Can a fiancé sit with his fiancée in an open place

13-1-2014 | IslamWeb

Question:

I visit my fiancée at her family's house. I sit with her in an open salon where other members of her family freely come in and pass before us but they do not sit with us. Is this considered a meeting of a couple in private? Is it a must that one of her Mahram men sits with us? Please advise. May Allaah Reward you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

If you have not yet concluded your marital contract with your fiancée, then that woman is still a non-Mahram to you and you are permitted neither to look at her nor talk with her unless there is a necessity and without meeting her in private. The suitor is permitted to look at the woman only at the time of engagement.

As for the question about sitting with her in an open place where her family members pass back and forth, the predominant view is that it is not considered a meeting of a couple in private. However, this sitting is, in principle, impermissible because this woman is a non-Mahram to you and sitting with her necessitates looking at her and talking freely with her and this is prohibited.

Allaah Knows best.