Q: I have recently heard about Mut'ah marriage. Can you please shed more light on this?
A: Mut'ah means to 'marry a lady' for a prescribed period of time, and this is forbidden and Haraam according to all the four Madhabs. This type of 'Nikah' is invalid. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi wa Sallam) did give permission for this at the time of a certain battle which took place a great distance from Madinah Shareef, but later on totally forbade it. The Sahaabah (Radhiyallaahu Anhum) are unanimous on its prohibition. There are many narrations stating the prohibition of Mut'ah. Certain sects among the Shi'as believe that Mut'ah is still permissible, but such a view is totally false. Mut'ah is akin to prostitution. (Fat'hul Qadeer)
Prepared by: Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai