I may not know much about mutah, and have no intention of doing it, but I am curious to know what its purpose is in Islam. Also, I heard that there is a mahr that must be paid. With all due respect to our faith, what is the difference between prostitution and mutah then? The goal for each seems to be the same. Again I mean no disrespect to the religion, I just want to understand.

Salam

Mutah is a marriage contract where the woman is viewed as ones wife and given respect and rights as a wife for a specified time. Whereas in prostitution the woman has no rights at all and is looked at in a bad disrespectful way.