Question Summary:
Unveiling the niqaab due to a proposal

Question Detail:

Assalamu Alaikum,
Here are my questions: 
1) I understand that taking pictures is not allowed in Islam, but even in that there are ikhtilaf between ulamas. However, to stay on the safer side, i personally don't take pictures. However, if a rishta comes from another country or somewhere far from where i live, am i allowed to give a picture of my photo to the guys family? I also wear a niqab, so would that be allowed?
2) If a girl wears a niqab, and a man comes with a proposal, is he allowed to request to see her face? And is she allowed to remove her niqab and let him see her face? 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
If a man wishes to see the face of a woman to consider her in marriage, she may expose her face to him. [1]
This is also understood from the following Ahadeeth:
قال: كنت عند النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فأتاه رجل فأخبره أنه تزوج امرأة من الأنصار، فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «أنظرت إليها؟»، قال: لا، قال: «فاذهب فانظر إليها، فإن في أعين الأنصار شيئا»»
I was in the company of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) when there came a man and informed him that he had contracted to marry a woman of the Ansar. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Did you cast a glance at her? He said: No. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Go and see her, for there is something in the eyes of the Ansaar.
(Saheeh-Muslim, Vol 2, Pg 1040, Kitaabun Nikaah) 
 
أَنَّ الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ شُعْبَةَ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً، فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «اذْهَبْ فَانْظُرْ إِلَيْهَا، فَإِنَّهُ أَحْرَى أَنْ يُؤْدَمَ بَيْنَكُمَا، فَفَعَلَ، فَتَزَوَّجَهَا، فَذَكَرَ مِنْ مُوَافَقَتِهَا»
Mughirah bin Shubah wanted to marry a woman. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to him: “Go and look at her, for that is more likely to create love between you.” So he did that, and married her, and mentioned how well he got along with her.
(Sunan-Ibn-Majah,Vol 1,Pg 599, Kitaabun Nikaah)
If a boy and girl, from different countries wish to see each other for purposes of marriage and they are unable to see each other personally, they may see each other’s photos in a responsible way, i.e. the objective of seeing each other be fulfilled and avoid abuse of the photo.
That can be achieved by identifying a responsible Mahram of the girl in the country of the boy where the boy can see the photo by the Mahram of the girl without giving the photo to the boy. [2]
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
 
Muhammad IV Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.