Is breaking off an engagement as detested by Allah as divorce is?

There is no harm in breaking off an engagement as long as it has not reached the stage of the marriage contract. Breaking it off is not disliked by Allah in the same way as divorce is. However, one must adhere to the regulations of Sharia (definition), because trivializing the matter of engagement and breaking it off without a valid reason harms the girl and her reputation, and is considered a form of harm and injustice. Whoever wishes to break off an engagement for a valid reason should be wise and not use the mention of faults as a pretext for annulment.