Most-asked question
Can I talk to my fiancée before the nikah?
169 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 5 South African Darul Iftas (AskImam, Mufti Online, Azaadville, Ibn Masood, Jamiat KZN). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.
Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.
Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.
What the Darul Iftas say
“Before nikaah, all premarital contact is not permissible. Hence, speaking to the girl one is proposed to is not permissible and regarded as a sin. This type of premarital contact then leads to the boy and girl getting involved in further sins and haraam.”
“An engagement is a formal agreement to get married The engagements of today have many unislamic practises. These practises are not part of shariah, and some of these practices are also prohibited.”
“The practice of engagement parties is foreign to Islam, and in fact, it has absolutely nothing to do with Nikah. Since this is a Kuffar custom, it should be totally discarded.”
“It is impermissible to interact with a potential spouse through any means, whether it be by talking or other communication means such as WhatsApp, regardless of the conversation being overseen by the parents. Shariah has closed all doors that may lead one to committing unlawful sins.”
Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.
Read the fatawa
- Chatting with one's potential spouse before nikaah Mufti Online · 19 Aug 2026
- Playing a recording of Quraan whilst engaged in work Ibn Masood · 17 May 2023
- Crossing In Front Of A Person Who Is Engaged In Salaah Azaadville · 1 Dec 2022
- My fiance is Catholic and wants to practice her religion after we marry Jamiat KZN · 30 May 2022
- What's the Rule of Engagement In Islam? AskImam · 13 Dec 2019
- Speaking to one's fiancée Mufti Online · 11 May 2025
- Freedom after engagements Ibn Masood · 21 Sep 2022
- Communication Between Future Spouses Azaadville · 30 Aug 2021
- Breaking the engagement due to fiancé having an intimate conversation with another woman. AskImam · 20 Jul 2019
- Engagement before marriage Mufti Online · 12 Sep 2023
- How can I stop Dating my fiancée AskImam · 8 Apr 2019
- Attending an engagement Mufti Online · 29 Aug 2022
- I wanted to get married to a certain boy but he got engaged to his cousin, now I am feeling depressed. What can I do? AskImam · 30 Nov 2018
- Engagement functions Mufti Online · 25 Dec 2021
- Should I confess to my fiance regarding my past affairs with men? AskImam · 20 Oct 2018
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