Temporary marriage in Islam (Mutah) – halal or haram? Assim al Hakeem explains

What is Mutah (temporary marriage) in Islam? Is it halal or haram? Why do Shia Muslims practice it while Sunnis consider it forbidden? Sheikh Assim al Hakeem explains the Islamic ruling on temporary marriage. What is Mutah Marriage? Mutah, also known as temporary marriage or "pleasure marriage" (Nikah al-Mutah), is a marriage contract between a man and a woman that is agreed upon for a fixed, specified period of time . The marriage ends automatically when the agreed time expires, without needing divorce proceedings. Key features of Mutah: Fixed duration (hours, days, months, years) Specified dower (mahr) agreed in advance No inheritance rights between spouses (unless stipulated) No divorce needed – marriage ends when time expires Children are legitimate and belong to the father The Origin of Mutah Muslims agree that Mutah was legislated and permitted during the early period of Islam . The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ allowed it at certain times, such as during journeys or military expeditions when men were away from their families for long periods. The disagreement is about whether Mutah remains permissible today or was abrogated (cancelled) by the Prophet ﷺ before his death. Sunni View on Mutah Aspect Sunni Position Was Mutah allowed initially? Yes, in early Islam Is Mutah allowed today? No, it is forbidden (haram) Why? The Prophet ﷺ abrogated it permanently before his death Evidence Sahih hadiths where Prophet ﷺ forbade Mutah The majority of Sunni scholars hold that the Prophet ﷺ permanently forbade Mutah on the day of Khaybar or during the Farewell Pilgrimage. According to authentic hadiths, the Prophet said: "O people, I had permitted you to do Mutah with women, but now Allah has forbidden it until the Day of Judgment." Sunni scholars consider Mutah a form of zina (adultery) disguised as marriage, as it commodifies intimacy without the commitment and responsibilities of permanent marriage. Shia View on Mutah Aspect Shia Position Was Mutah allowed initially? Yes Is Mutah allowed today? Yes, it remains permissible Why? The Prophet's permission was never abrogated Evidence Quranic verse (4:24) interpreted as referring to Mutah Shia Muslims believe Mutah was legislated by Allah and the Prophet ﷺ, and it remains lawful . They argue: The Quranic verse (4:24) – "And those of whom you seek pleasure (istimta'tum), give them their portions as a duty" – refers to Mutah The second Caliph Umar banned it during his rule, not the Prophet ﷺ Since the Prophet ﷺ never forbade it permanently, Umar's prohibition has no religious authority Mutah serves as a controlled, halal outlet for sexual needs, preventing zina Shia scholars cite companions like Ibn Abbas (cousin of the Prophet) who reportedly upheld the permissibility of Mutah even after Umar's ban . Ibn Abbas is quoted as saying: "Mutah was a mercy from Allah. If not for Umar forbidding it, no one would need to commit adultery." Key Evidence Debate Evidence Sunnis Use: Hadith Source Implication Prophet forbade Mutah at Khaybar Bukhari, Muslim Final, permanent prohibition Ali ibn Abi Talib said Mutah is abolished Various Even the fourth Caliph confirmed abrogation "O people, I had permitted Mutah..." Sahih Muslim Prophet explicitly says it's forbidden until Judgment Day Sheikh Assim explains: The Prophet ﷺ himself forbade it permanently – authentic hadiths confirm this Umar's ban was based on the Prophet's abrogation – not his own opinion Mutah is not a solution – it commodifies intimacy and undermines the purpose of marriage Permanent marriage (Nikah) is the only valid form of marriage in Islam Important Clarification There is also a concept called "Nikah al-Mutah" or "Misyar marriage" which some Sunni scholars permit under strict conditions. However, this is fundamentally different from Shia Mutah: Feature Misyar (Sunni) Mutah (Shia) Duration Permanent (no fixed time) Fixed time period Wife's rights Wife can waive some rights (housing, maintenance) No rights after time ends Sunni view Permissible (some scholars) Forbidden Why Sunnis Reject Mutah Sheikh Assim al Hakeem and other Sunni scholars reject Mutah for several reasons: It resembles prostitution – paying money for intimacy with a time limit It undermines family structure – no commitment, no responsibility It commodifies women – treating them as temporary pleasure objects The Prophet ﷺ abrogated it – authentic hadiths confirm this The Prophet ﷺ said: "Indeed, Allah has made Mutah haram for you until the Day of Judgment." Watch the full video as Sheikh Assim al Hakeem explains the complete ruling on Mutah marriage. #AssimAlHakeem #MutahMarriage #TemporaryMarriage #NikahMutah #ShiaVsSunni #IslamicMarriage #HalalOrHaram #IslamicRuling #MarriageInIslam #MutahExplained