Such Wives Are Like Slave-girls, Not Like any of Four Wives

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about how many are lawful for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). He (the Imam) said, ‘Their case is similar to slave-girls.’”

“In response to my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) if it is one of the four, he (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not one of the four.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), ‘How many is lawful for al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is as many as you wish.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is of four. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, even seventy is not unlawful.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) is not of four because it has no divorce or inheritance; she is only hired.’”

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage). He (the Imam) said, ‘Meet ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Jurayh and ask him about it; he has information about it.’ I met him and he dictated a great deal of issues about its lawfulness. Among the matters that Ibn Jurayj narrated to me was that he said, ‘There is no particular time limit for it or a particular number. The case is similar to that of the slave-girls. One may marry as many as he wishes and one with four wives can marry in this manner, as many as he wishes, without the presence of guardian or witness. When the time expires she becomes a stranger to him without divorce and he may give her something very little. Her waiting period is two cycles of menses but if she does not experience Hayd (menses) her waiting period is forty five days.’ I brought the book to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and displayed it before him (the Imam). He (the Imam) said, ‘He has spoken the truth and has made it easy.’ Ibn ‘Udhaynah has said, that Zurarah ibn ‘A‘yan would say so and swear that it is true except that he would say, ‘If she experiences Hayd (menses) her waiting period is one cycle of Hayd (menses) and if she does not experience Hayd (menses) her waiting period is one and a half month.’”

“I once mentioned al-Mut‘ah (advantageous marriage) before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked if it is one of four (wives). He (the Imam) said, ’You may marry a thousand of them; they are on hire. 5 ”