Is it acceptable to send a female's pictures to the house of a male for the purpose of marriage?
Question
Assalamu Alaikum 1) If the male's family members are searching for his wife are the parent's of the female allowed to send the pictures of their daughter to that household?
Answer
Below is our standard answer to a similar query.
and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.
When a person intends getting married, he should see the girl to determine the suitability of getting married to her. That is the advise given to a Sahaba, Radi-Allahu anhum, from Rasulullah
.
To draw images of animate pictures (which includes taking out photos) is expressly prohibited in the Hadith. Therefore, in general situations, it is not permissible to exchange photos for marriage purposes. However, the Fuqahaa have ruled that necessity relaxes a prohibition, therefore, if there is a need to exchange photos for marriage purposes, there will be a leeway with the following conditions:
a) Both the parties are in foreign countries, for example, Pakistan and America.
b) There is a strong inclination for marriage.
c) The photograph should be confined only to the interested party and not given to others.
d) The photograph be destroyed after the need is fulfilled.
If any one of the above condition is violated, the original ruling of prohibition will remain.
Concurrence: The answer of Mufti Ebrahim Desai is correct for the purpose. Muhammad Taqi Usmani
- Answered by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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