MutaꜤa (temporary marriage) is ḥarām in the Bayān (fatwa)
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I have been asked this question privately, so will answer here and offer my official fatwa. There is no legitimate sanction for the practice of temporary “pleasure” marriage (mutaꜤa /ṣīghih) (متعة/صيغه ) in the Bayān up to the end 11th Unity implicitly. As of the 13th Unity onward (and esp. the 19th gate of the 13th Unity), I have made the matter explicit. As it is practiced by certain segments of the Twelver ShiꜤi, it is a ḥarām (forbidden) practice and so it is a form of immorality and prostitution. The ḥadīth literature on it is outright contradictory and there is nothing solid proving that the Infallibles (ع) even sanctioned or legitimated it perpetually despite what some fuqaha would have you believing. Those ShiꜤi who claim that (mutaꜤa /ṣīghih) is a basis of their faith are among the existential juhāl (ignorant) and so possess no ꜤAql (Nexal Consciousness/Hiero-Intelligence) and therefore possess no Dīn (religion) either. They are astray on the path of their own physical lusts and so are treading the path of the shayṭān.
And let those who understand matters properly consider the kind of social disequilibrium such an odious practice perpetuates on a long-term basis, esp. the transmission of venereal diseases and the like, not to mention all the children produced by such questionable unions and how such illegitimate unions would disrupt genuine family life and cohesion, and the deleterious impact this has on a society. Additionally, let them consider the utter hypocrisy of the Twelver clerics who rail against the sexual immorality of the West, on the one hand, yet sanction a perverted practice such as this which amounts to the same thing, on the other. Furthermore, the institution of such a practice perpetuates patriarchy and misogyny.
As such, and especially in this Day, temporary “pleasure” marriage (mutaꜤa /ṣīghih) is deemed by the All-High to be adultery (zinā) (زنا) and prostitution (bighaʾa) (بغاء), thus sin.
But note that a monogamous relationship between a man and a woman without the formality of a legal marriage is not temporary “pleasure” marriage (mutaꜤa /ṣīghih). It is rather iqtirān (union) (اقتران) without nikāḥ (formal matrimony) (نكاح). This is fine and perfectly ḥalāl (licit). This form of relationship has also been codified in most Western jurisprudence and is usually known as a defacto relationship.
The Light be upon those who follow the illuminations of the guidance!
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8 Qawl 176 BE
19 Tahirih 18 NUR
5 Jumada al-Ula 1445 AH
18 November 2023 CE
