Was what transpired an engagement or a legitimate marriage contract, what are the boundaries of the relationship between an engaged couple, and is intention obligatory for the completion of the engagement?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
What transpired between the questioner's uncle and the young man's grandfather was not a valid marital contract (aqd shar'i for marriage), but merely an engagement (khitbah). This is because marriage has its specific legal formula, which includes offer (ijab) and acceptance (qabul). Consequently, the questioner remains a non- (ajnabiyah) to this young man until a valid marital contract is concluded between them.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/174950
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 174950
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy