Nikah mut'ah
Mut'a, or temporary marriage, is a form of time-bound matrimonial contract in Islamic law. Its permissibility is derived from a Qur’anic verse (4:24) which mentions a "reward" given to women, interpreted by Shia scholars as sanctioning fixed-term marriage [1]. In this contract, the duration and dowry are specified in advance, dissolving automatically upon completion.
Sectarian Divergence
A major sectarian divergence arises from the interpretation of early practice. Shia jurisprudence considers mut'a legally permissible [2]. In contrast, Sunni schools of law, citing reports from Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, hold it was subsequently prohibited by the Prophet, a position considered part of the community's consensus [3]. This difference is often highlighted in Sunni polemical literature.
Role in Ecumenical Dialogue
Within ecumenical (taqrib) dialogue, mut'a exemplifies a jurisprudential difference not related to core articles of faith. Proponents of taqrib argued that such differences in derived legal rulings should not be a cause for division, as they exist even among the four Sunni schools themselves [4]. Its treatment in modern dialogue often focuses on contextualizing it as a matter of legal interpretation.
References
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- ↑ Haeri, S. (1989). Law of Desire: Temporary Marriage in Shi’i Iran. Syracuse University Press.
- ↑ Haeri, S. (1989). Law of Desire: Temporary Marriage in Shi’i Iran. Syracuse University Press.
- ↑ Brunner, R. (2004). Islamic Ecumenism in the 20th Century: The Azhar and Shiism Between Rapprochement and Restraint. Brill.
- ↑ Brunner, R. (2004). Islamic Ecumenism in the 20th Century: The Azhar and Shiism Between Rapprochement and Restraint. Brill.