Iyas b. Salama reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave sanction for contracting temporary marriage for three nights in the year of Autas 1847 and then forbade it.
Contextual Background
This narration from Sahih Muslim 1405 f in The Book of Marriage addresses the temporary marriage (mut'ah) permitted during the Battle of Autas in 8 AH, then subsequently prohibited by divine revelation.
Legal Ruling Evolution
The initial permission was a specific dispensation for warriors facing exceptional circumstances during military campaigns, when prolonged separation from spouses posed hardship.
The subsequent prohibition established the permanent ruling that temporary marriage is forbidden in Islamic law, abrogating the earlier temporary permission.
Scholarly Interpretation
Classical scholars unanimously agree this hadith demonstrates the principle of abrogation (naskh) in Islamic jurisprudence, where later revelations supersede earlier rulings.
The three-night limitation indicates the exceptional nature of this temporary concession, not a general permission for limited-duration marriages.
Practical Implications
This narration serves as decisive evidence that mut'ah marriage is prohibited in Islam, and any claims of its permissibility are contrary to established consensus.
The incident teaches that Islamic rulings may accommodate temporary necessities while maintaining the ultimate objective of preserving moral and social order.