Is there any concept of "engagement" in Islam or only Nikah?

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Respected brother in Islam,

1. Shari‘ah considers an engagement being merely a commitment to marry in the future. The laws of interaction between the two are the same as those between two complete strangers as it is not the actual nikāh. As such, once the engagement has taken place, it is impermissible for the boy and girl to interact with each other as the case before engagement.

2. Although in essence, once the nikāh has taken place, the husband and wife are permissible for each other. However, if the rukhsati (customary handing over of the wife into the custody of the husband) is stipulated until a certain time then such a mutual agreement should be honoured and not violated.

Furthermore, the rukhsati period should not be prolonged for an unreasonable duration.

And Allah Ta‘āla Knows Best

Fahad Abdul Wahab

Student Darul Iftaa

USA

Checked and Approved by,

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

www.Daruliftaa.net