Fatwa ID: 09026
Answered by Maulana Shazad Bacchus
Question:
Please could you send me the proper Islamic way of seeing and talking to a sister prior to consideration of Nikkah?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
With regards to your question, a man is allowed to see and speak to a woman before nikah if his intention is marriage. He can look at her face and hands to understand her appearance, and he can talk to her in a respectful and simple way about important matters like deen and compatibility. The conversation should not include joking, flirting, or soft speech. They should not be alone together, and it is better if a mahram or family is present. So, it is allowed, but it must be done in a modest and proper way.[1]
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Shazad Bacchus
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
كتاب العناية شرح الهداية – بهامش فتح القدير ط الحلبي [البابرتي]
Maktaba shaamila pg (26/10)
وَمَنْ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً فَلَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يَنْظُرَ إلَيْهَا وَإِنْ عَلِمَ أَنَّهُ يَشْتَهِيهَا) لِقَوْلِهِ ﵊ فِيهِ «أَبْصِرْهَا فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى أَنْ يُؤْدَمَ بَيْنَكُمَا» وَلِأَنَّ مَقْصُودَهُ إقَامَةُ السُّنَّةِ لَا قَضَاءُ الشَّهْوَةِ