My question is about 6 months ago I got engaged to my cousin, but the problem is that we live in a different country he lives in Africa and cannot come here and I live in England and I cannot go there yet as I am a student and we were going to get married when I finished studying but know he wants me to over, even though we agreed on me finished my studying. Is it wrong of me if I don't go because he did agree with me about me studying?

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 as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Engagement is not considered as a marriage contract. It is simply a promise of marriage and not a real marriage. So, a fiancé or fiancée does not have any right regarding each other. For more details read our Fataawa: 81668 and 81356.

You are free to break your engagement or continue with it. However, we advise you to get married to this man if he is religious and of noble character as we mentioned in our Fatwa: 88463.

Allaah know best.