Question:
What is the view of the religion of Islam regarding meeting before marriage?
Answer:
If the questioner’s words “before marriage” mean a meeting after the contract of marriage (nikah) and before consummation (dukhool), then there is no harm in it, because by the contract of marriage she has already become the wife of that man, even though the rite of rukhsati has not yet been performed. And if the questioner means a meeting that takes place after the engagement but before the contract of marriage, or before it, then this meeting is haram and not permissible. It is not permissible for any person to enjoy the company of a non-mahram woman by conversing with her, by gazing at her with desire, or by seclusion with her. Because it is established from the Prophet ﷺ that he said:
«لا يخلون رجل بامرأة إلا مع ذي محرم، ولا تسافر امرأة إلا مع ذي محر م»
“No man should be alone with a woman unless a mahram is present, and no woman should travel except with a mahram.”
The essence of the matter is that if this meeting between a man and a woman takes place after the contract of marriage, there is no harm in it; and if it takes place before the contract of marriage, it is not permissible, even if they have become engaged and have agreed to be joined in the bond of marriage. In such a state, their meeting with each other is haram, because until this man is married to this woman, that woman is undoubtedly a stranger to him.
