Mahr (Marital Price): Difference between revisions

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===Temporary marriage===
===Temporary marriage===
{{quote | {{Muslim|8|3249}} |
 
Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported: We contracted temporary marriage giving a handful of (tales or flour as a dower during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and during the time of Abu Bakr until 'Umar forbade it in the case of 'Amr b. Huraith. }}
The issue of temporary marriage is a complicated one in Islam. Most modern orthodox Sunnis and Sunnis clerics reject it though it is still frequently practiced by Shi'ites, especially in Iran. Never the less the practice is well attested to in classical texts and also is attested to in pre-Islamic accounts of Arab life such as by the last great pagan historian writing in Latin, Amianus Marcellinus writing around 380, who refers to "have mercenary wives, hired under a temporary contract"  AD <Ref> Citation needed</Ref>. In these "marriages of enjoyment" the mahr is given for the temporary "marriage", again underlining the fact that the mahr is a price to be paid for having sex with the woman who receives the mahr.  
 
 
{{quote | {{Muslim|8|3252}} |
{{quote | {{Muslim|8|3252}} |
Sabra Juhanni reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) permitted temporary marriage for us. So I and another person went out and saw a woman of Bana 'Amir, who was like a young long-necked she-camel. ''''We presented ourselves to her (for contracting temporary marriage), whereupon she said: What dower would you give me?'''' I said: My cloak. And my companion also said: My cloak. And the cloak of-my companion was superior to my cloak, but I was younger than he. So when she looked at the cloak of my companion she liked it, and when she cast a glance at me I looked more attractive to her. She then said: Well, you and your cloak are sufficient for me. I remained with her for three nights, and then Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who has any such woman with whom he had contracted temporary marriage, he should let her off. }}
Sabra Juhanni reported: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) permitted temporary marriage for us. So I and another person went out and saw a woman of Bana 'Amir, who was like a young long-necked she-camel. ''''We presented ourselves to her (for contracting temporary marriage), whereupon she said: What dower would you give me?'''' I said: My cloak. And my companion also said: My cloak. And the cloak of-my companion was superior to my cloak, but I was younger than he. So when she looked at the cloak of my companion she liked it, and when she cast a glance at me I looked more attractive to her. She then said: Well, you and your cloak are sufficient for me. I remained with her for three nights, and then Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who has any such woman with whom he had contracted temporary marriage, he should let her off. }}
{{quote | {{Muslim|8|3253}} |
Rabi' b. Sabra reported that his father went on an expedition with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) during the Victory of Mecca, and we stayed there for fifteen days (i. e. for thirteen full days and a day and a night), and Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) permitted us to contract temporary marriage with women. So I and another person of my tribe went out, and I was more handsome than he, whereas he was almost ugly. Each one of us had a cloaks, My cloak was worn out, whereas the cloak of my cousin was quite new. As we reached the lower or the upper side of Mecca, we came across a young woman like a young smart long-necked she-camel. ''''We said: Is it possible that one of us may contract temporary marriage with you? She said: What will you give me as a dower?'''' Each one of us spread his cloak. She began to cast a glance on both the persons. My companion also looked at her when she was casting a glance at her side and he said: This cloak of his is worn out, whereas my cloak is quite new. She, however, said twice or thrice: There is no harm in (accepting) this cloak (the old one). So I contracted temporary marriage with her, and I did not come out (of this) until Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) declared it forbidden. }}
{{quote | {{Muslim|8|3258}} |
Sabra b. Ma'bad reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) permitted his Companions to contract temporary marriage with women in the Year of Victory. So I and a friend of mine from Banu Sulaim went out, until we found a young woman of Banu Amir who was like a young she-camel having a long neck. ''''We made proposal to her for contracting temporary marriage with us, and presented to her our cloaks (as dower).'''' She began to look and found me more handsome than my friend, but found the cloak of my friend more beautiful than my cloak. She thought in her wind for a while, but then preferred me to my friend. So I remained with her for three (nights), and then Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded us to part with them (such women). }}


The issue of temporary marriage is a complicated one in Islam. Most modern orthodox Sunnis and Sunnis clerics reject it though it is still frequently practiced by Shi'ites, especially in Iran. Never the less the practice is well attested to in classical texts and also is attested to in pre-Islamic accounts of Arab life such as by the last great pagan historian writing in Latin, Amianus Marcellinus writing around 380 AD, and as the above ahadith show the mahr was given for the temporary "pleasure marriages" which seems to indicate that it was a price to be paid for having sex with the woman whose family received it.
Although the continued legitimacy of such marriages constitute a dispute between the 4 madhaahib of Sunni jurisprudence and the twelver Shi'i Ja'fari school of jurisprudence, it is beyond a doubt that according to the tradition Muhammad allowed temporary marriages, and in these marriages the mahr constituted a straight payment for sexual intercourse.


===Equal to other women of their status===
===Equal to other women of their status===
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