Engagement In Islam

Engagement in Islam is no more than a promise of Marriage. It does not give the fiancés any special rights over one another. This is a way in Islam to let a person know that you are interested in him or her, and willingly to marry him or her. Allah says, “And there is no sin on you if you make a hint of betrothal…”

Contrary to the popular beliefs, Engagement is very different in Islam. In the Islamic Shari’a, there are no rituals or anything specific practices that come with being engaged. In Modern customs according to Christianity, you gift a ring to your future probable husband or spouse as a statement of your love for the other. This is a sin; In Islam there is no custom for exchanging rings among each other. This goes against the Islamic shari’a as you are still a stranger to your fiancé. This in particular is Haram because it shows an ignorant belief and attachment to something materialistic, which has no basis according to the Shari’a. However, certain cultures tend to celebrate in the day of engagement with exchanging gifts and having a get together, this all is permissible as long as it doesn’t go against the Shari’a.

The Engagement is a period before marriage where the fiancés get to know each other better in a ‘halal’ environment. As it happens before marriage, in the eyes of Allah the fiancés are still Mahram or stranger to each other, and they should act accordingly. Therefore, Muslim Fiancés should always be conscious of this fact, and they would normally act with the fiancé as a stranger.

An engaged couple can discuss their views, beliefs, values, and plan a future life together only through words. They cannot be intimate towards each other as they have not yet been officially declared husband and wife.

Engagement is nothing but a word of contract that two persons wish to get married, and just life, and just like any contract; this contract can be revoked. You find that in a marriage, when things don’t work out, the couple gets divorced. In Islam, the idea of engagement gives the future couple a chance to know each other better, and see if they are compatible enough to start a life together. A break off in engagement is always better than a divorce after an official marriage.

In case the engagement breaks down, the families may send the gifts that they received back, that is a principle or custom in Engagement.

This is basically the concept of Engagement in Islam. If you follow the rules and regulations of Islam and do what is right, you will not be misguided into believing the “socially accepted” version of these concepts. Keep in mind that Islam is the way for you to achieve everything you possibly want, and that Allah knows what is the best for you.

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