TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's hard-line interior minister is encouraging temporary marriages as a way to avoid extramarital sex, a stance many in this conservative country fear would instead encourage prostitution. A temporary marriage, or "sigheh," refers to a Shiite Muslim tradition under which a man and a woman sign a contract that allows them to be "married" for any length of time, even a few hours. An exchange of money, as a sort of dowry, is often involved.

This does indeed sound like a workaround for the legalities and moralities of prostitution, but the sigheh, or nikah mut‘ah is actually an old tradition, even older than Islam itself. Sexual relations are not the only purpose behind the sigheh; sometimes cohabiting partners might use it to ease dress restrictions while living under the same roof. Though the practice began in Arabia, Sunni Islam forbids this practice, and it is mostly observed by Twelver Shia.

What I find remarkable is not that the sigheh is used to form 'marriages' lasting only hours, but that it is used for relationships sometimes lasting many years, with a expiration date set by the two parties (thus eliminating the need for a divorce).

Why not? The libertarian in me loves the idea of things being reduced to contracts, and if two parties consent, who else has a right to butt in?

Crossposted from WILLisms.com | save this article / add to your favorites list