Hadith of Sabra reporting on the prohibition of Mut'ah

A 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

Overview

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

The narration

From Sahih Muslim, Abu Da'ud, Ibn Majah, Al-Nasa'i, and Darimi [ [http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/mutah/en/chap6.php Answering-Ansar.org :: Mut'ah, a comprehensive guide ] ] :

In another version [ [http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/mutah/en/chap6.php Answering-Ansar.org :: Mut'ah, a comprehensive guide ] ] :

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abrah, Year of Conquest, his companion from Banu Sulaim, three nights

abrah, During the Victory of Mecca, fifteen days, companion of my tribe

abrah, until Day of Resurrection

quoteHadith|Sabrah ibn Ma'bad|matn=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 [muslim|8|3262, muslim-ucs|8|3255]

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 [muslim|8|3256] .|, on the authority of his father

abrah, two cloaks

quoteHadith|Ibn Shihab|matn=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. [muslim|8|3261]

abrah, Day of Conquest of Mecca, two red cloaks

quoteHadith|Rabi ibn Sabra|matn=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 [muslim|8|3260] .|, on the authority of his father

abrah

*
*

*muslim|8|3251

*muslim|8|3248
*muslim|8|3249
*muslim|8|3250

*muslim|8|3243
*muslim|8|3244
*muslim|8|3245
*muslim|8|3246
*muslim|8|3247

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.

Views

unni view

PresentScholar|Ibn Kathir|14th stated in his Tafsir of an-Nisa, 24 states [ [http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=4&tid=10803 site, offline as of 2006-09-29] [http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:pBBUYhiUz4wJ:www.tafsir.com/default.asp%3Fsid%3D4%26tid%3D10829+%22Ma%27bad+al-Juhani%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=21 Google Cache] ] :

PresentScholar|Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyya|14th|Sunni 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:cquote|bgcolor=#F0FFF0|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.

...

It is argued that if this hadith were correct Ibn Masud would have known 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. [Zad al-Ma'ad vo1.2 pg. 184 or Volume 2 p. 05 or p.205]

Ibn al-Qayyim iterates the most common view on when Muhammad is supposed to have forbidden it:cquote|bgcolor=#F0FFF0|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" Zad al-Ma'ad Volume 1 page 442]

hi'a view

The Shia site [http://www.answering-ansar.org/answers/mutah/en/chap6.php 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 contradictory and contradicts a verse of the Quran, as follows:

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.

References

ee also

*List of Muslim reports