Fatwa No. 38 — p. 67

Question:

A young man came to my home with his mother for the purpose of proposing to my daughter. The young man saw her. The following day, his mother called me requesting my daughter’s phone number, as her son wishes to speak with her. Is this permissible?

Answer:

Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabb al-ʿālamīn. To proceed:

What appears to be the case is that young women and their suitors are not all alike in this regard. If modesty and chastity (taṣawwun wa-taʿaffuf) prevail, and it can be assured that the conversation will be within proper bounds (bi-l-maʿrūf), without suspicious circumstances, without romantic speech (mughāzalah), and without drawing either party into emotional entanglements — and if each of them possesses sufficient religious commitment and dignified restraint (taṣawwun) to inspire confidence — then it is to be hoped that there is no objection. If the opposite is the case, then nothing equals safety (al-salāmah). (1)

The conversation should in any case take place without seclusion (khalwah) — in the presence of someone whose attendance eliminates seclusion, whether from among the maḥārim or from among other trustworthy persons. (2)

And Allah Most High knows best.