Asalamu alaykum. I am an American Convert. Have been muslim for 1 year and 5 months now. I am currently talking to a man from Egypt regarding engagement/marriage. He’s going about it the proper way by talking to my guardian (since my father is not muslim) and his parents have agreed. But now I have a big problem. I understand in Islam that women and men shouldn’t talk more than business. He asked me to delete the friends from my internet accounts who I didn’t even talk to. Out of respect for him and because I knew that I would need to for marriage anyway I did this. But now he still has sisters who he works with or who are students that he advises on his account. He got angry with me when I asked him if he could do the same and delete them. He said that in Egypt men are allowed to but women can’t (which is impossible anyway). Is this simply a cultural issue or is there some proof in Quran and Sunnah. I know it’s hard because it’s over the internet, but what can I do? Is it right for him to keep his female aqaintances when I can’t? I’ve told him my feelings and I don’t like it. Another problem I have is that I can’t usually read what these women comment on his profile either as it’s in Arabic and I speak very little. Please help.
Answer
(Fatwa: 1228/1170=B/1430)
As per the Shariah, it is unlawful for non-mahram man and woman to communicate or correspond each other without exigent need. This ruling is equally applied to man as well as woman. There is no such thing in Shariah that a man can keep the addresses of non-mahram women, but not the women. The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) in spite of being father of all Muslims, used to meet the non-mahram in veil and his wives, in spite of being mothers of Muslims, used to observe hijab from the non-mahram men.
Allah (Subhana Wa Ta’ala) knows Best
Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband