The honorable Shaykh, is it permissible for the suitor to see his fiancée during the engagement period, given that the sister who is the prospective bride is wearing a niqab? I ask for your guidance. May Allah reward you.
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The questioner : The honorable Shaykh, is it permissible for the suitor to see his fiancée during the engagement period, given that the sister who is the prospective bride is wearing a niqab? I ask for your guidance. May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The answer to this question is that it is permissible for the suitor to look at whatever of his fiancée prompts him to marry her, from what is usually visible, such as the face, the hands, the feet, the head, and the like. This is because if he looks at his fiancée and marries her out of conviction, it is more likely that there will be lasting affection between them, and that the relationship will endure with harmony and love. However, there are conditions for this. First, he must not be alone with her in a place. For the seclusion of a man with a woman who is not one of his mahram relatives is forbidden, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 5233.
Second, it is required that his looking at her not be a look of desire and pleasure, but rather a look of inquiry to decide whether to proceed or refrain. If it is for pleasure and enjoyment, it is not permissible, because she is not one of his lawful wives whom he is permitted to enjoy looking at and take pleasure in.
Third, he must be confident that his proposal will be accepted. If he is confident that it will not be accepted, there is no need to look in this case of non-acceptance. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This listener from Egypt says in her message.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The answer to this question is that it is permissible for the suitor to look at whatever of his fiancée prompts him to marry her, from what is usually visible, such as the face, the hands, the feet, the head, and the like. This is because if he looks at his fiancée and marries her out of conviction, it is more likely that there will be lasting affection between them, and that the relationship will endure with harmony and love. However, there are conditions for this. First, he must not be alone with her in a place. For the seclusion of a man with a woman who is not one of his mahram relatives is forbidden, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
No man should stay with a lady in seclusion except in the presence of a Dhu- Muhram.
لا يخلون رجل بامرأة إلا مع ذي محرمSecond, it is required that his looking at her not be a look of desire and pleasure, but rather a look of inquiry to decide whether to proceed or refrain. If it is for pleasure and enjoyment, it is not permissible, because she is not one of his lawful wives whom he is permitted to enjoy looking at and take pleasure in.
Third, he must be confident that his proposal will be accepted. If he is confident that it will not be accepted, there is no need to look in this case of non-acceptance. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you. This listener from Egypt says in her message.