I really need some advice on this. I was recently asked for marriage by a Muslim man who is divorced and has a child. I told him I cannot keep talking to him on phone even the basics because its not Halaal. At the moment its difficult for us to marry because of financial reasons. We leave in different countries and it would cost him a lot to come to my place for marriage. This is the reason we are not married yet. It would be cheaper if I went to his country for marriage because my brother lives in the country in is in. But again traveling alone with Mahaarim is a problem. He insists we can still be in touch which he claims is not Haraam until he saves money to for the marriage to happen. What would you advice us to do? Is it ok for us to talk on phone or send e-mails? With the financial strain he will be going thru is it o.k. for us to marry or he can marry someone from his country that will not cost him any burden? I really do like him because of his religious values but we again have to do it the right way. We need advice with references from Qur'an and Sunnah.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We ask Allaah to bless you and grant you a pious husband.

You are not allowed to have relations with this man or any other marriageable man. Engagement or promise of marriage does not justify having relations with a marriageable man. The details are mentioned in our Fatwas: 81668 and 81356.

Traveling without being accompanied by an unmarriageable man is not allowed at any case. See our Fatwa: 83795.

If he can not come to marry you, he may deputize someone in your country to conduct the marriage on his behalf as we mentioned in the last part of our Fatwa: 84811.

Allaah know best.