It is essential for the prospective bride and groom to see each other before marriage. Everyone harbors certain expectations regarding their future life partner. If, after marriage, they discover that their spouse does not align with those expectations, the relationship between the couple could suffer. Therefore, they should see each other beforehand.
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| Prospective Bride |
I was with the Prophet (peace be upon him) when a man arrived and mentioned that he intended to marry a woman from the Ansar. Upon hearing this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, "Have you seen her?" The man replied, "No." The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, "Go and see her, for there is something in the eyes of the Ansar." Narrator: Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him). Source: Muslim 2552.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) advised seeing the prospective bride beforehand to prevent a husband from rejecting his wife later due to a difference in the appearance of the eyes of Ansar women compared to others.
Mughira bin Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him) proposed to a woman. He himself narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) told him, "Look at her, for doing so is more likely to foster affection between the two of you." Sources: Tirmidhi 1007, Nasa'i 3183, Ibn Majah 1855.
Muslims in Tamil Nadu largely disregard this guidance from the Prophet (peace be upon him). They often consider it sinful for the prospective bride and groom to see each other before marriage. This misconception should be avoided.
Under the guise of the "bride-viewing" ceremony, it is usually the groom's mother and sisters who view the bride. In doing so, the two individuals who are destined to live together are denied the right to see one another. There are numerous other Hadiths emphasizing the practice of seeing the prospective bride.