Misyar Marriage
A Sunni Muslim marriage contract in which couples can live separately but get together regularly, often for sexual relations.
The misyar marriage may be seen as an adaptation of marriage to the needs of people who are not able to marry in the traditional way. In countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, this is usually due to the cost of rents; the high amounts of dowry required; the high cost of living in general; and other similar economic and financial concerns.
However, many see it as legal prostitution, as the wife gives up several of her rights by her own free will, such as living with the husband, rights to housing, maintenance money and equal division of nights between wives in cases of polygamy.
The requirements for an authorized Misyar marriage are:
- Blessing of the woman's guardian.
- Consent of both parties.
- The absence of a fixed time period for the contract.
- The payment by the husband to his wife of Mahr in the amount that is agreed.
- Presence of a state marriage official.
- Presence of witnesses.
In some cases, wealthy Arab men may enter into a Misyar marriage while on holiday, in order to have sexual relations with another woman without committing the sin of zina (extramarital sex). They then usually divorce the woman once their holiday is over. However, if this is understood by both parties at the time of the marriage contract, this would constitute a fixed time period, effectively making such a marriage invalid in Sunni law.
