Ruling on regarding mut`ah marriage as permissible; does that put a person beyond the bounds of Islam?

> **TL;DR:** Regarding temporary marriage (**mut'ah**) as permissible is a grave violation of Islamic law, as it is explicitly forbidden by unanimous consensus (*ijma*') based on authentic prophetic guidance. Such a belief constitutes disbelief (*kufr*) because it rejects an established prohibition in Islam, effectively placing one beyond the bounds of the faith. Repentance and adherence to orthodox rulings are necessary for redemption. ### Islamic Ruling on Permissibility of Mut'ah **Mut'ah** (*temporary marriage contracted for a fixed duration in exchange for specified compensation*) is unequivocally forbidden in Islam. This prohibition is established through: 1. **Authentic Hadith**: - The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) permitted *mut'ah* during the Battle of Awtās out of necessity but later forbade it eternally, citing its moral and social harms [HAD1]. - He explicitly prohibited it during the Battle of Khaybar, equating it with the consumption of donkey meat [HAD2]. 2. **Qur'anic Exegesis (Tafsir)**: - The verse *"Lawful to you are [women] beyond these, [provided] you seek them with your wealth in honest wedlock, not in fornication"* (Qur'an 4:24) emphasizes marriage as a permanent bond for chastity, directly refuting *mut'ah*'s transient nature [TAF1]. - Classical commentaries affirm that *mut'ah* contradicts the Qur'anic objective of marital permanence and family stability, rendering it a form of disguised fornication [TAF2], [TAF5]. 3. **Classical Jurisprudence**: - Authorities like Imam Malik and Hanafi scholars declared *mut'ah* void (*batil*), noting its abolition by consensus (*ijma*') after initial temporary allowance [RIS1], [RIS3]. - It is deemed invalid regardless of contractual formalities, as its temporal intent violates the essence of marriage [RIS3]. ### Status of One Who Permits Mut'ah Believing *mut'ah* is permissible constitutes **disbelief (*kufr*)** due to: - **Rejection of Consensus (*Ijma*')**: The prohibition of *mut'ah* is established by unanimous agreement among the Companions and early scholars. Denying such a definitive ruling rejects an essential Islamic ordinance, nullifying one's faith [FAT5]. - **Equivalence to Permitting Fornication**: *Mut'ah* reduces marriage to a transactional arrangement for sexual access, akin to prostitution. Validating it normalizes what Islam categorizes as *zina* (fornication) [FAT3], [TAF3]. - **Prophetic Condemnation**: The Prophet (peace be upon him) cursed those who practice or facilitate *mut'ah*, underscoring its severe spiritual consequences [HAD3]. ### Wisdom Behind the Prohibition Islam prohibits *mut'ah* to safeguard: 1. **Lineage Preservation**: Fixed-term marriages risk confusing paternal lineage, undermining family integrity [HAD1]. 2. **Dignity of Women**: It reduces women to objects of temporary gratification, violating their rights to lasting commitment, financial support, and inheritance [RIS3], [TAF4]. 3. **Social Order**: Permanent marriage fosters stable families and communal harmony, while *mut'ah* encourages promiscuity and erodes social morals [TAF2]. ### Practical Implications - A person espousing *mut'ah*'s permissibility must **repent immediately**, renounce this belief, and adhere to orthodox marriage principles. - If such a view stems from ignorance, education on authentic sources suffices. If held obstinately, it invalidates one's Muslim identity [FAT5]. ### Divergent Perspectives While some Shi'a sects permit *mut'ah*, Sunni jurisprudence universally rejects this stance as a deviation from Qur'anic and prophetic mandates. The Shi'a position is invalidated by: - The abrogation (*naskh*) of *mut'ah*'s initial temporary allowance [TAF5]. - Consensus of the Companions, including Ibn Abbas’s retraction of his earlier view [TAF4]. **Conclusion**: Permitting *mut'ah* is a cardinal sin that breaches Islamic creed. It necessitates sincere repentance and realignment with the eternal prohibition upheld by revelation and consensus.