Mutah is a temporary marriage in Islam that is contracted for a limited or fixed period and involves the payment of money to the female partner. The word "mutah" literally translates to "pleasure" in Arabic. Partners who engage in mutah must do so freely and must predetermine the compensation and duration of the contract. The woman has no claim for maintenance, and the two do not inherit from one another unless there is a previous agreement on these matters. Any children from a mutah union go with the father. No extension of the mutah is permitted, but cohabitation may be resumed if a new agreement is reached with new compensation for the woman.
All Muslim legal schools agree that mutah was recognized and practiced in the Prophet Muhammads time. Most Sunni Muslims, however, think the practice to have been abrogated by Muhammad. In consequence, Sunni leaders have denounced mutah as simple prostitution. In contrast, the Twelver Shīʿites, holding that mutah was forbidden not by Muhammad but by ʿUmar I, the second caliph, consider mutah to be still valid and defend it as a guard against prostitution or license in circumstances in which regular marriage is impossible.
It is important to note that mutah is a controversial practice, and opinions on its validity and morality vary widely among Muslims. Some consider it to be a form of prostitution, while others defend it as a legitimate option in certain circumstances.
