The Ruling on Correspondence and Contact with a Woman to Whom One Has Contracted Marriage
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A man married a young girl before she reached the age of maturity, and her family stipulated that he not consummate the marriage until she reaches maturity.
The Shaykh: Do you mean he is to delay the consummation?The questioner: Yes, but he is impatient and sends messages and personal photos of this girl. Is this behavior permissible for him?The Shaykh: After the marriage contract was completed?The questioner: Yes! After the marriage contract was completed.
The Shaykh: There is no harm if a man contracts marriage with a woman, for she is his wife. He may speak to her on the phone, and he may send her messages. As for the matter of photos, it depends on the permissibility of photography; is it permissible or not? I think he should not send photos, because she has already seen his picture and he has already seen hers, so there is no need, except if he is struck by a fire and his face changes, and he sends her the picture saying: “Do not be afraid, the face has not changed.” That would be a need, otherwise there is no need.
It remains to be said: Is it permissible for him not to contact her, given that he was stipulated not to enter upon her (consummate) until after one or two years?The Shaykh: What appears to me is: there is no harm in contacting her, but without sexual intercourse; because she is his wife. If he contacts her and enjoys sitting with her and kissing her, there is no harm. But sexual intercourse is not permissible; because sexual intercourse carries risk and leads to bad suspicion. She might become pregnant from this intercourse and give birth before the specified time for consummation, and the woman would be accused,Even if he shouted at the top of his voice: that it was he who had intercourse with her and this child is from him. It would not be accepted by people, nor would they believe it.
And with this, this session ends, and we ask Allah the Exalted to make it beneficial.
And Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.
The Shaykh: Do you mean he is to delay the consummation?The questioner: Yes, but he is impatient and sends messages and personal photos of this girl. Is this behavior permissible for him?The Shaykh: After the marriage contract was completed?The questioner: Yes! After the marriage contract was completed.
The Shaykh: There is no harm if a man contracts marriage with a woman, for she is his wife. He may speak to her on the phone, and he may send her messages. As for the matter of photos, it depends on the permissibility of photography; is it permissible or not? I think he should not send photos, because she has already seen his picture and he has already seen hers, so there is no need, except if he is struck by a fire and his face changes, and he sends her the picture saying: “Do not be afraid, the face has not changed.” That would be a need, otherwise there is no need.
It remains to be said: Is it permissible for him not to contact her, given that he was stipulated not to enter upon her (consummate) until after one or two years?The Shaykh: What appears to me is: there is no harm in contacting her, but without sexual intercourse; because she is his wife. If he contacts her and enjoys sitting with her and kissing her, there is no harm. But sexual intercourse is not permissible; because sexual intercourse carries risk and leads to bad suspicion. She might become pregnant from this intercourse and give birth before the specified time for consummation, and the woman would be accused,Even if he shouted at the top of his voice: that it was he who had intercourse with her and this child is from him. It would not be accepted by people, nor would they believe it.
And with this, this session ends, and we ask Allah the Exalted to make it beneficial.
And Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.