (the dowry). Allah is All-knowing and All-wise.’”” (4:24)

“I once heard Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying that Ali (a.s.), would say, ‘Had Banu al-Khattab not prohibited al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) before (the beginning of my administration) no one would commit fornication except the wicked ones.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It was revealed as “If you marry them [for an appointed time] for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) you must pay their dowries.” (4:24)’”

“Once ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umayr al-Laythiy came to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and asked, ‘What do you say about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) of women?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah has made it lawful in His book by the tongue of His Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, thus it will remain lawful up to the Day of Judgment.’ He then said, ‘O abu Ja’far, how can someone like you say this, when ‘Umar made it unlawful and prohibited it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Even if he has done so.’ He said, ‘I ask Allah to protect you against a thing that ‘Umar has made unlawful.’ He (the narrator) has said that he (the Imam) then said, ‘So you can stand by the words of your friend but I stand by the words of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and I am prepared for al-Mula‘inah (ask Allah to condemn the party on the side of falsehood) that the word is what the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said; and that falsehood is what your friend has said.’ He (the narrator) has said that ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umayr then said, ‘Will it make you happy that your women, daughters, sisters, daughters of your aunts do?’ He (the narrator) has said that abu Ja‘far (a.s.), when he mentioned his women and daughters of his aunts turned away from him.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is mentioned in al- Quran and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has followed it.’”

“I heard abu Hanifah ask abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous matters). He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are you asking about the two al-Mut‘ah (advantageous matters)? 5 He said, ‘I asked you about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous matters of al-Hajj) and you inform me about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is it true?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah is free of all defects, have you not read the book of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “If you marry them for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) you must pay their dowries. . . .”’ (4:24). Abu Hanifah said, ‘By Allah, it is as if I have never read this verse. 5 ”

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I would marry in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage), I then disliked it and had bad omens about it; then I promised before Allah between the corner of al-Ka 5 bah and the Station of Ibrahim (a.s.), kept a vow upon myself and fasting not to do such marriage again. It became difficult for me, I regretted because of my swearing and I was not able to marry publicly. He (the Imam) said, ‘You promised Allah not to obey Him. By Allah, if you do not obey Him you sin against Him. 555

“Abu Hanifah once asked abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn al-Nu 5 man Sahib al-Taq saying, ‘O abu Ja‘far, what do you say about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage)? Do you think it is lawful? 5 He replied, ‘Yes, it is lawful. 5 He then said, ‘Why then do you not ask your women to go for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) and earn for you? 5 Abu Ja’far said, ‘All kinds of skills are not desirable even if they are lawful, because people have their values and positions which raise their values. However, what do you say O abu Hanifah, about al-Nabidh (wine from dates)? Do you think it is lawful? 5 He replied, ‘Yes, it is lawful. 5 He then said, ‘What prevents you from making your women sit in shops as al-Nabidh sellers to sell al-Nabidh to earn for you? 5 Abu Hanifah said, ‘This is one for one and your share is more effective. 5 He then said, ‘O abu Ja‘far, the verse in which there is “one asking a question asked” (Chapter 70) speaks of unlawfulness of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) and Hadith from the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has come to cancel it. 5 Abu Ja’far said, ‘O abu Hanifah, the chapter “one asking a question asked” was revealed in Makkah and the verse that speaks of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) was revealed in al-Madinah and Hadith you spoke of is atypical and refuted. 5 Abu Hanifah then said, ‘The verse about inheritance also speaks of cancellation of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). 5 Abu Ja‘far, said, ‘Proof of lawfulness of marriage is without inheritance. 5 Abu Hanifah said, ‘On what basis you say so? 5 Abu Ja‘far, asked, ‘If a Muslim marries a woman from the people of the book then he dies what do you say about her? 5 He said, ‘She will not inherit him. 5 Abu Ja‘far, said, ‘So marriage is proved without inheritance. They then departed each other. 5 ” (Because of marriage spouses inherit each other. In Mut‘ah inheritance is not applicable thus Mut‘ah is not a marriage, according to the argument of abu Hanifah, if inheritance between the spouses is not applicable it is not a marriage. Abu Ja’far, proved one case where there is marriage but inheritance is not applicable).