mutamatti

Mutamatti refers to a practice within Shia Islam, specifically among Twelver Shias, involving temporary marriage. This type of marriage, known as nikah mut'ah or sigheh, is a contract for a fixed period, after which the marriage automatically dissolves. The duration can range from a few hours to many years.

The practice is a subject of significant debate. Proponents argue that it is a religiously sanctioned temporary union permitted by the Quran and early Islamic traditions, offering a legitimate outlet for sexual needs for those unable to enter into a permanent marriage. They cite historical evidence and specific hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad and the Imams) as justification.

Critics, primarily from Sunni Islam and some Shia scholars, consider mutamatti to be forbidden. They maintain that it was a temporary practice that was later abrogated by the Prophet Muhammad. They view it as a form of prostitution and argue that it undermines the sanctity and stability of permanent marriage. The legal status and interpretation of mutamatti remain a key point of divergence between Shia and Sunni jurisprudence.