This innovation, recognized only by the minority Shi'a branch of Islam, might seem most beneficial to women. Where Islamic law holds, a man can divorce his wife simply by repeating 3 times "I divorce thee," but a woman has no right to divorce without her husband's consent. Under this "temporary marriage," however, a woman can escape a bad decision after 6 months (or whatever the term of the marriage was).
October 4, 2000
By ELAINE SCIOLINO
[...]
The practice of temporary marriage [sigheh] is said to have existed during the lifetime of Muhammad, who is believed to have recommended it to his companions and soldiers. The majority Sunni sect in Islam banned it; the minority Shiite sect did not. Historically, the practice was used most frequently in Iran by pilgrims in Shiite shrine cities like Meshed and Qum. Pilgrims who traveled had sexual needs, the argument went. Temporary marriage was a legal way to satisfy them. [...]
[Until recently, "sigheh" had been considered somewhat disreputable.]
But now an odd mix of feminists, clerics and officials have begun to discuss sigheh as a possible solution to the problems of Iran's youth. [...]
[Many young people cannot afford marriage.]
[Children of temporary marriages are legitimate and entitled to share in the father's inheritance. Nevertheless, a weekly journal "The Hope of Youth" advises the temporarily-married to use birth control.]
[end of excerpts from NYT article]