Is it still permissible to continue the engagement to a religious and well-mannered girl, despite having performed Istikhara, if the suitor begins to feel uneasy for worldly reasons such as educational differences, customs, and beauty, along with his fear of Satan toying with him due to his lack of conviction regarding her beauty? Is leaving her considered an injustice to her, or is continuing an injustice to oneself? Is love a prerequisite for engagement, or does marriage have a higher purpose?

The correct criterion for choosing a wife is piety and character, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Marry the religious woman, and may your hands be soiled with dust." This does not mean rejecting beauty, lineage, or wealth; rather, it means that these matters should not be prioritized over piety and character.

It is not necessary for the suitor to feel intense love for the fiancée; rather, what matters is that there is mutual acceptance between them. Feelings of love are not a prerequisite for the stability of marital life. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Not all homes are built on love, but rather on companionship based on lineage and Islam."

If your fiancée is religious and of good character, and you find her acceptable, then proceed with the marriage and do not pay attention to anxieties. If you do not find her acceptable, there is no harm in breaking off the engagement.

Regarding Istikhara (prayer for guidance), the preponderant view is that a servant should proceed with the matter for which they sought guidance and not abandon it unless Allah diverts them from it.