Question Summary:
Can I send my picture to a person who intends on marrying me?

Question Detail:

A few years back, I had a circle of friends which was co, astaghfirullah. when Allah swt guided me, I left all my unlawful relationships for the sake of Allah and repented from it, Alhamdulillah. In that friend circle, there was a brother who also changed, Alhamdulillah. Allah swt guided this brother too, Alhamdulillah. We left contact for the sake of Allah, Alhamdulillah.

Recently, this brother’s mom contacted me. She had met me years back. She is interested in me for his son. She wanted me to send my picture. After doing mashwara with my aunt, I asked this brother’s mom to visit our place because my aunt didn’t want me to send picture as I do shari parda, Alhamdulillah . She agreed upon that. however, her son is not in the same country we are in. he studies abroad. He wants to see the picture and do istikhara first and then send a proposal through his mom, iA. My query is should I be sending my picture? His mother is already interested in me. The brother is looking for deen and taqwa. He contacted and did ask questions (was that permissible ?). I did answer those questions with the righteous intention but I don’t know if that was permissible and i also asked questions that concerned me. Please guide. my dad has not met the guy and my mom is the departed soul. I have not shared with my dad about all this. I don’t want to share with my dad just now. I shared with my aunt and my sister. I am 23. I am confused whether I should be sending picture now? Is that permissible? I am satisfied with the brother’s piety, Alhamdulillah.. Please guide.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
To take out pictures of oneself is generally prohibited. However, if there is a need (haajah) to take out pictures of oneself, e.g. for legal identification etc, then there is a leeway to do so[1]. If someone wishes to consider someone in marriage in a foreign country and wants to see the photograph of this person, then that may be included in the exemption from the general prohibition.
Since there is a potential of fitnah in exchanging photos in the pretext of marriage, all necessary steps must be taken to curb any abuse of the photograph. As such, you may send the photo on the following conditions:
(1) There is a strong inclination of marriage[2].
(2) The photograph should be constricted to the interested party and should not be distributed to anyone else.
(3) The photograph should be disposed of after the need is fulfilled.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Bilal Mohammad
Student Darul Iftaa
USA 
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net