Is it recommended to have the marriage contract (kitab al-kitab) before the consummation (al-dukhool), and what are the boundaries of the relationship between the spouses after the marriage contract and before the consummation? And is the contract invalidated if the wife's family was not aware that the suitor had been previously married?
Expediting marriage is recommended for those who yearn for it, as it is more conducive to lowering the gaze and protecting one's chastity. The recommendation for marriage may be further emphasized when there is a benefit that is feared to be missed by delay.
A woman who has entered into a valid and complete marriage contract is considered the man's wife, making seclusion and intimacy permissible, unless custom dictates that intercourse should not occur until after the dowry is paid or the wedding takes place; in such cases, this custom must be observed.
The condition that the woman's family be informed of the suitor's previous marriage has no legal standing in and does not affect the validity of the marriage. However, it is preferable to mention and clarify this to them if it entails any customary implications, to avoid future disputes and discord.
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