International media stated that the Consultative Assembly of Iran approved the amendment, which allows men to marry an undetermined number of wives. According to legislation, “pleasure marriage”, often known as Mutt'a, is a legitimate union derived from Holy Quran scripture (suras).
However, the Iranian Parliament has, nontheless, refused to allow the legal registration of “pleasure marriages”. Although the petitioners of legal registration for “pleasure marriage” aver, that the purpose of registration is not to codify such marriages, as much as to document and organize them.
It is worth mentioning that, “pleasure marriage” is not acceptable in all segments of Iranian society, notwithstanding there being both governmental and non-governmental organizations that offer their services to this type of marriage.
One such an organization is the Aastan Quds Rizvi Foundation in the city of Mashed, which recommends a price list based on the duration of the marriage. It is endorsed by Muslim scholars, who call such institutions “homes of virtue”. Still, the judicial authority in Iran has announced that this type of marriage is not acceptable. They deem it to be against moral values and familial foundations in Iranian society.
“Pleasure marriage” is defined as a temporary marriage (not a permanent one). It requires the approval of the bride's father, or her paternal grandfather, if she has never married before. One of the conditions of “pleasure marriage” involves a dowry, as well as a specified period of time agreed upon by both parties. Thus, they formulate the marriage contract upon this basis, such that the bride says to the groom, “I give you myself based on the specified time and dowry.” And the groom in return replies by saying, “I accept”.
“Pleasure marriage” does not stipulate that there be any witnesses. Nor does it insist that one member of the couple bequeath the other in case of untimely death before the expiry of the marriage.
Supporters of “pleasure marriage” quote Surat An-Nisa, verse 24, from the Holy Quran which says:
“Also (prohibited are) women already married except those whom your right hand possess, thus hath God ordained (prohibitions) against you; except for these all others are lawful, provided ye seek them (in marriage) with gifts from your property, desiring chastity, not lust. Seeing that ye derive benefit form them, their dowers (at least) as prescribed; but if after a dower is prescribed, ye agree mutually to (Vary it), there is no blame on you, and God is all knowing, all wise”.
