Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah: The Prophet ﷺ said: When one of you asked a woman in marriage, if he is able to look at what will induce him to marry her, he should do so. He (Jabir) said: I asked a girl in marriage, I used to look at her secretly, until I looked at what induced me to marry her. I, therefore, married her.
Related hadith on this topic
Explanation & Benefits
Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi
Benefits and Issues:
This looking is recommended (mustahabb), and what is meant by it is a coincidental, fleeting glance, as Jabir radi Allahu anhu has described regarding himself. However, woe to modern civilization, that under this pretext, both young men and women meet alone, go out together for excursions, shopping, and Allah knows what else occurs—Shari‘ah absolutely does not tolerate such things. Such open meetings before marriage are strictly forbidden (haram), and this looking is also more beneficial before the engagement is firmly established. Until the marriage contract (‘aqd) is concluded, the fiancés remain strangers to each other.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawood – Commentary by Shaykh Umar Farooq Saeedi, Page: 2082
Shaykh Safi ur-Rahman Mubarakpuri
Takhrij:
«أخرجه أبوداود، النكاح، باب في الرجل ينظر إلي المرأة وهو يريد تزويجها، حديث:2082، وأحمد:3 /334، والحاكم:2 /165 وصححه علي شرط مسلم، ووافقه الذهبي، وحديث المغيرة أخرجه الترمذي، النكاح، حديث:1087، والنسائي، النكاح، حديث:3237 وسنده صحيح، وحديث محمد بن سلمة أخرجه ابن ماجه، النكاح، حديث:1864، وابن حبان(الموارد)، حديث:1235 وهو حديث حسن.»©Explanation:
➊ According to this hadith, a man should himself look once at the woman whom he intends to marry.
According to the majority of scholars, doing so is recommended (mustahabb), not obligatory or necessary.
➋ If he sends a trustworthy female relative to inquire about the woman's facial appearance, complexion, habits, and characteristics, that is also permissible, as the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) sent Umm Sulaym to gather information about a woman.
© Narrator of the Hadith:
«حضرت محمد بن مسلمہ رضی اللہ عنہ » He is counted among the distinguished Companions (radi Allahu anhum).
He belonged to the Ansar tribe of Harith, hence he was called Ansari Harithi.
He participated in all the battles except Tabuk.
He accepted Islam in Madinah Munawwarah at the hands of Mus'ab ibn Umayr (radi Allahu anhu).
He passed away in 43 AH at the age of seventy-seven.
Source: Bulugh al-Maram: Commentary by Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Page: 830