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Proposal to a woman whose divorce has not been finalized

Question

My relative is a female and she is in the act of getting divorced. She has been separated from him for about a year and a half due to him saying and harming her. She is using a Muslim dating site so that she may have a husband in the future. She has been contacted by someone and they started to talk to each other, and know he is interested in getting married to her. My relative Inshaa Allaah, will get her divorce finalized in the coming month or two. Is it Haraam for her to continue with this act of speaking to this man? Both parties have contacted their parents and they approve, but nothing formal has happened so far (i.e. speaking to her father). He has sent his picture to her, and he has seen her. Is it okay for her to send a picture or should they wait until he meets her at her family's house?
Please give me your Islamic perspective on this dear brother in Islam.
May God send his peace and his blessings on the Prophet, Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

Answer

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.

"Martial relations are very significant in Islam, so much that Allaah considered it a strong covenant. Allaah Says (what means): {…, and they have taken from you a firm and strong covenant?}[Quran 4: 21]."

As long as the divorce has not occurred, then the marriage contract continues and she is considered a wife for her husband. So, it is strictly forbidden to propose to her before completing her waiting period after her divorce. See Fatwa 84493.

Any personal relation before completing the marriage contract is strictly forbidden as we mentioned in our Fataawa 81356 and 85915.

Allaah Knows best.

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