A Nikah Is Not Concluded by an Engagement

Question

Zayd, together with several people, went to the house of Bakr, the girl’s father, to ask for her hand for his adult son. The girl was a minor. Bakr, the girl’s father, gave permission to his full brother Ahmadullah to give the reply. The said Ahmadullah, on his own behalf, appointed Khalid, who is Zayd’s sister’s husband, as his authorized representative to give the reply.

Answer

Clarifying reply (al-jawab al-tanqihi) Have those people who state both the offer and the acceptance write down the words by which the offer and acceptance took place, and send them. The words of the offer should be separate and the words of the acceptance separate; then an answer will be given.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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