PLEASURE MARRIAGES

by David Nuttle

Muslims typically believe that anything practiced by their Prophet Muhammad is to still be accepted and legal practice. One such practice, long known as Mut'ah, is for temporary marriage some say is a marriage for pleasure controlled by a mutual agreement between the parties. The Shi'ites often engage in such practice that may be for a day, days, months, or years. The male agrees to pay a fee (dowry) that is part of a couples mutual agreement. Outsiders often say such arrangements are a special form of prostitution.

The male partner, in a Mut'ah agreement, need not provide for any needs of his female partner or partners but usually does. Any children of such union are provided for by both of the parties and may inherit from one or both parents. If the male elects to divorce his female partner before their agreement ends, they will usually transport a "divorced wife" to what is known as a "Divorce Oasis." I asked a Shi'ite friend in Africa to take me to one of these unique' oasis so I could observe this practice for myself. Upon arrival there, I saw a beautiful oasis with pool of spring-fed fresh water, palm trees, gardens with crops surrounding the pool, cottage industries with cloth weaving and other enterprises in progress. There were over 20 women w/ a number of their children of different ages, a few goats and chickens and several dogs. No men were present and the focus of all efforts seen was clearly on survival. Shelters were grass and mud huts formed by adding manure and water to create a very firm structure. No adult males were present.

My Shi'ite friend told me these women had to survive on their own and care for their own children who had elected to stay with their mothers. He said that Muslim men were allowed to have four marriages and/or temporary marriages at one time with a high turnover for most Mut'ah arrangements. Thus, there was always a problem of having enough "Divorce Oasis." I found it hard to believe that Shi'ites found this practice to be acceptable and civilized.

There is a saying that "when in Rome, do as the Romans do." However, in very many cases this is not always good advise!!