muta marriage

Muta is a marriage contracted for a fixed period, which may be a day, a month or years, with a specified dower. It is valid only under Ithna Ashari Shia law; Sunni law treats it as void. If the period is not specified, the marriage may be treated as a permanent one.

A muta marriage ends automatically on expiry of the term; there is no talaq, though the husband may make a gift of the remaining term (hiba-i-muddat). Children are legitimate and inherit from both parents, but the spouses do not inherit from each other. The wife's right to maintenance under personal law is limited, though she may claim under s.144 BNSS.

Example

The parties contracted a muta marriage for one year with a dower of Rs 50,000, and the marriage ended on the expiry of the year.

See also

nikah · mahr · batil marriage · fasid marriage

Read more in the study notes

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