Answer
Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
What are the rules for engagement ceremonies in Islam?
- Reciting Al-Fatihah is not obligatory but permissible.
- Exchanging rings and gifts is allowed.
- Couples must maintain Islamic boundaries.
- Engagement is a promise, not a license for intimacy.
- Breaking an engagement should only be for valid reasons.
Responding to the question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a Senior Lecturer and Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
The Role of Al-Fatihah at Engagement Ceremonies
There is no fixed ritual of reading Al-Fatihah during an engagement ceremony, for reading Al-Fatihah is not all considered one of the integrals or conditions of engagement proper. We are not allowed to prescribe anything as a set ritual in religion without the sanction of the Law-Giver (i.e., Allah and the Messenger).
Having said this, however, I must add that reading Al-Fatihah on such occasions is not considered bad; rather it should be considered a great deed if done with the intention of invoking the blessing of Allah.
The Spiritual Benefits of Reading Al-Fatihah
Since Al-Fatihah is the opening surah of the Qur’an, and has been referred to by various names such as “Thanksgiving”, “Prayer”, “Healing”, et cetera, its reading entails great rewards and blessings.
So if we wish to read it to invoke blessings upon the couple at the time of engagement, it is indeed beneficial; no one should object to such a practice. How can anyone object to seeking the blessings of Allah through His revealed Word, while it has been considered as the du`aa’ par excellence?
Thus, reading Al-Fatihah and exchanging rings, gifts, et cetera on the occasion of the engagement are all considered permissible and good practices, and therefore no one should object to such practices.
What Engagement Represents in Islam
Now, let us come to the issue you have raised: what is the precise significance of the engagement ceremony? Answering this question, I would hasten to state: Engagement is nothing more than a promise to marry at a future date; it is not at all a license for the parties to be together, to hold hands, or to be alone together.
None of these things are considered permissible, for engagement does not make what was previously haram to be halal. Therefore, for all practical purposes, they are still considered as strangers; the only difference is since they are committed to marry each other, no one else is supposed to approach either one of them for marriage so long as they are engaged or married.
Breaking an Engagement: Islamic Ethics
Also, since they have promised each other to marry, they should not break the engagement unless there is a genuine ground to do so. A Muslim is a person of honor, and hence it is unbecoming of him to break an engagement on frivolous grounds.
Keep going and find more info through these fatwas:
- Are Engagement Rings Haram?
- Breaking an Engagement in Islam
- Can Engaged Couples Go out Together in Islam?
- Thankfulness Prostration for Engagement in Group: Bid`ah?
- Can I Wish to Marry an Engaged Person?
Allah Almighty knows best.
Excerpted, with slight modifications, from: www.muslims.ca