Hadith of Sabra reporting on the prohibition of Mut'ah

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Hadith regarding its legality
Initial practice Prohibition by Muhammad Sura Muminun Khaybar Hadith of Sabra Prohibition by Umar Four advices Speech of forbidding Wretched persons Imran ibn Husain Use after Muhammad Ibn al-Zubayr This box: view • talk • edit

One single (Arabic: Ahaad) famous recorded oral tradition among Muslims (Arabic: Hadith) is about the legality of temporary marriage (Arabic: Nikah Mut'ah) and is the most prominent quoted Hadiths regarding the legality of Nikah Mut'ah.

Although that narration is prominently quoted and referred to, it is not given any formal name, in contrast to other hadith such as the Hadith of the pond of Khumm or the Hadith of Qur'an and Sunnah

1 Overview
- 1.1 The narration
2 Views
- 2.1 Sunni view
- 2.2 Shi'a view
3 References
4 See also

[edit] Overview

The narration is reported in two versions, both involving Sabra and the same basic event.

[edit] The narration

From Sahih Muslim, Abu Da'ud, Ibn Majah, Al-Nasa'i, and Darimi ^[1]:

A narration attributed to Sabrah ibn Ma'bad reports:

While he was with Allah messenger he said: o people, i had permitted you to contract temporary marriage with woman, but Allah has forbidden it (now) until the day of resurrection. So he who has any (woman with this type of marriage contract) he should let her off, and do not take back anything you have given to her (as dower).

In another version ^[2]:

A narration attributed to Sabrah ibn Ma'bad reports:

I was with my cousin when we passed by a woman who liked my youth and a robe which my companion had. So she offered temporary marriage with the robe as the dowry. I married her and spent the night with her. In the next morning, I went to the mosque and heard the Messenger of Allah saying: 'O people, I had permitted you temporary marriage before, whoever of you has any part in it currently must part with her, and do not take back anything which you may have given them, as Allah Exalted and Majestic has forbidden it until the day of resurrection.'

[edit] Sabrah, Year of Conquest, his companion from Banu Sulaim, three nights

A narration attributed to Sabrah ibn Ma'bad reports:

God's Messenger (may peace be upon him) permitted temporary marriage for us. So I and another person went out and saw a woman of Banu Amir, who was like a young long-necked she-camel. We presented ourselves to her (for contracting temporary marriage), whereupon she said: What dower would you give me? I said: My cloak. And my companion also said: My cloak. And the cloak of my companion was superior to my cloak, but I was younger than he. So when she looked at the cloak of my companion she liked it, and when she cast a glance at me I looked more attractive to her. She then said: Well, you and your cloak are sufficient for me. I remained with her for three nights, and then Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who has any such woman with whom he had contracted temporary marriage, he should let her off ^[3].

A narration attributed to Sabrah ibn Ma'bad reports:

Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) permitted his Companions to contract temporary marriage with women in the Year of Victory. So I and a friend of mine from Banu Sulaim went out, until we found a young woman of Banu Amir who was like a young she-camel having a long neck. We made proposal to her for contracting temporary marriage with us, and presented to her our cloaks (as dower). She began to look and found me more handsome than my friend, but found the cloak of my friend more beautiful than my cloak. She thought in her wind for a while, but then preferred me to my friend. So I remained with her for three (nights), and then Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded us to part with them (such women) ^[4].

[edit] Sabrah, During the Victory of Mecca, fifteen days, companion of my tribe

A narration attributed to Rabi ibn Sabra , on the authority of his father reports:

(We) went on an expedition with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) during the Victory of Mecca, and we stayed there for fifteen days (i. e. for thirteen full days and a day and a night), and Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) permitted us to contract temporary marriage with women. So I and another person of my tribe went out, and I was more handsome than he, whereas he was almost ugly. Each one of us had a cloaks, My cloak was worn out, whereas the cloak of my cousin was quite new. As we reached the lower or the upper side of Mecca, we came across a young woman like a young smart long-necked she-camel. We said: Is it possible that one of us may contract temporary marriage with you? She said: What will you give me as a dower? Each one of us spread his cloak. She began to cast a glance on both the persons. My companion also looked at her when she was casting a glance at her side and he said: This cloak of his is worn out, whereas my cloak is quite new. She, however, said twice or thrice: There is no harm in (accepting) this cloak (the old one). So I contracted temporary marriage with her, and I did not come out (of this) until Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) declared it forbidden. ^[5]

[edit] Sabrah, until Day of Resurrection

A narration attributed to Sabrah ibn Ma'bad , on the authority of his father reports:

Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited the contracting of temporary marriage and said: Behold, it is forbidden from this very day of yours to the Day of Resurrection, and he who has given something (as a dower) should not take it back ^[6]

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abd al-'Aziz ibn Umar with the same chain of transmitters, and he said: I saw Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) standing between the pillar and the gate (of the Ka'ba) and he was relating a hadith as narrated by Ibn Numair ^[7].

[edit] Sabrah, two cloacks

A narration attributed to Ibn Shihab reports:

Rabi ibn Sabra told me that his father (Sabra) said: I contracted temporary marriage with a woman of Banu Amir for two cloaks during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) ; then he forbade us to do Mut'a.

Ibn Shihab said: I heard Rabi ibn Sabra narrating it to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz and I was sitting there. ^[8]

[edit] Sabrah, Day of Conquest of Mecca, two red cloacks

A narration attributed to Rabi ibn Sabra , on the authority of his father reports:

Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade on the Day of Victory to contract temporary marriage with women.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Rabi ibn Sabra that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade to contracf temporary marriage with women at the time of Victory, and that his father had contracted the marriage for two red cloaks ^[9].

[edit] Sabrah

A narration attributed to Abd al-Malik ibn Rabi , on the authority of his father, on the authority of his father reports:

Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) permitted us to contract temporary marriage in the Year of Victory, as we entered Mecca, and we did come out of it but he forbade us to do it. ^[10].

A narration attributed to Rabi ibn Sabra , on the authority of his father reports:

Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) prohibited the contracting of temporary marriage. ^[11].

Sahih Muslim Book 8 Hadith 3251

Timing:

In one Hadith, Rabi ibn Sabra claims that Mut'ah was prohibited in Conquest of Mecca in 8 AH, While in other version, the same Rabi ibn Sabra claims that Mut'ah was prohibited in 10 AH at the Last Pilgrimage.

[edit] Views

[edit] Sunni view

Ibn Kathir, a 14th century Sunni Islamic scholar stated in his Tafsir of an-Nisa, 24 states ^[12]:

Mujahid stated that, (So with those among them whom you have enjoyed, give them their required due,) was revealed about the Mut`ah marriage. A Mut`ah marriage is a marriage that ends upon a predetermined date. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that the Leader of the Faithful `Ali bin Abi Talib said, "The Messenger of Allah prohibited Mut`ah marriage and eating the meat of domesticated donkeys on the day of Khayber (battle). In addition, in his Sahih, Muslim recorded that Ar-Rabi` bin Sabrah bin Ma`bad Al-Juhani said that his father said that he accompanied the Messenger of Allah during the victory of Makkah, and that the Prophet said, (O people! I allowed you the Mut`ah marriage with women before. Now, Allah has prohibited it until the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, anyone who has any women in Mut`ah, let him let them go, and do not take anything from what you have given them.) Allah's statement, (but if you agree mutually (to give more) after the requirement (has been determined), there is no sin on you.) is similar to His other statement".

Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya, a 14th century Sunni Islamic scholar was of the opinion that this hadith is not authentic and that Umar was the one who prohibited Nikah Mut'ah, and Muslims being ordered to follow Umar's ways:

What can we say about the narration of Jabir in Muslim, where he states that "during the life of Rasulullah(s) and Abu Bakr we would do Mut'ah for certain day using dough, cloth, until Umar stopped it". What are you going to say about this decision? Umar, stated that "during the lifetime of the Rasulullah (s) two types of Mut'ah existed, Mut'ah of Hajj and Mut'ah of Nisa, and now I prohibit them". People will want answers, and on this matter people held two views, one group maintain that Umar prohibited Mut'ah and forbade it from being practiced and the Messenger of Allah (S) has ordered people to follow the Sunnah of the guided caliphs. This group has not considered (as authentic) the tradition of Sabra concerning the prohibition of Mut'ah in the year of victory as authentic. This Riwayat is narrated by Abd al-Malik ibn Rabi ibn Sabra from his father, from his grandfather, and Ibn Moe'en has spoken against him (that is he did not consider him fit and trustworthy narrator). Bukhari has equally not mentioned this tradition in his Sahih knowing well that it concerns an important matter and his hesitation in recording this tradition can only be understood to mean that he doubted its veracity.

...

Most argue that if this hadith were correct Ibn Masud would know about it. It is even narrated that they (himself and other companions) were practising it and that he proved the legitimacy of Mut'ah by quoting verse 24 of Surah Nisa. He further adds: "If the tradition was correct Umar would not say: "It (Mut'ah) was permissible during the time of Allah's Messenger (S) but from now henceforth I declare it forbidden and will punish those who practice it", he (Umar) would rather have said "The Messenger of Allah (S) prohibited it and forbade it.

...

If the tradition was correct, then why did he (Omar) not forbid it during the time of Abu Bakr. ^[13]

Ibn al-Qayyim iterates the most common view on when Muhammad is supposed to have forbidden it:

Difference over whether Mut'ah is haraam take place at four points.

Firstly it occurred at Khayber (7 AH), this is the view of a group of 'ulama including Sha'afi.
Secondly at the time of the victory of Makka (8 AH) as asserted by a group such as Abi Aineah.
Thirdly, at Hunayn (8 AH) although another claim is that this referred to the Victory of Makka (8 AH).
Fourthly, The Farewell Pilgrimage (10 AH), as was held by Mu'awiya, but this was a mistake of narrators who confused the Farewell Pilgrimage (10 AH) with the victory of Makka 8 AH" ^[14]

[edit] Shi'a view

The Shia site answering-ansar.org is quoted questioning:

Was Sabra the only person to have heard the prohibition at Fath Makka?

It is also strange that amongst all the multitude of companions only Sabra saw the Prophet (S) standing between the 'pillar and the gate' (Sahih Muslim Book of Nikah 008, Number 3256) declaring the prohibition of Mut'ah. Were all the others deaf? Had they ALL gone to the toilet at the same time? Or did they intentionally cover this hadith up as they enjoyed practising what today's Nasibi call prostitution?

Shia argue that Sabrah ibn Ma'bad is not reliable, and state that even some Sunni scholars have made similar statements. They further argue that the other narrators in the Isnad are deemed unqualified for their task, citing Tahdhib al-Tahdhib by Ibn Hajar Asqalani.

Shia claim that this hadith is very contradictory and count the following points:

A) Kanz al-Ummal Volume 8 page 295 has three separate narration's from Sabra concerning the prohibition on Mut'ah, the first says Muhammad banned Mut'ah at Khayber, the second says it was banned at the time of the Conquest of Mecca, the third says that it was banned at the Farewell Pilgrimage. Then they conclude it as self evident that a single narration from one Book ith one narrator can not have three different narration's about when Mut'ah was abrogated and still be reliable.

B) In Sahi Muslim No. 3253, the quotation reads "the permission (to make Mut'ah) was for 15 days after entering Mecca". While in Muslim 3257, the quotation reads, as we entered Mecca".

C) In Sunan Ibn Maja, chapter 44 tradition No. 1962 the tradition records that the prohibition occurred the "next day" after (Sabra) contracted Mut'ah. While in Muslim 3258 it says that it was made (Mut'ah) haram after three nights.

D) In Sahi Muslim 3253, it is recorded that Sabra and his cousin were the ones who went out to seek for a woman with a view to contract Mut'ah with her. Sabra belongs to the clan of Banu Jahina which belongs to Qatha'ah tribe. However, in Muslim tradition No. 3258 Sabra is reported to have said "So I and a friend of mine from Banu Salim went out...".

E) In Sahi Muslim tradition No.3253, we understand that it is Sabra who made Mut'ah with the woman after giving out his cloak as a dower. However in Musnad Ahmad vol.3 pg. 405, we are told that Sabra was the ugly one with the new cloak and hence the woman made Mut'ah with his cousin despite his old cloak since he was handsome.

Then Shia conclude that such a contradictory narration cannot be used to cancel a vers of the Quran.