The Book of Marriage

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنِ الْقَابِلَةِ أَ يَحِلُّ لِلْمَوْلُودِ أَنْ‌ يَنْكِحَهَا فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَا ابْنَتَهَا هِيَ بَعْضُ أُمَّهَاتِهِ. وَ - فِي رِوَايَةِ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: قَالَ إِنْ قَبِلَتْ وَ مَرَّتْ فَالْقَوَابِلُ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَ إِنْ قَبِلَتْ وَ رَبَّتْ حَرُمَتْ عَلَيْهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about al-Qabilah (special nurse who helps one’s mother during her giving birth and thereafter); if the child can marry her. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, not her daughter also, because she is one of his mothers.’ Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar has narrated the following: “Abu

إِذَا اسْتَقْبَلَ الصَّبِيُّ الْقَابِلَةَ بِوَجْهِهِ حَرُمَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَ حَرُمَ عَلَيْهِ وَلَدُهَا[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If the child feels compassion toward al-Qabilah (special nurse who helps one’s mother during her giving birth and thereafter) she becomes unlawful to him for marriage as well as her children.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْمُتْعَةِ فَقَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ- فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْهُنَّ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً وَ لا جُناحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيما تَراضَيْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْفَرِيضَةِ[2].

“In response to my question before abu Ja’far (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage), he (the Imam) said, ‘It is mentioned in al-Quran, “If you marry them for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) you must pay their dowries. There is no harm if you reach an understanding among yourselves about mahr (the dowry). Al

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَقُولُ لَوْ لَا مَا سَبَقَنِي بِهِ بَنِي الْخَطَّابِ مَا زَنَى إِلَّا شَقِيٌ‌[3].

“I once heard Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying that Ali (a.s.), would say, ‘Had Banu al-Khattab not prohibited al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) before (the beginning of my administration) no one would commit fornication except the wicked ones.’”

إِنَّمَا نَزَلَتْ‌ فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْهُنَ‌ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى‌ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَ‌ فَرِيضَةً[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It was revealed as “If you marry them [for an appointed time] for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) you must pay their dowries.” (4:24)’”

جَاءَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَيْرٍ اللَّيْثِيُّ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا تَقُولُ فِي مُتْعَةِ النِّسَاءِ فَقَالَ أَحَلَّهَا اللَّهُ فِي كِتَابِهِ وَ عَلَى لِسَانِ نَبِيِّهِ ص فَهِيَ حَلَالٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مِثْلُكَ يَقُولُ هَذَا وَ قَدْ حَرَّمَهَا عُمَرُ وَ نَهَى عَنْهَا فَقَالَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ فَعَلَ قَالَ إِنِّي أُعِيذُكَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَنْ تُحِلَّ شَيْئاً ح

“Once ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umayr al-Laythiy came to abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and asked, ‘What do you say about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) of women?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah has made it lawful in His book by the tongue of His Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to

الْمُتْعَةُ نَزَلَ بِهَا الْقُرْآنُ وَ جَرَتْ بِهَا السُّنَّةُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.

‘Al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is mentioned in al- Quran and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has followed it.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا حَنِيفَةَ يَسْأَلُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الْمُتْعَةِ فَقَالَ أَيَّ الْمُتْعَتَيْنِ تَسْأَلُ قَالَ سَأَلْتُكَ عَنْ مُتْعَةِ الْحَجِّ فَأَنْبِئْنِي عَنْ مُتْعَةِ النِّسَاءِ أَ حَقٌّ هِيَ‌ فَقَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ أَ مَا قَرَأْتَ- كِتَابَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَمَا اسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْهُنَّ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً[1] فَقَالَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ وَ اللَّهِ فَكَأَنَّهَا آيَةٌ لَمْ أَق

“I heard abu Hanifah ask abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous matters). He (the Imam) asked, ‘Are you asking about the two al-Mut‘ah (advantageous matters)? 5 He said, ‘I asked you about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous matters of al-Hajj) and you inform me about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is it true?’ He

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَتَزَوَّجُ الْمُتْعَةَ فَكَرِهْتُهَا وَ تَشَأَّمْتُ بِهَا فَأَعْطَيْتُ اللَّهَ عَهْداً بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَ الْمَقَامِ وَ جَعَلْتُ عَلَيَّ فِي ذَلِكَ نَذْراً وَ صِيَاماً أَلَّا أَتَزَوَّجَهَا ثُمَّ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ شَقَّ عَلَيَّ وَ نَدِمْتُ عَلَى يَمِينِي وَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِيَدِي مِنَ الْقُوَّةِ مَا أَتَزَوَّجُ فِي الْعَلَانِيَةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي عَاهَدْتَ اللَّهَ

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I would marry in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage), I then disliked it and had bad omens about it; then I promised before Allah between the corner of al-Ka 5 bah and the Station of Ibrahim (a.s.), kept a vow

سَأَلَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ النُّعْمَانِ صَاحِبَ الطَّاقِ فَقَالَ لَهُ يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ مَا تَقُولُ فِي الْمُتْعَةِ أَ تَزْعُمُ أَنَّهَا حَلَالٌ قَالَ نَعَمْ قَالَ فَمَا يَمْنَعُكَ أَنْ تَأْمُرَ نِسَاءَكَ أَنْ يُسْتَمْتَعْنَ وَ يَكْتَسِبْنَ عَلَيْكَ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ لَيْسَ كُلُّ الصِّنَاعَاتِ يُرْغَبُ فِيهَا وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ حَلَالًا وَ لِلنَّاسِ أَقْدَارٌ وَ مَرَاتِبُ يَرْفَعُونَ

8. Ali has narrated from in a marfu’ manner saying: “Abu Hanifah once asked abu Ja‘far, Muhammad ibn al-Nu 5 man Sahib al-Taq saying, ‘O abu Ja‘far, what do you say about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage)? Do you think it is lawful? 5 He replied, ‘Yes, it is lawful. 5 He then said, ‘Why then do you not ask your women t

قُلْتُ كَمْ تَحِلُّ مِنَ الْمُتْعَةِ قَالَ فَقَالَ هُنَّ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْإِمَاءِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about how many are lawful for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). He (the Imam) said, ‘Their case is similar to slave-girls.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الْمُتْعَةِ أَ هِيَ مِنَ الْأَرْبَعِ فَقَالَ لَا.

“In response to my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) if it is one of the four, he (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not one of the four.’”

قُلْتُ مَا يَحِلُّ مِنَ الْمُتْعَةِ قَالَ كَمْ شِئْتَ.

‘It is as many as you wish.’”

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الْمُتْعَةِ أَ هِيَ مِنَ الْأَرْبَعِ فَقَالَ لَا وَ لَا مِنَ السَّبْعِينَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is of four. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, even seventy is not unlawful.’”

لَيْسَتْ مِنَ الْأَرْبَعِ لِأَنَّهَا لَا تُطَلَّقُ وَ لَا تَرِثُ وَ إِنَّمَا هِيَ مُسْتَأْجَرَةٌ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is not of four because it has no divorce or inheritance; she is only hired.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمُتْعَةِ فَقَالَ الْقَ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ بْنَ جُرَيْجٍ‌[1] فَسَلْهُ عَنْهَا فَإِنَّ عِنْدَهُ مِنْهَا عِلْماً فَلَقِيتُهُ فَأَمْلَى عَلَيَّ مِنْهَا شَيْئاً كَثِيراً فِي اسْتِحْلَالِهَا فَكَانَ فِيمَا رَوَى لِيَ ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ قَالَ لَيْسَ فِيهَا وَقْتٌ وَ لَا عَدَدٌ إِنَّمَا هِيَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْإِمَاءِ يَتَزَوَّجُ مِنْهُنَّ كَمْ شَاءَ وَ صَاحِبُ الْأَرْبَعِ نِسْوَةٍ يَتَزَوَّجُ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). He (the Imam) said, ‘Meet ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Jurayh and ask him about it; he has information about it.’ I met him and he dictated a great deal of issues about its lawfulness. Among the matters that Ibn Jurayj narrated

ذَكَرْتُ لَهُ الْمُتْعَةَ أَ هِيَ مِنَ الْأَرْبَعِ فَقَالَ تَزَوَّجْ مِنْهُنَّ أَلْفاً فَإِنَّهُنَّ مُسْتَأْجَرَاتٌ.

“I once mentioned al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked if it is one of four (wives). He (the Imam) said, ’You may marry a thousand of them; they are on hire. 5 ”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع عَنِ الْمُتْعَةِ فَقَالَ وَ مَا أَنْتَ وَ ذَاكَ فَقَدْ أَغْنَاكَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قُلْتُ إِنَّمَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَعْلَمَهَا فَقَالَ هِيَ فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع فَقُلْتُ نَزِيدُهَا وَ تَزْدَادُ فَقَالَ وَ هَلْ يَطِيبُهُ إِلَّا ذَاكَ‌[1].

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). He (the Imam) said, ‘What do you have to do with it when Allah has made you free of need for it?’ I then said, ‘I only wanted to know about it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in the book of Ali (a.s.) .’ I then asked, ‘Can we extend and the

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الْمُتْعَةِ فَقَالَ هِيَ حَلَالٌ مُبَاحٌ مُطْلَقٌ لِمَنْ لَمْ يُغْنِهِ اللَّهُ بِالتَّزْوِيجِ فَلْيَسْتَعْفِفْ بِالْمُتْعَةِ[2] فَإِنِ اسْتَغْنَى عَنْهَا بِالتَّزْوِيجِ فَهِيَ مُبَاحٌ لَهُ إِذَا غَابَ عَنْهَا.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is lawful, permissible and available for those whom Allah has not made free of need for marriage, so he can maintain chastity by means of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage), and when he is free of such need by means of m

كَتَبَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِلَى بَعْضِ مَوَالِيهِ لَا تُلِحُّوا عَلَى الْمُتْعَةِ إِنَّمَا عَلَيْكُمْ إِقَامَةُ السُّنَّةِ[1] فَلَا تَشْتَغِلُوا بِهَا عَنْ فُرُشِكُمْ وَ حَرَائِرِكُمْ فَيَكْفُرْنَ وَ يَتَبَرَّيْنَ وَ يَدْعِينَ عَلَى الْآمِرِ بِذَلِكَ وَ يَلْعَنُونَا.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once wrote to certain ones of his followers and it (the letter) said, ‘You must not insist on al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). You only have to maintain the Sunnah. You must not involve in it to ignore your bed (wives) and your free ones to cause them turn to disbelief, disowning and claim agai

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ فِي الْمُتْعَةِ دَعُوهَا أَ مَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُرَى فِي مَوْضِعِ الْعَوْرَةِ[2] فَيُحْمَلَ ذَلِكَ عَلَى صَالِحِي إِخْوَانِهِ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ.

‘Stay away from it. Do you not feel ashamed of being seen in a place for which your virtuous brothers in belief and friends feel embarrassed?”’

إِنَّ الْمُتْعَةَ الْيَوْمَ لَيْسَ كَمَا كَانَتْ قَبْلَ الْيَوْمِ إِنَّهُنَّ كُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ يُؤْمَنَّ وَ الْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْمَنَّ فَاسْأَلُوا عَنْهُنَّ.

“Once, abu Ja‘far (a.s.), was asked about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). He (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) today is not like it was before this day. Women in those days believed in it but today they do not believe in it and you can ask them.”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْهَا يَعْنِي الْمُتْعَةَ فَقَالَ لِي حَلَالٌ فَلَا تَتَزَوَّجْ إِلَّا عَفِيفَةً[3] إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حافِظُونَ‌[4] فَلَا تَضَعْ فَرْجَكَ حَيْثُ لَا تَأْمَنُ عَلَى دِرْهَمِكَ.

It is lawful but you must not marry except those who possess chastity; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “. . .those who protect their private organs. ”(23: 5) Therefore, do not marry one whom you cannot trust about your dirham.’”

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ أَنَا أَسْمَعُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَتَزَوَّجُ امْرَأَةً مُتْعَةً وَ يَشْتَرِطُ عَلَيْهَا أَنْ لَا يَطْلُبَ وَلَدَهَا فَتَأْتِي بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِوَلَدٍ فَشَدَّدَ فِي إِنْكَارِ الْوَلَدِ وَ قَالَ أَ يَجْحَدُهُ إِعْظَاماً لِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ فَإِنِ اتَّهَمَهَا فَقَالَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لَكَ أَنْ تَتَزَوَّجَ إِلَّا مُؤْمِنَةً أَوْ مُسْلِمَةً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- ا

“A man once asked al-Rida’, Alayhi al-Salam, when I was listening, about the case of a man who married a woman in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) with the condition that he was not to support her child. She thereafter brought a child to him and he strongly denied the child. He (the Imam) said, ‘Does he

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ وَ لَا أَدْرِي مَا حَالُهَا أَ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا الرَّجُلُ مُتْعَةً قَالَ يَتَعَرَّضُ لَهَا فَإِنْ أَجَابَتْهُ إِلَى الْفُجُورِ فَلَا يَفْعَلْ‌[2].

‘He can propose unlawful activities; if she agreed, he then must stay away from her.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمُتْعَةِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا كَانَتْ عَارِفَةً قُلْنَا جُعِلْنَا فِدَاكَ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ عَارِفَةً قَالَ فَاعْرِضْ عَلَيْهَا وَ قُلْ لَهَا فَإِنْ قَبِلَتْ فَتَزَوَّجْهَا وَ إِنْ أَبَتْ أَنْ تَرْضَى بِقَوْلِكَ فَدَعْهَا وَ إِيَّاكَ وَ الْكَوَاشِفَ وَ الدَّوَاعِيَ وَ الْبَغَايَا وَ ذَوَاتِ الْأَزْوَاجِ قُلْتُ مَا الْكَوَاشِفُ قَالَ اللَّوَاتِي يُكَاشِفْنَ وَ بُيُوتُهُنَّ مَعْ

"Yes, if she is knowledgeable." I said: "May I be sacrificed for you, and if she is not knowledgeable?" He said: "Then present the matter to her and say to her, if she accepts, then marry her; but if she refuses to accept your proposal, then leave her. Beware of the 'kawāshif', the 'dawāʿī', the 'baghayā', and the wome

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع- عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ الْحَسْنَاءِ الْفَاجِرَةِ هَلْ يَجُوزُ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَتَمَتَّعَ مِنْهَا يَوْماً أَوْ أَكْثَرَ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَتْ مَشْهُورَةً بِالزِّنَا فَلَا يَتَمَتَّعْ مِنْهَا وَ لَا يَنْكِحْهَا.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a woman who was beautiful but was involved in indecent acts if it was permissible to form al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) with her for a day or more. He (the Imam) said, ’If she is known as a fornicator then al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is not proper with her

لَا تَكُونُ مُتْعَةٌ إِلَّا بِأَمْرَيْنِ أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى وَ أَجْرٍ مُسَمًّى.

‘Al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) cannot take place without two issues: they are the duration of time and the amount of mahr (dower).”’

لَا بُدَّ مِنْ أَنْ تَقُولَ فِي هَذِهِ الشُّرُوطِ أَتَزَوَّجُكِ مُتْعَةً كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَوْماً بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا دِرْهَماً نِكَاحاً غَيْرَ سِفَاحٍ عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ ص وَ عَلَى أَنْ لَا تَرِثِينِي وَ لَا أَرِثَكِ وَ عَلَى أَنْ تَعْتَدِّي خَمْسَةً وَ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً وَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ حَيْضَةً.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘It is necessary that in marriage in the manner of al- Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) and its conditions one must say, “I form marriage with you in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) for so and so many days with such and such amount of dirham as mahr (dower), a marriage fre

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَيْفَ أَقُولُ لَهَا إِذَا خَلَوْتُ بِهَا قَالَ تَقُولُ أَتَزَوَّجُكِ مُتْعَةً عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ ص لَا وَارِثَةً وَ لَا مَوْرُوثَةً كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَوْماً وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا سَنَةً بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا دِرْهَماً وَ تُسَمِّي مِنَ الْأَجْرِ مَا تَرَاضَيْتُمَا عَلَيْهِ قَلِيلًا كَانَ أَمْ كَثِيراً فَإِذَا قَالَتْ نَعَمْ فَقَدْ رَضِيَتْ فَهِيَ امْرَأَتُكَ وَ

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about what I should say when I am with her. He (the Imam) said, ‘Say I marry you in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) according to the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family wort

تَقُولُ أَتَزَوَّجُكِ مُتْعَةً عَلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّهِ ص نِكَاحاً غَيْرَ سِفَاحٍ وَ عَلَى أَنْ لَا تَرِثِينِي وَ لَا أَرِثَكِ كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَوْماً بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا دِرْهَماً وَ عَلَى أَنَّ عَلَيْكِ الْعِدَّةَ.

say, ‘I marry you in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) according to the book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, a marriage which is not indecency and that you will not inherit me and I will not inherit

قُلْتُ كَيْفَ يَتَزَوَّجُ الْمُتْعَةَ قَالَ تَقُولُ يَا أَمَةَ اللَّهِ أَتَزَوَّجُكِ كَذَا وَ كَذَا يَوْماً بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا دِرْهَماً فَإِذَا مَضَتْ تِلْكَ الْأَيَّامُ كَانَ طَلَاقُهَا فِي شَرْطِهَا وَ لَا عِدَّةَ لَهَا عَلَيْكَ‌[1].

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about how al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is formed?’ He (the Imam) said that you must say, ‘O female servant of Allah, I marry you for so and so many days for such and such amount of dirham as mahr (dower).’ When the days pass her divorce is her condition and she does not need wa

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا كَانَ مِنْ شَرْطٍ قَبْلَ النِّكَاحِ هَدَمَهُ النِّكَاحُ وَ مَا كَانَ بَعْدَ النِّكَاحِ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ وَ قَالَ إِنْ سُمِّيَ الْأَجَلُ فَهُوَ مُتْعَةٌ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُسَمَّ الْأَجَلُ فَهُوَ نِكَاحٌ بَاتٌ‌[2].

“Any condition before marriage becomes invalid by marriage and the condition after marriage is permissible.’ He (the Imam) said, ’If time limit is mentioned it is al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) and if time limit is not mentioned it is permanent.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لا جُناحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيما تَراضَيْتُمْ بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ الْفَرِيضَةِ[3] فَقَالَ مَا تَرَاضَوْا بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ النِّكَاحِ فَهُوَ جَائِزٌ وَ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَ النِّكَاحِ فَلَا يَجُوزُ إِلَّا بِرِضَاهَا وَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ يُعْطِيهَا فَتَرْضَى بِهِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, 4 . . . it is not harmful for you if you agree upon it after marriage.’ (4:24) He (the Imam) said, ‘Whatever they agree upon after marriage is permissible and whatever is before marriage is not permissi

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا اشْتَرَطْتَ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ شُرُوطَ الْمُتْعَةِ فَرَضِيَتْ بِهِ وَ أَوْجَبَتِ التَّزْوِيجَ فَارْدُدْ عَلَيْهَا شَرْطَكَ الْأَوَّلَ بَعْدَ النِّكَاحِ فَإِنْ أَجَازَتْهُ فَقَدْ جَازَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تُجِزْهُ فَلَا يَجُوزُ عَلَيْهَا مَا كَانَ مِنَ الشَّرْطِ قَبْلَ النِّكَاحِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you settle the conditions of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) with a woman and she agrees and marriage becomes binding, you can bring your prior condition after marriage; if she agrees it is permissible, if she does not agree, it does not apply effectively to her; it was before

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ فِي الرَّجُلِ يَتَزَوَّجُ الْمَرْأَةَ مُتْعَةً أَنَّهُمَا يَتَوَارَثَانِ إِذَا لَمْ يَشْتَرِطَا وَ إِنَّمَا الشَّرْطُ بَعْدَ النِّكَاحِ.

“I once heard abu Ja‘far (a.s.), saying, about the case of a man who marries in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) ‘They inherit each other if they do not set a condition because condition is effective after marriage.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا اشْتَرَطْتَ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ شُرُوطَ الْمُتْعَةِ فَرَضِيَتْ بِهَا وَ أَوْجَبَتِ التَّزْوِيجَ فَارْدُدْ عَلَيْهَا شَرْطَكَ الْأَوَّلَ بَعْدَ النِّكَاحِ فَإِنْ أَجَازَتْهُ جَازَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ تُجِزْهُ فَلَا يَجُوزُ عَلَيْهَا مَا كَانَ مِنَ الشَّرْطِ قَبْلَ النِّكَاحِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you settle the conditions of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) with a woman and she agrees, marriage becomes binding; you can bring your prior condition after marriage, if she agrees it is permissible; if she does not agree it does not apply effectively to her; it was before marr

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَمِ الْمَهْرُ يَعْنِي فِي الْمُتْعَةِ قَالَ مَا تَرَاضَيَا عَلَيْهِ إِلَى مَا شَاءَ مِنَ الْأَجَلِ.

“In response to my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about how much mahr (dower) is - in al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage), he (the Imam) said, ‘It is whatever they agree on, up to the time they want.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَدْنَى مَا يَتَزَوَّجُ بِهِ الْمُتْعَةَ قَالَ كَفٌّ مِنْ بُرٍّ.

‘It can be a handful of wheat.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ مُتْعَةِ النِّسَاءِ قَالَ حَلَالٌ وَ إِنَّهُ يُجْزِئُ فِيهِ الدِّرْهَمُ فَمَا فَوْقَهُ.

‘It is lawful and one dirham or more is enough (as mahr (dower)).”’

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ أَدْنَى مَهْرِ الْمُتْعَةِ مَا هُوَ قَالَ كَفٌّ مِنْ طَعَامٍ دَقِيقٍ أَوْ سَوِيقٍ أَوْ تَمْرٍ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about mahr (dower) in al- Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) and that what it is? He (the Imam) said, ‘It can be a handful of food items, wheat flour, or fine flour or dates.’”

أَدْنَى مَا تَحِلُّ بِهِ الْمُتْعَةُ كَفٌّ مِنْ طَعَامٍ وَ رَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ مِسْوَاكٌ.

‘The minimum amount of mahr (dower) in al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) can be even a handful of food.’ Certain ones of them have narrated that even a Miswak (toothbrush) is acceptable.”

إِنْ كَانَتْ تَحِيضُ فَحَيْضَةٌ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ لَا تَحِيضُ فَشَهْرٌ وَ نِصْفٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Waiting period in al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is one cycle of Hayd (menses) if she experiences Hayd (menses); and if she does not experience Hayd (menses) then it is one and a half month.’”

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ عِدَّةُ الْمُتْعَةِ خَمْسَةٌ وَ أَرْبَعُونَ يَوْماً وَ الِاحْتِيَاطُ خَمْسٌ وَ أَرْبَعُونَ لَيْلَةً.

“Abu al-Hassan al-Rida’ has said that abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Waiting period for al- Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is forty five days and because of precaution it is forty five nights.’”

عِدَّةُ الْمُتْعَةِ خَمْسَةٌ وَ أَرْبَعُونَ يَوْماً كَأَنِّي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع يَعْقِدُ بِيَدِهِ خَمْسَةً وَ أَرْبَعِينَ فَإِذَا جَازَ الْأَجَلُ كَانَتْ فُرْقَةٌ بِغَيْرِ طَلَاقٍ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Waiting period of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is forty five days. It is as if I see my father count it on his fingers as forty-five and when this time passes separation between them takes place without divorce.’”

لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ تَزِيدَكَ وَ تَزِيدَهَا إِذَا انْقَطَعَ الْأَجَلُ فِيمَا بَيْنَكُمَا تَقُولُ اسْتَحْلَلْتُكِ بِأَجَلٍ آخَرَ بِرِضاً مِنْهَا وَ لَا يَحِلُّ ذَلِكَ لِغَيْرِكَ حَتَّى تَنْقَضِيَ عِدَّتُهَا.

‘I have made you lawful to myself up to another period of time with your agreement’ and this is not lawful for anyone other than you until it expires.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الرَّجُلُ يَتَزَوَّجُ الْمَرْأَةَ مُتْعَةً فَيَتَزَوَّجُهَا عَلَى شَهْرٍ ثُمَّ إِنَّهَا تَقَعُ فِي قَلْبِهِ فَيُحِبُّ أَنْ يَكُونَ شَرْطُهُ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ شَهْرٍ فَهَلْ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يَزِيدَهَا فِي أَجْرِهَا وَ يَزْدَادَ فِي الْأَيَّامِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَنْقَضِيَ أَيَّامُهُ الَّتِي شَرَطَ عَلَيْهَا فَقَالَ لَا لَا يَجُوزُ شَرْطَانِ فِي شَرْطٍ[1] قُلْتُ فَكَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ قَال

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries a woman in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) for the duration of one month. Then it comes to his heart and he likes to have a condition for more than a month; if it is permissible to increase in her mahr (dow

إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا تَزَوَّجَ الْمَرْأَةَ مُتْعَةً كَانَ عَلَيْهَا عِدَّةٌ لِغَيْرِهِ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ هُوَ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَهَا لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْهَا مِنْهُ عِدَّةٌ يَتَزَوَّجُهَا إِذَا شَاءَ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘If a woman marries a man in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) she must complete waiting period for others. However, if the same man wants to marry her again because of him she does not need to complete a waiting period, so she can marry him in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (adv

يُشَارِطُهَا مَا شَاءَ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He can arrange for a mutual agreement with her for any number of days they want.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ يَتَزَوَّجُ مُتْعَةً سَنَةً أَوْ أَقَلَّ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ شَيْئاً مَعْلُوماً إِلَى أَجَلٍ مَعْلُومٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ تَبِينُ بِغَيْرِ طَلَاقٍ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“In response to my question before al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who marries in the manner of al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) for one year or less or more, he (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible if it is a known matter for a known number of days.’ I then asked if it terminates without divorce. He (the Imam