Boys In The Cave

Ep 135 - Misyar, Secret Wives, Polygamy, Mut'ah: Halal or Haram? | Habeeb Akande

Oct 24, 2025
Habeeb Akande, a British-Nigerian writer and sex expert, dives into the complexities of misyar and polygamy. He explores how some men misuse Islamic law for secrecy while emphasizing the need for ethical considerations beyond mere legalism. Akande discusses the implications of secret marriages on families and the pitfalls of cherry-picking religious texts. He critiques the impact of a sex-negative culture on perceptions of pleasure in Islam and underscores the importance of women's rights and informed consent in all relationships. A thought-provoking conversation!
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INSIGHT

Law Versus Ethical Spirit

  • Many men use legalistic interpretations of fiqh to justify secret marriages and sex tourism while ignoring ethics and harm.
  • Habeeb argues that ethical, Quranic principles should guide marital practice more than technical legal loopholes.
ANECDOTE

Sex Tourism And Hidden Wives

  • Habeeb recounts brothers taking temporary or secret wives abroad, sometimes resulting in STI transmission and deception of their primary wives.
  • He observed scholars endorsing such practices technically while the women often remained unaware and harmed.
ADVICE

Prioritize Ethics Over Loopholes

  • Prioritize marital ethics and transparency over ticking legal boxes when deciding about additional marriages or arrangements.
  • Consult the Quran and prophetic ethics, and consider foreseeable harm before using technical rulings as justification.
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