|
What Does Islam Teach About...
|
|
Temporary Marriage
Is there a loophole for prostitution in Islam?
It is called Nikah Mut'ah, a fixed-time arrangement between a man and a woman
that dissolves once the duration expires.
|
Quran
Quran (4:24)
- "And those of whom ye seek content (by marrying them), give unto them their
portions as a duty. And there is no sin for you in what ye do by mutual
agreement after the duty (hath been done)"
Quran (5:87)
- "O you who believe! do not forbid (yourselves) the good things which Allah
has made lawful for you and do not exceed the limits; surely Allah does not love
those who exceed the limits" Surprisingly the context for this verse
(found in
Bukhari (60:139) is temporary marriage, in this case, trading an article of
clothing for a few days of access to a woman's body. By calling this a
"good thing," Muhammad really stood traditional morality on its ear.
|
Hadith and Sira
Sahih Bukhari 62:13 - "We used to participate in the holy battles led by
Allah's Apostle and we had nothing (no wives) with us. So we said, "Shall we get
ourselves castrated?" He forbade us that and then allowed us to marry women with
a temporary contract (2) and recited to us: -- 'O you who believe ! Make not
unlawful the good things which Allah has made lawful for you, but commit no
transgression.' (5.87)"
Sahih Muslim (8:3252) - Muhammad clearly allowed his men to use temporary marriage
as a sanctioned form of prostitution. (To be fair, the end of the hadith
also seems to suggest that the practice was later forbidden. Islamic
scholars disagree as to the historical context, and whether or not it is enough
to supersede verse 4:24 of the Quran).
|
Notes
Since temporary marriage is a euphemism for prostitution,
Sunnis believe that it should only be practiced in certain times (such as
the lifetime of Muhammad... oddly enough). The Shia take a more liberal
position and freely allow the practice.
|
