Umar: The one who banned the two mutahs

It is time to deal with the bitter truth that it was not the Prophet of Allah who banned Mutah, but rather Umar Ibn Khattab, a man who has no right to change the religion of Islam.

During his caliphate, Umar made a speech banning both Mutah of women (temporary marriage) and Mutah of hajj. It cannot be denied that this was a very controversial announcement, as many of the companions themselves believed, and rightfully so, that the Prophet of God never forbade them.

“There were two mutahs during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah that I forbid and will punish who practices them: the Mutah of women and the Mutah of hajj.” (Razi says), “No one denies this narration.”

(Tafsir al-Kabeer, Razi, Volume 4, Page 42)

We see here Ibn Abbas denying the Prophet banned it, and asserting that it as Umar who did.

Ibn Abbas narrated, “The Messenger of Allah gave us the order to practise Mutah, and it existed.” ‘Urwah ibn Zubayr said, “Abu Bakr and Umar stopped this”. Ibn Abbas responded, “I'm telling you what the Messenger of Allah deemed permissible and you're telling me what Abu Bakr and Umar did. I see that you shall be destroyed.”

(Musnad, Ahmed Bin Hanbal, Volume 5, Page 228)

Even Abdullah Ibn Umar, the caliph’s own son, had a problem with his father’s announcement. Note, many olden-day copies of Sunan Tirmidhi did not have the words “of hajj”, indicating Ibn Umar shared this view for both Mutahs.

“Abdullah ibn Umar was questioned about the mutah of Hajj. He said: It is halal.” The questioner then asked, “But your father has forbidden it?” He replied: When my father forbids something practiced by the Messenger of Allah then what is the better option for me to pursue: to follow the order of my father or that of the Messenger of Allah? The man said: Certainly you have to obey the commandment of the Messenger of Allah.”

(Sunan Tirmidhi #832)

A man asked Ibn Umar when I was with him on mutah with women. Ibn Umar was angered and said, “By Allah, we were not adulterers during the time of the Prophet.”

(Musnad, Ahmed, Volume 2, #5536)

Analysing the Sunni hadiths which claim the Prophet forbade Mutah

The Sunni hadiths which claim that the Prophet Mohammed banned Mutah are confused and dubious. However, the picture that can be drawn is that the Prophet supposedly banned Mutah at Khaybar in 7H, and then later permitted it again at the conquest of Mecca a couple of years later (as if the companions were still unable to remove their jahiliya tendencies 22 years after converting) before banning it until the day of Judgement.

Overall, the hadith which state that Mutah has been made haram until the day of Judgement are ahadi narrations. It is impossible that a religious institution legislated by Allah in his book could be abrogated by an ahadi report, which do not even hold up to close scrutiny. If there was indeed a hadith banning Mutah, why did Umar not rely on it when making his controversial announcement!

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