Chapter on Temporary Marriage (mutʿah)

Hadith.4583 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) said: "He is not from us who does not believe in our return (Rajah) and does not consider the temporary marriage (Mutah) lawful."

Hadith.4584 - Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) said: "Temporary marriage (Mutah) is not lawful except for one who understands it, and it is forbidden for one who is ignorant of it."

"Mutah today is not as it was before. In those days, women were trustworthy, but today they are not trustworthy, so inquire about them."

I asked Abu Abdillah (as) about Mutah (temporary marriage). Imam (as) said: "Yes, if she is knowledgeable (about its rulings)." I said: "May I be your ransom! What if she is not knowledgeable?" Imam (as) said: "Then explain it to her and say it to her. If she accepts, then marry her. But if she refuses and is not satisfied with your explanation, then leave her. And beware of al-Kawashif, al-Dawai, al-Baghaya, and married women." I asked: "What are al-Kawashif?" Imam (as) said: "Those who expose themselves, whose houses are known, and they are approached." I asked: "What are al-Dawai?" Imam (as) said: "Those who invite others to themselves and are known for corruption." I asked: "What are al-Baghaya?" Imam (as) said: "Those who are well-known for fornication." I asked: "What about married women?" Imam (as) said: "Those divorced contrary to the prescribed manner (not in accordance with the Sunnah)."

A man asked Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) about a man who marries a woman in Mutah (temporary marriage) and stipulates with her that he will not seek a child from her. However, she later gives birth to a child, and the man denies the child. Al-Ridha (as) expressed strong disapproval of this and said: "He denies it? How can he deny it?" - emphasizing the gravity of such an act. The man then asked: "What if he suspects her (of wrongdoing)?" Imam Al-Ridha (as) replied: "You should not marry except a trustworthy woman. Verily, Allah (swt), the Exalted, said: 'The fornicator does not marry except a fornicatress or a polytheist, and the fornicatress does not marry except a fornicator or a polytheist, and this has been forbidden for the believers.'" (Surah Al-Nur, 24:3)

"A man should not marry a Jewish or Christian woman alongside a free Muslim woman, whether in Mutah (temporary marriage) or in a permanent marriage."

Hadith.4589 - Al-Hasan Al-Taflisi asked Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as): "Can a man engage in Mutah (temporary marriage) with a Jewish or Christian woman?" Abu Al-Hasan Al-Ridha (as) replied: "He should engage in Mutah with a free believing woman, as she has greater sanctity than the others."

Hadith.4590 - Ali bin Ri'ab narrated: He wrote to Imam (as) asking about a man who engaged in Mutah (temporary marriage) with a woman and then gifted her the remaining days of the contract before consummating the marriage or after consummating it. He asked whether the man could revoke what he had gifted her from those days. The Imam (as) replied: "He cannot take it back."

I asked Imam (as) about a bondwoman - can a man engage in Mutah (temporary marriage) with her? Imam (as) replied: "Yes, except if she is a young girl who can be deceived." I said: "May Allah (swt) rectify your condition, what is the age limit at which she cannot be deceived?" Imam (as) said: "Ten years old."

"It is disliked (makruh) due to the reproach it may bring upon her family."

"The virgin who has a father cannot marry in Mutah (temporary marriage) except with her father's permission."

Abu Abdillah (as) was asked about Mutah (temporary marriage) - whether it is counted as part of the four [wives]. Imam (as) said: "No, and not even among seventy."

Hadith.4595 - Al-Fudhayl ibn Yasaar asked him about Mutah (temporary marriage). Imam (as) said: "It is like some of your bondwomen."

I asked Abu Abdullah (as): "Can I marry a woman for a month with a specified dowry, but she only fulfills part of the month and does not fulfill the rest?" Imam (as) said: "You withhold from her dowry an amount proportional to the time she withheld herself from you, except for the days of her menstruation, as those days belong to her."

Hadith.4597 - Muhammad ibn al-Nu'man al-Ahwal asked: "What is the minimum requirement for a man to marry a woman in Mut'ah?" Imam (as) replied: "A handful of wheat. He should say to her: 'Marry me to yourself in Mut'ah according to the Book of Allah (swt) and the Sunnah of His Prophet, a marriage that is not fornication, with the condition that I will not inherit from you, nor will you inherit from me, and I will not seek a child from you, for a specified period. If we both wish, we can extend the period and increase the dowry mutually.'"

Hadith.4598 - Jamil ibn Salih reported: One of our companions said to Abu Abdillah (as): "I feel uneasy about Mut'ah, and I have sworn that I will never engage in Mut'ah again." Abu Abdillah (as) replied: "If you do not obey Allah (swt), then you have disobeyed Him."

Hadith.4599 - Yunus ibn Abdul Rahman reported: I asked Imam Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha (as) about a man who married a woman in Mut'ah (temporary marriage). Later, her family came to know about it, and they married her off to another man in a public marriage, although she was a truthful woman. Imam (as) said: "She must not allow her new husband to approach her until her waiting period ('iddah) and contract have ended." I said: "What if her contract specifies a term of one year, and her new husband cannot wait that long?" Imam (as) said: "Then her husband should fear Allah (swt) and waive the remaining time for her. Indeed, she has been put to trial, and this world is a place of peace, and believers live in taqiyyah (dissimulation)." I asked: "What if he waives the remaining days for her, and her waiting period ends? What should she do?" Imam (as) said: "When she meets her new husband, she should say: 'O man, my family forced me and married me off without consulting me. But now, I am pleased. So, let us begin today with a new, proper marriage between us.'" I also asked Al-Ridha (as): "What about a woman who marries in Mut'ah, and after her contract ends, she marries another man before completing her waiting period?" Imam (as) said: "What concern is it to you? The sin of that act is upon her."

I asked him, "Is there a reward for Mut'ah?" He (as) replied: "If he seeks by it the pleasure of Allah (swt) Almighty and to oppose those who deny it, then Allah (swt) writes a good deed for him for every word he speaks to her. When he extends his hand toward her, Allah (swt) writes a good deed for him. When he approaches her, Allah (swt) forgives a sin for him. And when he performs ghusl (ritual purification), Allah (swt) forgives him a number of sins equal to the drops of water that pass over his hair." I asked: "Equal to the number of hairs?" He (as) replied: "Yes, equal to the number of hairs."

Hadith.4601 - Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) said: "When the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) was taken up to the heavens (Mi'raj), Jibril (as) came to him and said: 'O Muhammad (as)! Verily, Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted, says: I have forgiven those among your followers who engage in Mut'ah with women.'"

I asked him about Mut'ah (temporary marriage). Imam (as) said: "Indeed, I dislike for a Muslim man to leave this world while there remains an unfulfilled practice from the practices of the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) that he did not act upon."

"It is not permissible for him until her waiting period ('iddah) has ended."

Hadith.4604 - Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr asked al-Ridha (as) about a man who marries a woman in Mut'ah (temporary marriage). Is it permissible for him to marry her daughter permanently? Imam (as) replied: "No."

I heard Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) saying: "The waiting period ('Iddah) for Mut'ah (temporary marriage) is forty-five days." Imam (as) then demonstrated by holding up his hand and showing forty-five days. "When the specified term ends, the separation occurs without the need for divorce."

I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a woman who entered into a Mut'ah (temporary marriage) and then her husband passed away. Imam (as) said: "She must observe an 'Iddah (waiting period) of four months and ten days." Then Imam (as) continued: "If her term ends while he is still alive, her waiting period is one and a half menstrual cycles, similar to what is required for a female slave." I asked: "Does she need to observe mourning (Hadd)?" Imam (as) replied: "Yes, but if she stayed with him for a day, two days, or even just an hour during the day, the waiting period becomes obligatory, but mourning (Hadd) is not required."

I asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about the waiting period ('Iddah) for a woman in a Mut'ah (temporary marriage) if her husband passes away. Imam (as) replied: "It is four months and ten days." Then Imam (as) continued: "O Zurara, for every type of marriage-whether the woman is free or a slave, and regardless of whether the marriage was permanent (Nikah), temporary (Mut'ah), or through ownership (Milk Yamin)-if the husband dies, the waiting period ('Iddah) is four months and ten days." "However, the waiting period ('Iddah) for a divorced woman is three months, and for a divorced female slave, it is half the waiting period of a free woman. Similarly, the waiting period ('Iddah) for a woman in Mut'ah is the same as that for a female slave."

Hadith.4608 - It was said to Abu Abdullah (as): "Why has Allah (swt) prescribed four witnesses for proving adultery (Zina) and only two witnesses for proving murder?" Imam (as) replied: "Indeed, Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted, has made Mut'ah (temporary marriage) lawful for you, and He (swt) knew that it would be denied and rejected by people. Therefore, He (swt) required four witnesses as a precaution for you. Had it not been for this requirement, people would have accused you unjustly. And it is rare for four people to come together and testify about the same matter."

I asked Abu Abdullah (as): "A man meets a woman and says to her, 'Marry me to yourself for a month,' but he does not specify which month. Then he meets her again after several years-does he still have his month?" Imam (as) replied: "He has his month if he had specified it. However, if he did not specify it, then he has no claim over her."

I asked him about a man who took a bondwoman for temporary marriage but forgot and had intercourse with her. Does he deserve the punishment of a fornicator? Imam (as) replied: "No, but he should perform the temporary marriage contract with her again and seek forgiveness from Allah (swt) for what he has done."

I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about engaging in temporary marriage with virgins. Imam (as) replied: "Was it not made permissible except for them? So let them observe modesty and chastity."

I said to Abu Abdullah (as): A man married a young bondwoman with the condition that he would not deflower her. Then afterward, she gave him permission. Imam (as) replied: "If she gave him permission, then there is no harm in it."

Hadith.4613 - It is narrated: "A believer does not attain completeness until he practices Mut'ah."

"O people, indeed Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted, has made permissible for you intimate relations in three forms: an inherited relationship, which is permanent (Nikah); a non-inherited relationship, which is Mut'ah; and what your right hands possess (slavery)."

Hadith.4615 - Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as), said: "Indeed, I dislike for a man to die while there remains a Sunnah of the practices of the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, that he did not act upon." I said to him: "Did the Messenger of Allah (swt), peace and blessings be upon him and his family, perform Mut'ah?" He replied: "Yes," and then recited this verse: "'And [remember] when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a statement'... to His saying: 'widowed and virgins'" (Surah Al-Tahrim 66:3-5).

"Indeed, Allah (swt), Blessed and Exalted, has forbidden all intoxicating drinks for our Shia and has compensated them with mut'ah (temporary marriage)."