The Ruling on Seeing the Fiancée Before the Contract

The questioner:
A questioner asks: What is the ruling on seeing the fiancée?

The Shaykh:
It is a recommended practice (sunnah). The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded seeing her before the contract; he looks at her beforehand, because that is closer to ensuring compatibility between them. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded this if it is feasible, or someone sits and describes her to him.

The questioner:
Some guardians refuse to let the suitor see their daughter and say, "My daughter is not a commodity." What is your opinion on that?

The Shaykh:
That is ignorance. The recommended practice (sunnah) is that he sees her, and praise be to Allah, but he does not seclude himself with her. He sees her in the presence of her mother, her brother, or the like; he does not seclude himself with her. Or he sees her from a distance, even if she does not know it.

The presenter:
Yes,