Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Muta (Islamic Prostitution) Still Common in Poor Areas of Egypt

Muhammad allowed his followers to practice a form of prostitution called Muta. In Muhammad's time, a Muslim could pay a woman for "temporary marriage," which would last a few hours or a few days. According to certain traditions, Muhammad eventually changed his mind about this obviously immoral practice. However, some of Islam's most trusted sources declare that Muhammad never prohibited Muta. For instance, the following passage in Sahih Muslim declares that Muslims were practicing Muta well beyond the lifetime of Muhammad:

Sahih Muslim 3248—Ibn Uraij reported: 'Ati' reported that Jabir b. Abdullah came to perform 'Umra, and we came to his abode, and the people asked him about different things, and then they made a mention of temporary marriage, whereupon he said: Yes, we had been benefiting ourselves by this temporary marriage during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet and during the time of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar.

Some hadith claim that it was Umar, rather than Muhammad, who outlawed Muta:

Sahih Muslim 3250—Abu Nadra reported: While I was in the company of Jabir b. Abdullah, a person came to him and said that Ibn 'Abbas and Ibn Zubair differed on the two types of Mut'a (Tamattu’ of Hajj 1846 and Tamattu’ with women), whereupon Jabir said: We used to do these two during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger. Umar then forbade us to do them, and so we did not revert to them.

Hence, Muslim men who want to hire prostitutes can simply point out that Muhammad, Islam's final prophet, allowed prostitution, and that later Muslims (like Umar) cannot overrule Muhammad. Moreover, since Muhammad allowed sex with prepubescent girls, pedophiles are free to seek out child prostitutes. That's exactly what's going on in Egypt.

El HAWAMDIA, Egypt , Aug 5 2013 (IPS) - Each summer, wealthy male tourists from Gulf Arab states flock to Egypt to escape the oppressive heat of the Arabian Peninsula, taking residence at upscale hotels and rented flats in Cairo and Alexandria. Many come with their families and housekeeping staff, spending their days by the pool, shopping, and frequenting cafes and nightclubs. Others come for a more sinister purpose.

In El Hawamdia, a poor agricultural town 20 kilometres south of Cairo, they are easy to spot. Arab men in crisp white thawbs troll the town’s pot-holed, garbage-strewn streets in their luxury cars and SUVs. As they arrive, Egyptian fixers in flip flops run alongside their vehicles, offering short-term flats and what to them is the town’s most sought-after commodity – underage girls.

Each year, in El Hawamdia and other impoverished rural communities across Egypt, thousands of girls between the ages of 11 and 18 are sold by their parents to wealthy, much older Gulf Arab men under the pretext of marriage. The sham nuptials may last from a couple of hours to years, depending on the negotiated arrangement.

“It’s a form of child prostitution in the guise of marriage,” Azza El-Ashmawy, director of the Child Anti-Trafficking Unit at the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) tells IPS. “The man pays a sum of money and will stay with the girl for a few days or the summer, or will take her back to his country for domestic work or prostitution.”

The girl is returned to her family when the marriage ends, usually to be married off again.

“Some girls have been married 60 times by the time they turn 18,” says El-Ashmawy. “Most ‘marriages’ last for just a couple of days or weeks.”

The deals are hatched in El Hawamdia’s myriad “marriage broker” offices, identifiable by the conspicuous presence of air-conditioners in a ramshackle town with intermittent power.

The brokers, usually second-rate lawyers, also offer a delivery service. Village girls as young as 11 are brought to the Arab tourists’ hotel or rented flat for selection. Arab men travelling with their wives and children often arrange a separate flat for such purposes.

The temporary marriages offer a way to circumvent Islamic restrictions on pre-marital sex.

“Many hotels and landlords in Egypt will not rent a room to unmarried couples,” explains Mohamed Fahmy, a Cairo real estate agent. “A marriage certificate, even a flimsy one, allows visiting men to have sexual liaisons.”

Engaging in sexual relations with minors is illegal in Egypt. Brokers can help with that too, forging birth certificates or substituting the identity card of the girl’s older sister.

A one-day mut’a or “pleasure” marriage can be arranged for as little as 800 Egyptian pounds (115 dollars). The money is split between the broker and the girl’s parents. (Continue Reading.)

24 comments:

Unknown said...

Dear David even if that is True, Don't Judge Islam by Muslims, Because we know that prophet Muhammad Allowed Muta in a short time then he Prohibited.
the people of all religions some times do what is prohibited in their religion.
in Islam when you are marrying if your intention is to pleasure short time then divorce, that contract is invalid.

David Wood said...

Hi Mohamoud,

I judge Islam by what it teaches, not by what Muslims do. You admit that your prophet allowed prostitution for some time. Did you read the quotations I posted? They say that Muhammad didn't forbid Muta. So why do you reject these Hadith?

Mary said...

This is why we need laws defining marriage as between only one man and one woman and forbidding the use of Shariah law. Otherwise, these kinds of abhorrent practices would be practiced as a "cultural" thing that is beyond scrutiny in a multicultural (i.e., tolerating evil) world.

Unknown said...

Hi Mohamed, read David's write up and you'll understand that you repeated what he wrote. Instead of trying to defend, sit back and think about these things carefully and determine if there're morally or ethically or humanly upright. Consider the case of having sex with a girl child, it doesn't matter whether married or not.

sla said...

Prophet Mohammed did forbid the Muta.

Ref:

Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 526:

Narrated Ibn Umar:On the day of Khaiber, Allah's Apostle forbade the eating of garlic and the meat of donkeys.

Volume 5, Book 59, Number 527:

Narrated 'Ali bin Abi Talib: On the day of Khaibar, Allah's Apostle forbade the Mut'a (i.e. temporary marriage) and the eating of donkey's meat.

Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 86, Number 91:

Narrated Muhammad bin 'Ali:'Ali was told that Ibn 'Abbas did not see any harm in the Mut'a marriage. 'Ali said,"Allah's Apostle forbade the Mut'a marriage on the Day of the battle of Khaibar and he forbade the eating of donkey's meat."

Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3259:

Rabi' b. Sabra reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) prohibited the contracting of temporary marriage.

Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3260:

Rabi' b. Sabra reported on the authority of his father that 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' b. Sabra that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade to contract temporary marriage with women at the time of Victory, and that his father had contracted the marriage for two red cloaks.

Book 021, Number 4763:

'Ali b. Abi Talib reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade on the Day of Khaibar temporary marriage (Muta') with women and the eating of the flesh of domestic asses.

Book 008, Number 3262:

Sabra al-Juhanni reported on the authority of his father: 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.

Book 008, Number 3263:

'Ali b. AbiTalib reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited on the Day of Khaibar the contracting of temporary marriage with women and the eating of the flesh of domestic asses.

Book 008, Number 3264:

Malik narrated this hadith on the authority of the same chain of trans- witters that 'Ali b.Abi Talib said to a person: You are a person led astray; Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade us (to do Mut'a), as is stated In the hadith transmitted on the authority of Yahya b. Malik.

Book 008, Number 3265:

Muhammad b. 'Ali narrated on the authority of his father 'Ali that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) on the Day of Khaibar prohibited for ever the contracting of temporary marriage and eating of the flesh of the domestic asses.

Book 008, Number 3266:

'Ali (Allah be pleased with him) heard that Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) gave some relaxation in connection with the contracting of temporary marriage, whereupon he said: Don't be hasty (in your religious verdict), Ibn 'Abbas, for Allah's Messenger (may
peace be upon him) on the Day of Khaibar prohibited for ever the doing of it-And eating of the flesh of domestic asses.

Book 008, Number 3267:

'Ali (Allah be pleased with him) said to Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) on the Day of Khaibar forbade forever the contracting of temporary marriage and the eating of the flesh of domestic asses.


This id reported in both Muslim and Bukhari and scholarship are unanimous that Prophet indeed prohibited muta .

David Wood said...

sla,

I think you're missing the point completely. Many ahadith say that Muhammad eventually forbade Muta. And many ahadith say that he NEVER forbade Muta, and that a later Muslim forbade the practice. So which narrations should you believe? Whichever ones you want to believe!

BTW, you seem to believe that Muta is evil. If so, shouldn't you reject Muhammad for allowing it in the first place?

Anonymous said...

No, it's true you people judge islam by how in some of the verses it says to kill and slay unbelivers but the bible has twice the violence against Islam. And you know what is silly, jews and christans are against each other and they read the same book.

Foolster41 said...

"Twice the violence". Violence does not equal calls to violence.
Just because violence is being described doesn't mean it is being approved of. You are either completely dishonest, or didn't think before you posted this.

Perhaps you should show us where in the bible there are open ended calls for violence, as the Quoran does?

"And you know what is silly, Jews and christans are against each other and they read the same book."
You are ignorant. Yu make it sound like we have exactly the same book and yet disagree, but we do not. Christians have this thing called the New Testiment. Also, no matter how much Jews and Chrstians disagree we aren't beheading and bombing each other.

abiola said...

Go to A blog that criticizes the teachings of the bible and defend it.....These blogs are not run by muslims, but different churches fighting themselves..I don't know what you teach on here but u urself know that its blatant rubbish.Allah is one,Establish salah,Pay zakah,Cover ur heads,Perform ablution,believe in the prophet,these are all in the bible.Fighting(For good cause) is in the bible,prophets insulted of rape and incest,drunk prophets in the bible,david whom u claim jesus came from was said to have comitted adultery,even the bible claims that God woke up from sleep like a drunkard,Just face ur religion and do the rubbish ur doing,cos I know u r not following any teaching of jesus christ..I'm sure u were not circumcised...but nonetheless...Do what u have to do..God!!!,who created the heavens and the heart,Who is He?...that's my Question to you...Forget ur religion or anything

Foolster41 said...

Hello, Albiola.

"These blogs are not run by muslims, but different churches fighting themselves."
Yes, it's not by Muslims (as if that's a secret). Why is that a problem? Do you think only Muslims should speak about Islam? Do you live in the west?

"I don't know what you teach on here but u urself know that its blatant rubbish."
Well. Usually when someone in one breath says they don't know what their talking about is rubbish, that's a good sign that the person should be ignored. How can you say something is "blatant rubbish" if you don't know what it is? This sounds suspiciously like trying to shut people up when they criticize Islam instead of having a debate where you refute with evidence (of couse, I've never heard of a muslim doing that before! /sarc).

",these are all in the bible." etc.
Now, this last part of the comment is rubbish.
Zakat is the payment of money by subdued non-muslims to muslims. Perhaps you can point out how that is in the bible. I assume you thought we just don't know what Zakat is.

Yes, David commited adultry,but God judged him for it (it's right there, in the context of the passage.

I'm not sure what you mean about God waking up like a drunkard. I don't remember that passage in the bible.

Perhaps you could not be like Rukiah and actually type coherently and provide evidence for things you say. That'd be appreciated.

Unknown said...

The Quran says we should not speak of what we know not... If even just that part could be agreed on, the world would be a better place, Insha Allah.

I am a Muslim prostitute, living in London. I can tell you that prostitution is still quite common in London, though I'm the only Muslim I know from my peers in the sex industry. It's a funny intersection...

Hookers (secular ones too) are sick and tired of being called victims whilst their voices are not heard, we say "We are independent women who are empowered without anyone's permission, start-up capital, or educational requirements. We are people of colour, trans* people, working class people, single parents, people without passports or the right to work... And we empower ourselves."

Similarly, Muslim women are misrepresented, and we say that we are not victims, but people with more privilege insist we need saving from barbarism and oppression, whilst they ignore our voices.

Islam isn't one thing, just like how Christianity isn't one thing, and so it is natural that some people will disagree on some points. Allah knows best, and on that we agree.

If you would like to gain some insight into what it means to be a Muslim sex-worker, I'd be happy to tell you what I know.

Unknown said...

Pope say its peace so its peace when you will ever understand it?

Im proud to be catholic and for the rest of the world do what you want.

No sense to discuss about religions and what is written in books how you ever will proof this or come to the end of a discussion.

To the working Girl hey come to Zürich for few month work here :)

I do listen sometimes to working Girls and yes i Keep it a secret.

Its legal to the countrys law so it is legal it is not permitted to bomb people so its not permitted. Its not legal to sell drugs so its not permitted. And its not legal to avoid School Swimming because of some Religion.


I do follow the law of the Country im in thats it no discussion and if i go to a muslim Country i will follow their laws simple as that.

Unknown said...

I have a question from all of you that naming (Muta) as a Prostitution, If you named it Prostitute so it means that marriage is also prostitute because it has rules and regulation like Marriage, Proper Nikah and much more... But you don't know about that and trying to make argument from your washed brain. It is legal and will be always but it has rules and regulation, it is not like Prostitution that pick some girl in the street and fuck it.

Foolster41 said...

@Gulfam Hussain Noor:
Maybe you didn't notice, that's not a question. It starts off sounding like you want a clearification, but then go off on a rant how people are brain washed!

Also, just because it has rules doesn't make it right or not prostitution. A man pays for a girl to haven sex with her.

Also once again here is a Muslim who uses foul language.

Unknown said...

Can any one tell me?
Which riligion is bad ?
If Islam is bad then type only Islam
If christinity is bad type only Christin.

Unknown said...

it's no about prostitution,most of this women are children(10,11,12,13,14,15 years old?),after this "muta"(maybe forced or practice under family pressure) when the time to have a real marriage comes:who in this enviroment/culture wants to marry a woman who is not virgin?this lead the poor women in a worst situation who nobody wants to take as a wife and will prostitute her self again with out mention how this affect you physical and mental.

Unknown said...

The reality is that Mutah was permissible in the early days of Islam, but was eventually banned categorically by the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم). This is very similar to wine, which was at first permissible in Islam, and it was only later in time that the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) forbade it. The prohibitions against wine were expounded slowly over a period of time. In the beginning, drinking wine was permissible and many of the Sahabah did it. Then, the Quran declared that wine was harmful and bad. After some more time, the Quran forbade approaching prayer whilst drunk. After the people had become accustomed to this, it was only then that they were ready so that Allah and His Messenger (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) completely forbade wine.
Why did the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) first allow wine and then later forbid it? This was only because Islam was revealed in stages, and the faith was going through a transitional period, with the Shariah being expounded during the life-span of the Prophet. If the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) had not banned wine in stages, and instead had he (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) simply banned wine immediately, it would have been very hard for the early Muslims who were accustomed to wine-drinking, which was a hobby of the pagan Arabs. Many of them were early converts and their faith was weak. They had an addiction to wine, and many of them would become apostates if wine was suddenly banned outright. So, the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) banned wine in gradual stages so that it was easier on the people.
Likewise, Mutah was a hobby of the pagan Arabs. Hence, it was not forbidden in the beginning. This is because Islam was in a transitional stage. The Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) initially allowed Mutah on a few occassions because there were many new converts to Islam who had weak faith. They were often in times of war away from their wives, in which their desires got the best of them since they were not accustomed to the chastity of Islam. In order to prevent the apostacy of these new converts over the issue of Mutah, the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) did not forbid Mutah immediately. (And these are the Hadith which the Shia quote to “prove” that Sunnis believe in the permissibility of Mutah.)
Once the Muslims became stronger in faith, the Prophet (صلّى الله عليه وآله وسلّم) categorically banned the practise of Mutah.

Anonymous said...

We thought Mopet only spoke what was revealed to him by ALLAH..How come mutah was transitional in stages, So what are all the verses in QUran which are transitional and Still FALSE...And misleding a fifth of mankind in all sorts of terrorism and false god ALLAh

inezaltar said...

How then are only two marriages permitted under Islam

truthaboutislam said...

Islam is against Terrorism Terrorists are not following Islam. Allah says in Quran whoever kills a soul unless it is as though he has killed all mankind. Muslims Are Not Terrorists and whoever saves one life it is as if he had saved mankind entirely

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