Fatwa No. 17 

Question:

Is it permissible for my fiancé (khaṭīb) to speak to me in a romantic way?

Answer:

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

The engaged woman (Fiancée/al-makhṭūbah) remains a legal stranger (ajnabiyyah) until the marriage contract(Nikah ) is concluded. Speaking with her must be within the boundaries of what is proper and appropriate (bi-l-maʿrūf) — for she is encompassed by the word of Allah Most High in Sūrat al-Aḥzāb, verse 32: ¹

“Do not be soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is disease should covet — but speak with appropriate and recognised words.”

Since she remains a legal stranger, whatever he would be ashamed to say in your presence in front of your unmarriageable male kin (maḥārim), he ought not say to you in private conversation.

I ask Allah — Exalted and Majestic — to grant you the completion of the marriage contract, so that what is burdensome may be lifted.

And Allah Most High knows best.

Footnotes (Takhrīj)

(1) Sūrat al-Aḥzāb (33:32)