Because it is a practice invented by perverts for lust. Although frowned upon by society, it today constitutes a loophole in the often rigid law, which young people often take advantage of. Temporary marriage in shii iran, nika mutah is a preislamic tradition of arabia still practiced by a. A man can also have any number of temporary marriages or sigheh, as they are known. Gender and body politics in modern iranian film and literature the global middle east book 12 ebook. I personally know of 3 men egyptian who have travelled to iran to. Getting into a mutah relationship is actually not that easy. This is why those seeking muta marriages have tended to go straight to qom and mashad, two popular and important religious centres in iran, where eager religious scholars can be seen wandering the streets, muta contracts in hand, enticing. In what countries is nikah mutah temporary marriage legal. I use the word sigheh rather than ezdevaje movaqat in this book in order to. Two decades later, irans shiite clerics continue to endorse temporary marriage as a sexual escape valve. According to shahla haeri s original firsthand study, mut a is an institution in which marriage, sexuality, morality, religious laws, cultural.
Mar 20, 20 according to boston university professor shala haeri, in her book law of desire. The practice of temporary marriage has long been common in shiite muslim communities, especially in iran. Any ambiguity in regard to these two matters can render the marriage invalid article 1095. Nikah halala, the marriage of a woman to a second man after a triple talaq divorce.
You will have to have some money for it and then find someone who is willing to do this with you. According to irans laws, the minimum age of marriage for girls is years, but there are also provisions such as the parental authority for children which allows girls to marry at the age of 9. Temporary marriage is one of oddest loopholes in islamic system in iran, where people of all classes and degrees of religiosity pride selves on finding loopholes. Temporary marriage in iran to combat the problem of premarital sex in iran, leaders are reinstituting the practice of muta, or temporary marriage, in accordance with the teachings of muhammad. Haeri, law of desire, temporary marriage in iran london. Women, marriage and the law in postrevolutionary iran. Will the author of this book please kindly tell me how i can convince myself to embrace islam and the iranian. Temporary marriage 205 for the most part, around two diametrically opposed poles. It is simply irrelevant to raise the issue of where prostitutes would live when the fact remains that muhammad permitted muta, plain and simple. The main difference is that the temporary marriage longs only for a specified period of time, and man and woman will become stranger to each other after the expiration date without divorce. However, twel ver shias, who predominate in iran and iraq, disagree with the rest of the muslim world. At first i didn t believe him, but he used sources such as bukhari and muslim.
Shahla haeri this book is a study of the institution of temporary marriage, muta, and its practice, popularly known as sigheh, in contemporary iran. Dec 18, 2010 muta marriage is valid type of marriage in shia jurisprudence. Will the author of this book please kindly tell me how i can convince myself to embrace islam and the iranian traditions and thinking if many put justice to polygamy. Permanent marriage muta marriage or temporary marriage. The focus is not just on women but on the perception of the. Nikah mutah, a form of temporary marriage in shia islam, also known as sigeh or sigheh in iran.
Registeration of marriage under muslim law registration of marriage in muslims is compulsory and mandatory, as a muslim marriage is treated as a civil contract. The films female director, sudabeh morterzai, gives viewers a rare insight into a very complex society. And as it is permissible but detestable to marry a prostitute in every islamic sect, it is also detestable to do mutah with her. But in the book law of desire, shahla haeri, a boston university. Temporary marriage in shii iran is an anthropological study of temporary marriage mut a in the shi i muslim religion.
My favourite kind of writing, beautiful detailed and evocative descriptions of places, people and food. But many fewer are aware of its rough equivalent in the sunni world, namely the misyar, or travelers marriage. Temporary marriage in iran donaldson 1936 the muslim. But many fewer are aware of its rough equivalent in the sunni world, namely the misyar, or travelers marriage with increasing frankness, however, the englishlanguage press is taking up the issue. Apr, 2018 muta, or temporary marriage, is one of three forms of muslim marriage nikah halala and nikah misyar are the others that the supreme court recently referred to a constitution bench for. Temporary marriage is hence practised today only in shia communities, mainly in iran and occasionally also in iraq. Grand mufti warns saudis against temporary marriages. Languagediscourse, and alame nesvan the world of women. Jun 04, 20 in an interview with the bbc, khola hasan, a sunni muslim and spokesperson for the islamic sharia council of britain, says temporary marriage is actually forbidden by sharia law. A former director of the womens studies program at boston university, shahla haeri is one of the pioneers of iranian anthropology, and has produced cuttingedge ethnographies of iran, pakistan and the muslim world. Bbc news middle east iran talks up temporary marriages. Oxford encyclopedia of modern islamic world to differentiate between marriage nikah and mutah. Jan 01, 2016 getting into a mutah relationship is actually not that easy.
Oct 06, 2019 like some other shia leaders in iraq, the 89yearold ayatollah sistani has previously in a book published 25 years ago titled the path of the righteous written that if a child under nine. Jennifer klinec went to iran to learn about persian food and ended. Temporary marriage, muta, in iran 19892014 translated into arabic and reprinted frequently, highlighting the tenacious but secretive custom of temporary marriage in ethnographic scope to make visible lives of educated and professional muslim women. In iraq, religious pleasure marriages are a front for child.
May 29, 2015 the couples only legal alternative to traditional marriage is sigheh, a temporary marriage under islamic law. For an account of this type of marriage in iran see s. According to shahla haeri s original firsthand study, mut a is an institution in. Though they are yet to become legal, chastity or morality houses are religiously sanctioned establishments that enable couples to engage in intimate relationships by performing sigheh temporary marriage. Temporary marriage, which is referred to as nekahe monqateh in the civil code, can last from some hours to 99 years. Oct 19, 2010 the practice of temporary marriage has long been common in shiite muslim communities, especially in iran. Jun 02, 2007 iran s interior minister, mostafa pourmohammadi, has started promoting temporary marriage as a solution to the countrys social problems. Sigheh has proven to be a successful tourist attraction for the muslim world.
Jun 22, 2003 the shiite institution of muta or sighe temporary marriage is quite well known, being the subject of an 1989 englishlanguage book by shahla haeri, law of desire. Temporary marriage in islam part 1 a shiite encyclopedia. Temporary marriage in shii iran contemporary issues in the middle east 9780815624837. The shortterm contract allows relations before marriage. I took his word for it, and before i realized, i was into a lot of trouble. Media caption sara explains why she wanted a temporary marriage. In a country where most marriages are for life and all divorces are a scandal, the idea of the. Nikah mutah, or temporary marriage, was popular in the ancient islamic world. Permanent marriage muta marriage or temporary marriage a shia of the male sex may contract a muta marriage with a woman professing the muslim, christian or jewish religion, or even with a woman who is a fireworshiper.
Osama again has confused a question of fact with a question of relevance. Javad afshar kohan and vaida thompson, recent trends of marriage in iran, the open family studies journal, 10. Her landmark books include her classic ethnography, law of desire. In the book of mustadrakalwasa il shia authentic hadith book vol. The couples only legal alternative to traditional marriage is sigheh, a temporary marriage under islamic law. Misyar temporary marriage in sunni islam daniel pipes. The early muslim sources are not consistent on this issue. For those of us who arent muslim, its important to read and. To be fair, the end of the hadith also seems to suggest that the practice was later forbidden. White marriage a growing trend for young couples in iran. But a shia woman may not contract muta marriage with a nonmuslim. A recent frontpage article in a weekly tabloid, world of medicine, about a. Marriage in iran the death penalty is faced by individuals of same sex orientation in iran. This type of marriage existed in the time of the prophet muhammad, but it was banned by umar, the second caliph, and later abandoned by most schools of islamic law.
Irans interior minister, mostafa pourmohammadi, has started promoting temporary marriage as a solution to the countrys social problems. Sunni variations on the theme are also on the rise throughout the middle east. Evidences from the sunni historyfiqhmiscellanea books. Individuals are threatened by the offender with the death penalty and lashes. Originally, sighe in iran was geared toward widows. Istamtaa means contracting temporary marriagesahih muslim, english version, v2, chapter dxli titled. Roya kashefi of the association of iranian researchers works closely with womens rights activists in iran. Temporary marriage and the economy of pleasure tehran. One misconception regarding temporary marriage is that some people think that the woman engaged in temporary marriage can have contract every other hour. The idea is that rather than having an affair, a man who wants to be sexually involved. The phenomenon of temporary marriage in the islamic republic of iran is explored in the documentary in the bazaar of sexes. Like any other faith or culture, islam isnt a monolith.
The temporary bride by jennifer klinec was wonderful. I was a temporary bride life and style the guardian. Grand mufti warns saudis against temporary marriages arab news. Temporary wives generally face social ostracism, and their children may face difficulties in accessing public services such as education because if the marriage is unregistered, it may be hard for the mother to prove paternity.
Mutta marriage or temporary marriage contract in shia islam. A shia of the male sex may contract a muta marriage with a woman professing the muslim, christian or jewish religion, or even with a woman who is a fireworshiper, but not with a woman following any other religion. According to boston university professor shala haeri, in her book law of desire. If a marriage is temporary therefore the family this kind of marriage upholds is also temporary. Though they are yet to become legal, chastity or morality houses are religiously sanctioned establishments that enable couples to engage in intimate relationships by performing sigheh temporary. Temporary marriage, muta, in iran 19892014 translated. Nikah urfi, a customary sunni muslim marriage contract. Oct 04, 2000 temporary marriage is one of oddest loopholes in islamic system in iran, where people of all classes and degrees of religiosity pride selves on finding loopholes. There have been news reports about the mushrooming of chastity houses, particularly in holy cities, and their increasing popularity with male foreign tourists visiting iran. Muslim clerics oppose raising girls age of marriage. Iran is a country where rules are fluid, where people of all classes and. Sigheh marriages in modern iran chapter 1 temporary marriage. Shahrvand newspaper recently reported that there were 6,000 unlicensed guesthouses in the holy city of mashhad, capital of the northeastern province of razavi khorasan, most of which cater to male tourists from muslim. A few rules for a happy marriage the muslim marriage guide.
Inside the islamic republic, sigheh marriages are controversial. The leading iranian feminist magazine, zani ruz modern woman, took the lead in opposing mr. Homosexuality is contrary to the law in the islam republic of iran. Explains the practice of temporary marriage, mostly in iran. On the day of khaibar, allahs apostle forbade the muta i. In an interview with the bbc, khola hasan, a sunni muslim and spokesperson for the islamic sharia council of britain, says temporary marriage is actually forbidden by sharia law. Moreover, who could we find better that jabir ibn abdillah alansari ra, the great companion of the prophet, who according to sahih muslim said. How temporary marriage, or sigheh, is spreading in iran. This hadith will clear the doubt about temporary marriage. Sunni muslims, who make up 90% of the faith, strongly reject this.
May, 20 media caption sara explains why she wanted a temporary marriage. Our study showed that criteria for permanent and temporary marriage differ based on their relations duration and its expectations. By shokouh mirzadegi there have been news reports about the mushrooming of chastity houses, particularly in holy cities, and their increasing popularity with male foreign tourists visiting iran. It is an exploration of the culture of a place that most of us will know very, very little about iran. The husband and wife thus joined are able to renounce some marital rights such as living together, the wifes rights to housing. In afghanistan, the civil code applies to the marriages of the sunni followers of islamic jurisprudence. The temporary marriage, or nikah mutah, is an ancient islamic practice that. Muslim clerics oppose raising girls age of marriage eligibility from nine. Therefore, the existence of the childrens total personality is a hoax. When i came back to mazarisharif, i continued,a he says. Mutah temporary marriage completion of argument al. Mar 06, 2009 if a marriage is temporary therefore the family this kind of marriage upholds is also temporary. The islam system, sharia, condemns homosexuality as a crime worthy of death. Temporary marriage is one of oddest loopholes in islamic system in iran, where.
Mutta marriage or temporary marriage contract in shia. The duration of the marriage and the amount of mahr which is paid to the women upon marriage must be specified in the marriage contract. In brief, temporary marriage is prohibited with those women who are prohibited for permanent marriage also because both are kinds of nikah only. In fact, understanding of reasons for agreement and disagreement regarding temporary marriage, can provide a more accurate and expertise reference for reading possible in the muslim world. Temporary marriage in iran by claudia yaghoobi january 2020. In iraq, religious pleasure marriages are a front for. The civil code asserts that a muslim male can marry a nonmuslim female who believes in one of the four books follower of the book. The same place where the muslim men found women to engage in prostitution which muhammad passed off as temporary marriage. Shia islam allows a man and woman to marry for a fixed period of time, ranging from an hour to a century.
If you were a really rich man and also pretty famous, youd probably get a lot of women. According to section 3 of muslim marriages registration act 1981 every marriage contracted between muslims after the commencement of this act, shall be registered as hereinafter. A memoir of love and food in iran by jennifer klinec is published by virago. Kingdoms grand mufti sheikh abdul aziz alasheikh warned the saudis against temporary marriages being promoted by marriage brokers abroad, stressing that this marriage is. Like some other shia leaders in iraq, the 89yearold ayatollah sistani has previously in a book published 25 years ago titled the path of the righteous written that if a child under nine. In a country where most marriages are for life and all divorces are a scandal, the idea of the contract or temporary marriage is beginning to catch on. Oct, 2011 because it is a practice invented by perverts for lust. Jun 23, 2014 kingdoms grand mufti sheikh abdul aziz alasheikh warned the saudis against temporary marriages being promoted by marriage brokers abroad, stressing that this marriage is not approved in islam. The temporary marriage, or nikah mutah, is an ancient islamic practice that unites man and woman as husband and wife for a limited. Prohibtion of interfaith marriage library of congress. The shiite institution of muta or sighe temporary marriage is quite well known, being the subject of an 1989 englishlanguage book by shahla haeri, law of desire. Although the 1967 law did not impose any restriction on temporary marriage, the fpl courts, by not entertaining cases involving such marriages, in effect denied recognition to this type of marriage.
828 617 1315 44 1285 100 587 306 47 1201 1463 595 84 842 987 1564 205 464 139 1411 455 253 1086 158 1404 1095 180 1043 1166 1322 230 266