Marriages or Legal Prostitution in Saudi Arabia?

Dozens of Saudi men are shown during a mass wedding  in Shuqaiq.

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi 

A fanatic viewer does not consider the blogger as a historian and heritage management expert.He describes him as Shia and Kafir. Despite clarification that only those who deny Allah and Holy Prophet as his messenger can be dubbed as kafirs, he goes ahead with his own interpretation.Amusingly, he considers Jahangir as a true believer and alleges that Shias raise objection over a womaniser and drunkard Emperor while they themselves enjoy the privilege of  Muta. He even went on stating once that Shias resort to Swapping of their wives with a sarcastic remark "Teri Meri,Meri Teri,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha.

It is clear from all his replies that he is an ardent admirer of Saudi Arabia and out of his ignorance feels that Salafis /Wahabis/Saudis are devout Muslims.To make the fanatic understand as to how Grand Muftis of Saudi Arabia have legitimized prostitution through their unique fatwas and how many types of marriages are being performed in so called holy kingdom, the blogger decided to reveal the true face of Saudi Salafis.While my fanatic friend did not support his accusation with any fact ,figure or evidence, the blogger is replying to his allegations as under :

1- Misyar is a temporary relationship between men and women for sexual pleasure. In this relationship the woman relinquishes all her rights  that are available to her in an Islamic marriage.  It is claimed that 60 Salafi scholars, including Saudi Grand Mufti Shaikh Abdulaziz al-Shaikh  endorsed Misyar relationship between men and women in their fatawas.

2-Arab News reported on October 12, 2014 that MISYAR IS A WIDESPREAD SOCIAL REALITY IN SAUDI SALAFI SOCIETY as 7 out of 10 marriages in Saudi Arabia are based on Misyar. 

Several other formats of fake marriages in Saudi Arabia are : 

(a) URFA - In this relationship,  there are no official contracts signed and also does not give women any rights whatsoever.  She is kept as along as the man wishes to use her for sex. 

(b) MESYAF  ( Summer holiday marriage) -  It is a tourism marriage practised by Saudis and other Salafis in the world who go on summer vacation to countries, like Yamen, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries.  They take advantage of poor Muslim families by fake marriages with young, rather very young girls between the ages of  9 to 16 years  in collusion with local middlemen and agents who are paid for these notorious services. 

  

(c) FRIEND MARRIAGE -  In this marriage, the bride does not go out of her house.  The male goes to her house  in the night or meets with her in a hotel and have sex with her.Then.she goes back to her home.There is no provision of legal maintenance from man.In most of the cases the woman demands a certain amount and gets it in advance. 

(e) MISFAR  -  (Foreign study and Business Trip marriage)It is a deceptive marriage  contracted by a Salafi for sexual gratification so that a woman may cohabit with him for the period he is visiting a foreign country. These women are formally divorced after a short period that ranges from a week to a month.  It is natural that most of these women who fall victim to this kind of fake marriage come from deprived backgrounds, and  have very little say in the matter. Many Fatawa by Saudi Scholars  in this context are available on officialwebsites like Bin Baaz.

Most alarming in this context is the  Fatwa by Shaikh Adil Al-Kalbani, the Imam of the Grand Mosque of Makka issued on July 16, 2010. This Fatwa was published on  www.al-arabiya.net.

 Sheikh issued  this fatwa after receiving an email from an overseas Saudi male student studying in the ‘West’.  The Saudi student, who is married and living with his wife, claims that he is worried about controlling his desires when he sees ‘Western’ females wearing seductive semi-naked clothes that arouse him.He asks the Sheikh it is OK to marry one of those women in a ‘Misfar’ marriage, 

Sheikh posted on his own website his fatwa that permits Saudis marrying Western women with the intention of divorcing them when they are finished with them  without the pre-knowledge of the women of their deceitful plan. Meaning, the Imam has given green light to Saudi overseas students and travelling businessmen to use women as disposable containers to relieve themselves sexually.

Saudi Newspaper Ash-Sharq on February 03, 2011, devoted its main page to launch a scathing and  virulent attack on Saudis who travel abroad and indulge in obscene (sex) parties, night clubs and prowl in sex tourism countries around the Globe.  The paper also published several pictures, videos and films showing Saudis dancing in obscene parties.

(More references available on request.This post to be honest is reply to the fanatic viewer but is being published so that others who feel Saudis very devout could also come to know how they have legalized prostitution in the form of fake marriages.Photo Courtesy Google Images/Arab News)