Is the civil contract considered legitimate if it fulfills the pillars of a legal contract, such as the payment of the dowry, the consent of the guardian and both parties, and the presence of two witnesses? What are the limits of the permissible relationship between the two parties after this contract and before the consummation of the marriage?

The validity of contracts lies in their essence and their fulfillment of conditions and pillars. If a marriage contract fulfills its conditions and pillars, such as offer and acceptance, the guardian (wali), and witnesses, then it is valid, whether it is called civil or Sharia-compliant. Consequently, it permits intimacy between the spouses, even if the wedding ceremony has not taken place. However, before a valid contract, the suitor is a stranger to his fiancée.