January 20, 2005

Seegheh in Beverly Hills

Got this in my email box:

From: "Islamic Center of Beverly Hills" <ali@icbh.org>
To: "List Member" <jj@iranian.com>
Subject: MUTA (ISLAMIC DATING)

"For marriage, also prohibited are the women who are already married except believing women whom their disbelieving husbands are at war with you.* These are God's commandments to you. All other categories are permitted for you in marriage, so long as you pay them their due dowries (agreed gift). You shall maintain your morality (abstinence), by not committing adultery. Thus, whoever you Muta, you shall pay them the dowry decreed for them. You commit no error by mutual agreeing to any adjustments to the dowry. God is Omniscient, Most Wise." Quran 4-24

Muta (Sigheh) is an Islamic solution to replace chaotic dating seen in Western culture. Muta must have known time (e.g., for one week) for known amount (e.g., for $1000), you must not compare Muta with marriage. Muta is acceptable dating approved in Islam by our beloved Prophet (PBUH). Omar cancelled Muta and made it illegal. Shias believe Omar cannot disapprove what Prophet (PBUH) approved.

In Muta, a male cannot have more than one Muta at a time. A married man cannot have Muta in the same time and same place with his wife. After one Muta, women must wait 60 days (or 2 monthly period) to make sure she is not pregnant before accepting another Muta. Children from Muta must be supported by the father and the child takes the father's name.

Muta is not encouraged. Muta is a necessary solution for special circumstances (either man being away from his wife for a long time) or (single women needing a man or financial assistance for survival). Ritual must be performed by the man and is best to be documented in writing, signed and agreed by the woman. Married woman cannot accept Muta.

Muta prevents prostitution, dating, sexual anarchy, hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS that is so prevalent in the Western societies. Please look at it as last choice, necessary solution - not the first choice. The proper and honorable thing that you must do is abstinence followed by permanent marriage for life "until death do us apart". Please send us your reply.

* If believing women flee their disbelieving husbands who are at war with the believers, women do not have to obtain a divorce before remarriage. See Quran 60:10.

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