The Evolution of Temporary Marriage "Mutah" in Contemporary Ithna Ashari Shi'i Thought and its Doctrinal Foundations: A Critical Analytical Study 10.35781/1637-000-134-002

Abstract

This study addresses the issue of temporary marriage (Nikah al-Mut‘ah) in Twelver Shiite thought by analyzing its doctrinal foundations and tracing its intellectual and social developments, in light of its transformation from a juristic branch into a sectarian emblem and a tool for political and social utilization. The study discusses the most prominent contemporary manifestations of temporary marriage, particularly in Iran, highlighting its cultural extensions linked to Zoroastrianism and Mazdakism, and documenting its newly invented forms within Shiite reality. The research also examines a number of Imami narrations that prohibit mut‘ah and describe it as fornication or defilement, thereby weakening the claim of consensus within the sect and revealing the existence of an opposing juristic current. Moreover, it shows the presence of reformist voices within Shiism calling for a reconsideration of this practice. Research Methodology Doctrinal-analytical method: to analyze the Imami narrations and texts, compare them with definitive Islamic sources, and reveal the internal contradictions within the Shiite tradition. Historical-critical method: to investigate the historical development of temporary marriage, connect it with pre-Islamic cultural contexts, and highlight its transformation into a sectarian emblem. Descriptive-analytical method: to observe the contemporary forms of mut‘ah, particularly in Iran, and to analyze its social, political, and cultural dimensions. Diversity of sources: by relying on Imami narrations, Sunni critical writings, and modern social and intellectual studies, in order to ensure comprehensiveness and an integrated perspective. The study concludes with several main findings: •Temporary marriage has been abrogated by definitive texts, and reliance on earlier permissions has no authority. •The ancient Persian character influenced the consolidation of this practice through pre-Islamic cultural patterns. •Shiite narrations on mut‘ah are not unanimously agreed upon, but rather are fraught with contradictions and internal objections. •Some contemporary Shiite groups do not view mut‘ah as a legitimate practice and call for its abolition. Accordingly, temporary marriage in its present form is considered a complex phenomenon with doctrinal, social, and cultural dimensions that requires a critical scholarly review from within the Shiite heritage itself.