The Permissibility of a Prospective Groom Seeing His Fiancée Without Seclusion

Our sister from the Arab Republic of Egypt asks a third question, saying: A believing, committed young man proposed to a girl who is also committed, but without having seen her. Is this proposal valid? And is this young man considered to be deviating from the Sunnah?
Answer: It is better for him to see her. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that he should see her if it is possible for him to do so. He said to some of the Companions: And he said: meaning: until the marriage is established between them and love is established between them. So the point is that if it is facilitated for him to look at her, that is recommended (mustahabb), and it is closer to bringing about unity, harmony, and the establishment of affection. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: or as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said. So you, O Abdullah, it is prescribed (mashru') for you to look at your fiancée. If that is facilitated with the consent of her family or by another method, and if they do not consent, provided that it is done in a way that involves no seclusion (khalwah) and no handling of what Allah has forbidden—such as sitting with her in a place at the neighbors' or elsewhere until he sees her in a way that enables him to desire her or not.
Jabir said: or as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said . So the point is that his seeing her is a sought-after matter. If it is facilitated by her choice and the choice of her family, it is more complete without seclusion. He visits them and they show her to him in the presence of her mother, or her father, or her uncle, or the like, so that there is no seclusion. And if he looks at her from another direction where they are not aware of it, there is no harm in that, provided it is done in a way that has no religious concern. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.