Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … Awtas is the name of a valley in Ta’if. The events of the Battle of Awtas and the Conquest of Makkah occurred in the same year. In fact, some historians have written that the Conquest of Makkah took place in Ramadan of the 8th year (Hijri), and the Battle of Awtas in the following month, i.e., Shawwal of the same year. Therefore, what is meant by the year of the Battle of Awtas is the event of the Conquest of Makkah, because on that occasion the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam granted a concession for mut‘ah (temporary marriage) for three days, and then, before leaving Makkah Mukarramah, forbade it and said: ((Fa-inna Allaha ta‘ala qad harramaha ‘alaykum ila yawm al-qiyamah.)) … “Indeed, Allah the Exalted has made it unlawful for you until the Day of Resurrection.” (These words have already appeared at the end of Hadith number (6992).)

It should be kept in mind that on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada‘), the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam emphatically reiterated the prohibition of the mut‘ah marriage, so that everyone would be aware. Any narration in which mut‘ah is mentioned as being lawful at the time of the Farewell Pilgrimage is a mistake and an error.

Imam Nawawi said: The correct and preferred view is that the permissibility and prohibition of mut‘ah occurred twice. This marriage was lawful before the Battle of Khaybar; the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam forbade it at the time of Khaybar. The second time, at the Conquest of Makkah, he permitted it for three days, and then declared its prohibition forever.