Question
Can a girl’s photo be shown to a non mahram male with the idea that if suitable to him details can be worked out re marriage. This is at the very inception.
Answer
Muhtaram / Muhtaramah ,
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
It is permissible for a boy to see the face of a girl in a case of a prospective marriage. However, due to the deceptive nature of pictures, one should see their potential spouse in person if possible. In fact, this is encouraged by Shari’ah so that love is created between them and that one may be content with the outer appearance of their spouse. If one does not see their potential spouse before marriage, it is possible that one will not be pleased which would cause further problems and complications within the marriage.
A Hadith states:
عن المغيرة بن شعبة أنه خطب امرأة فقال النبى -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « انظر إليها فإنه أحرى أن يؤدم بينكما »
“Mughirah ibn Shu’bah (RadiyAllahu Anhu) once proposed to a girl. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said to him: Look at her so it will be a cause for continuous love between both of you.” (Al-Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, P. 270, HM Saeed)
ولو أراد أن يتزوج امرأة فلا بأس أن ينظر إليها ، وإن خاف أن يشتهيها لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام للمغيرة بن شعبة حين خطب امرأة ” { انظر إليها فإنه أحرى أن يؤدم بينكما } ” رواه الترمذي والنسائي وغيرهما ولأن المقصود إقامة السنة لا قضاء الشهوة
(Raddul Muhtar, Vol. 6, P. 370, HM Saeed)
And Allah knows best
Darul Iftaa
Madrasah Inaa’miyya
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