Nikaah- shi'a or sunni?

Submitted by Canadian Miso-islamist (Canada), Oct 7, 2005 at 12:27

Dr. Pipes:

I was surprised at a point that you did not make. A key theological difference between shi'ism and sunnism is the "temporary marriage" afforded to shi'ites per the jafari fiqh. Could you please elaborate on this. You note that "Arabs" (seemingly, from the Gulf States) are engaging in temporary marriages in Hyderabad, but I would expect all such "Arabs" to be Sunni.

I think that your piece may inadvertently cause some confusion, ie., less-sophisticated readers may now be left with the impresion that "Islam condones child prostitution in the guise of nikaah".

Your thoughts, please.

Regards and L'Shana Tova

CM-I

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