Is it possible to apply the practice of looking at the prospective bride now?
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The questioner : The image mentioned by the author does not exist...
The Shaykh : Which one?
The questioner : This image.
The Shaykh : Which one? The images?
The questioner : ... It does not exist.
The Shaykh : Why? Are we discussing the rulings of the Shari'ah, or are we discussing the rulings of the Shari'ah—may Allah have mercy on you—regardless of their implementation? Implementation is one thing; our discussion is about whether a person knows the rulings of the Shari'ah. Is it possible in any country that a person does not propose to a woman? How do people get married?
The questioner : It is not possible...
The Shaykh : It is not possible... No, it is possible to look at her. It is possible. In our time, I am telling you, even in our place, perhaps forty or fifty years ago, it was not possible to look at the prospective bride at all. Even if the suitor said, "I want to propose," they would say, "She is not for sale to you," and they would rebuke him. But when information spread and people became knowledgeable in fiqh, it happened. May Allah... We say we fear that the matter will deteriorate and become like the proposal of the Westerners. The Westerners, when... they propose to a woman, they go out with her for many days and are alone with her, and they do everything except marriage. Yes?
The questioner : He answers the children and then...
The Shaykh : Allah knows best. Yes?
The Shaykh : Which one?
The questioner : This image.
The Shaykh : Which one? The images?
The questioner : ... It does not exist.
The Shaykh : Why? Are we discussing the rulings of the Shari'ah, or are we discussing the rulings of the Shari'ah—may Allah have mercy on you—regardless of their implementation? Implementation is one thing; our discussion is about whether a person knows the rulings of the Shari'ah. Is it possible in any country that a person does not propose to a woman? How do people get married?
The questioner : It is not possible...
The Shaykh : It is not possible... No, it is possible to look at her. It is possible. In our time, I am telling you, even in our place, perhaps forty or fifty years ago, it was not possible to look at the prospective bride at all. Even if the suitor said, "I want to propose," they would say, "She is not for sale to you," and they would rebuke him. But when information spread and people became knowledgeable in fiqh, it happened. May Allah... We say we fear that the matter will deteriorate and become like the proposal of the Westerners. The Westerners, when... they propose to a woman, they go out with her for many days and are alone with her, and they do everything except marriage. Yes?
The questioner : He answers the children and then...
The Shaykh : Allah knows best. Yes?