Picture of Internet fiancée

We put this question to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen: is it permissible for a woman to send her picture via the internet to her fiancé far away so that he can be certain as to whether he wants to go ahead and marry her, or not?

He replied, may Allah preserve him,

“I do not think that this is right.

Firstly, because other people besides him may also look at it.

Secondly, because a picture does not reflect reality completely. How often have people seen pictures then when they see the person or scene in real life they find that it is completely different.

Thirdly, the fiancé may keep this picture, then change his mind about marrying her, but he still has the picture and can play about with it as he wishes.

And Allah knows best.”