Such Wives Are Like Slave-girls, Not Like any of Four Wives

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about how many are lawful for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). He (the Imam) said, ‘Their case is similar to slave-girls.’”

“In response to my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) if it is one of the four, he (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not one of the four.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), ‘How many is lawful for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is as many as you wish.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is of four. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, even seventy is not unlawful.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is not of four because it has no divorce or inheritance; she is only hired.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). He (the Imam) said, ‘Meet ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Jurayh and ask him about it; he has information about it.’ I met him and…

“I once mentioned al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked if it is one of four (wives). He (the Imam) said, ’You may marry a thousand of them; they are on hire. 5 ”