Hadith Text

'Ati' reported that Jabir b. Abdullah came to perform 'Umra, and we came to his abode, and the people asked him about different things, and then they made a mention of temporary marriage, whereupon he said: Yes, we had been benefiting ourselves by this temporary marriage during the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ) and during the time of Abu Bakr and 'Umar.

Scholarly Commentary

This narration from Jabir ibn Abdullah refers to the practice of mut'ah (temporary marriage), which was permitted in the early Islamic period during specific circumstances of travel and military campaigns. The permissibility was conditional and time-bound, as established by authentic prophetic traditions.

The consensus of classical scholars holds that this practice was subsequently abrogated and permanently prohibited during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab, as confirmed by numerous authentic narrations. The prohibition remains the established position across all orthodox schools of Islamic jurisprudence.

Scholars explain that what was permissible during the Prophet's time could be modified by subsequent revelation or prophetic instruction, as Islamic law evolved through divine guidance to reach its complete form.

Legal Ruling

The permanent prohibition of temporary marriage is established through multiple authentic chains of transmission and represents the unanimous position of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah. Any contemporary claims permitting this practice contradict the established consensus of Islamic scholarship.