What is the legal ruling (hukm shar’i) for engagement (khitbah) in Islam, what are the rights and obligations of the betrothed couple, and what situations did the Messenger (peace be upon him) encounter in his life related to engagement?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The wisdom behind the legal validity of betrothal (khitbah) lies in its being a prelude and a key to marriage (), whereby the suitor seeks the consent of the proposed woman or her family. It also allows both parties a period for deliberation and reflection before the marriage contract. An example of this is Fatimah bint Qais consulting the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when Mu'awiyah and Abu Jahm proposed to her.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/88157
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 88157
- 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