While I was in the company of Jabir b. Abdullah, a person came to him and said that Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn Zubair differed on the two types of Mut'as (Tamattu' of Hajj 1846 and Tamattu' with women), whereupon Jabir said: We used to do these two during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ). Umar then forbade us to do them, and so we did not revert to them.
The Book of Marriage - Sahih Muslim 1405 e
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This narration from the esteemed companion Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) addresses two distinct practices that were permitted during the Prophet's time but later prohibited by Caliph Umar.
The Two Types of Mut'ah
The first type mentioned is Tamattu' al-Hajj, which refers to performing Umrah during the Hajj months before completing Hajj. The second is Mut'at al-Nisa', or temporary marriage, which is the subject of our commentary here.
During the blessed era of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), both practices were permissible under specific circumstances. The temporary marriage was initially allowed during journeys and military expeditions to prevent hardship.
The Prohibition by Caliph Umar
The righteous Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), acting upon his ijtihad and understanding of the greater objectives of Shariah, prohibited both practices. His prohibition was based on the principle of closing avenues to potential misuse and protecting the sanctity of marriage.
The companions, including Jabir, accepted this prohibition without objection, demonstrating their collective agreement (ijma') on the matter after the Prophet's demise.
Scholarly Consensus
The majority of scholars from the four schools of jurisprudence agree that temporary marriage is prohibited based on this and other authentic narrations. The consensus of the companions and subsequent generations of scholars affirms this position.
This ruling protects the dignity of women, ensures proper lineage, and maintains the sacred nature of marriage as a permanent commitment rather than a temporary arrangement.