The Prohibition of Mut'ah Marriage

This narration from Sahih Muslim 1406 h establishes the unequivocal prohibition of temporary marriage (nikah al-mut'ah) in Islamic law. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) explicitly forbade this practice, which was prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabia.

Historical Context and Meaning

Mut'ah marriage refers to a temporary marital contract for a specified duration in exchange for a specified dowry. While permitted briefly in early Islam during military campaigns, it was subsequently abrogated and permanently prohibited.

The consensus (ijma') of classical scholars holds that mut'ah remains forbidden until the Day of Judgment, as established through multiple authentic narrations and the practice of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.

Legal Implications

Any contract stipulating temporary duration invalidates the marriage according to the majority of Sunni scholars. The essential elements of Islamic marriage require permanence and serious commitment.

Children born from such unions would be considered illegitimate (walad al-zina) as the marriage contract itself is void. The parties involved would be subject to legal penalties for unlawful sexual relations.

Wisdom Behind the Prohibition

This prohibition preserves lineage and protects women's dignity by preventing their exploitation as temporary companions. It upholds the sanctity of marriage as a permanent institution for building families and societies.

The ruling emphasizes that marriage in Islam is not merely for physical gratification but establishes lasting bonds of mercy and compassion between spouses, fulfilling religious and social responsibilities.