Yes, generally, it is considered haram to kiss your future wife before the marriage contract (Nikah) is completed in Islam.
Here's a breakdown of why:
-
Non-Mahram Status: Before marriage, your fiancée is considered a non-mahram. A non-mahram is someone to whom Islamic guidelines require you to maintain a certain level of modesty and distance. Physical intimacy, including kissing, falls outside these boundaries.
-
Respectful Boundaries: Islamic teachings emphasize establishing clear boundaries and respecting them. Premarital relationships are discouraged, and this extends to physical intimacy. The focus is on building a relationship based on mutual respect, understanding, and adherence to Islamic principles.
-
Avoiding Fitna: Premarital intimacy can lead to fitna, which translates to temptation or discord. It is seen as a potential slippery slope towards activities that are not permissible before marriage. The purpose of avoiding such intimacy is to protect the individuals and the integrity of the marriage.
-
The Nikah as the Defining Moment: The Nikah is the formal marriage contract that makes the relationship lawful in Islam. Until this contract is finalized, the relationship remains subject to the Islamic guidelines for interacting with a non-mahram.
Therefore, to maintain adherence to Islamic principles, physical intimacy, such as kissing, is avoided until after the Nikah ceremony.
