Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
- Muslim students in the West are not allowed to embark on marriage while they have the intention of terminating the marriage once they have finished your studies.
- The only option left for you, therefore, is to seriously consider marrying her if she is of a reliable and trustworthy character.
- Otherwise, seek other healthy ways of sublimation by taking your mind away from lustful thoughts and practicing the discipline of fasting.
Answering your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Is temporary marriage permissible?
Temporary marriage or marriage for convenience is not permissible in Islam. Marriage can only be contracted with the intention of forging a permanent union. Allah calls it a solemn contract. Like all contracts, Muslims should abide by them and keep them as a basic act of faith.
Moreover, marriage in Islam is a noble institution with high noble purposes such as achieving tranquility and peace through a successful union, partnership and companionship, commitment in shouldering the responsibilities of life, and rearing and nurturing of children.
It is for this reason that Islam insists that we look for compatibility in spiritual and moral values as the supreme criterion in selecting a marriage partner.
Based on the above considerations, we cannot resort to marriage simply for the purpose of sexual gratification.
Temporary marriage for Muslim students in the West
So it is not permissible for you to embark on marriage while you have the intention of terminating the marriage once you have finished your studies.
The only option left for you, therefore, is to seriously consider marrying her if she is of a reliable and trustworthy character.
Otherwise, seek other healthy ways of sublimation by taking your mind away from lustful thoughts and practicing the discipline of fasting. For the Prophet said, “Fasting helps to curb one’s desires!” (An-Nasa’i)
Finally, never fail to call upon the Lord to guide you to the right decision and strengthen you in your resolve to remain chaste, steadfast, and protected.
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.