The Nature of Cohabitation (“White Marriage”) and the Feasibility of Its Compatibility with Contractual Marriage (Nikah Mu‘atat) with Reference to the Quran and Sunnah

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Masumiyeh Sisteran Higher Institute

2 full professor

10.22081/jqss.2025.70599.1347

Abstract

From the perspective of Islam and the verses of the Holy Quran, marriage is the cornerstone of family formation, the only legitimate means of satisfying sexual instincts, the foundation for emotional stability, and the guarantor of human continuity. It represents a middle path between monasticism and unrestrained sexual freedom. In Islamic jurisprudence, according to the school of Ahl al-Bayt, marriage (nikah) is classified into permanent marriage (‘aqd da’im) and temporary marriage (mut‘a). In contemporary times, a new form of marriage known as white marriage (cohabitation) has emerged and gained popularity. This practice refers to a man and woman living together for an indefinite period without adhering to family principles or social norms. White marriage is a product of Western attitudes toward women and the family, arising from the weakening of the family institution in the West.
The feminist theorist Simone de Beauvoir, in her influential book The Second Sex, identifies the root of women’s oppression in their sexual relationship with men and views womanhood as the result of gender stereotypes. Her famous statement, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” (De Beauvoir, 2003, Vol. 2, p. 13), underscores this idea. According to her, marriage strips women of their independence and hinders their creative potential, preventing them from attaining the same level of autonomy as men. She strongly defended bodily autonomy, abortion rights, and methods of reproduction independent of men. Based on such views, feminists advocate for the unconditional fulfillment of natural desires, particularly sexual needs, and reject the family as the best framework for satisfying them. For them, the biological function of the family reinforces patriarchal conditions (Farahmand, 2006, pp. 85–115).
Consequently, in Western schools of thought, marriage is treated as a private and personal relationship. When a man and woman decide to live together solely for personal reasons, under one roof, without official registration, legal recognition, or any binding commitment to remain together, this arrangement is referred to as white marriage. Living together without formal marriage has become a common lifestyle in the West, where women have lost their true status and are treated like commodities, contributing to the spread of sexual deviations. The rise of this type of relationship in the West has been attributed to several factors, including the rejection of patriarchal conditions, tax reductions for single individuals, and the restoration of property rights to women.
The main question of this study is whether white marriage is legitimate and acceptable according to Islam (as derived from Quranic verses and narrations) and Islamic law. If nikah mu‘atat (contractual marriage through mutual conduct without explicit verbal formula) is valid, can white marriage be considered a form of it? In light of Quranic verses and prophetic traditions, what is the legal and spiritual nature of nikah mu‘atat?
The hypothesis of this research is that white marriage is neither a valid form of nikah mu‘atat nor an independent legal contract. Therefore, it lacks both religious and legal legitimacy. If sexual intercourse occurs between the man and woman in such a relationship, it constitutes an unlawful (illicit) act.
This study seeks to examine the nature and reality of white marriage and its possible connection to nikah mu‘atat based on the Quran and Sunnah, while presenting supplementary arguments to complete the discussion and clarify the status of this practice according to Quranic and hadith-based evidence.
Employing a descriptive-analytical method, the article first defines the concepts of marriage, cohabitation, and nikah mu‘atat. It then explores the essence of white marriage and assesses the possibility of its alignment with nikah mu‘atat, emphasizing Quranic verses and traditions. The findings demonstrate that white marriage is incompatible with Islamic-Iranian culture, current Islamic laws in Iran, and the established forms of permanent and temporary marriage. Moreover, it does not meet the foundational conditions of nikah mu‘atat. Therefore, it cannot be validated or supported by the Quran, Sunnah, or the fatwas of Islamic jurists.
The conclusion of this article is that white marriage and cohabitation cannot be considered a form of marital union because the essential elements required for a lawful and religious marriage—even for nikah mu‘atat—are absent. Rather, such cohabitation typically serves as a temporary arrangement to escape economic or psychological difficulties or, at best, as a preliminary stage of acquaintance prior to formal marriage. Therefore, white marriage and cohabitation are neither legally nor religiously recognized as marriage and fail to satisfy the requirements of nikah mu‘atat.
The novelty of this research lies in its attention to relevant Quranic verses and its integration of ayat al-ahkam (legal verses of the Quran) in analyzing this contemporary social phenomenon.

Keywords

References

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Quranic Science Studies
Volume 7, Issue 1 - Serial Number 23
October 2025
Pages 64-101

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History

  • Receive Date: 25 December 2024
  • Revise Date: 06 April 2025
  • Accept Date: 09 June 2025
  • Publish Date: 01 October 2025

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