The role of the institution of temporary marriage in Iranian culture

Abstract

In the history of Iran, the institution of temporary marriage is old-established. However, in different historical periods this institution had different forms and functions. Although temporary marriage did not receive public recognition among the Iranian people, this institution continues to exist in the Iranian society. The author attempts to determine the reasons for its perpetuation in the Iranian culture. Analysis is conducted on the dynamics of transformations of the institution of temporary marriage in the Iranian culture in different historical periods. The conclusions are acquired using the method of comparative-historical analysis of historical manuscripts and written testimonies. The author classifies and describes the three historical periods “Ancient Iran”, “The Initial Period of Islam prior to the Islamic Republic”, and “The Islamic Republic”. The results demonstrate that the institution of temporary marriage, which emerged on the basis of patriarchal culture of Iranian society, legitimately met individual needs, such as sexual desire, childbearing, livelihood; and social needs, such as inheritance, strengthening of social ties. In each historical period, this institution also performed special cultural functions revealed in the course of this research. There is yet no comprehensive and documented historical research, which would compare all historical periods in a single work.