Engagement in Islam means that a man asks to marry a woman and is accepted. The view of the scholars is that engagement is prescribed for one who wants to get married. Prophet Muhammad encouraged the one who wants to get engaged to look at the woman to whom he wishes to propose. What some Muslims do, announcing the engagement, having a party to celebrate and exchanging gifts, all comes under the heading of customs which are permissible in principle.

The reasons why divorce is in the man’s hand are: • The husband is the one in whose hand is the marriage contract, so he is the one in whose hand is the dissolution of this contract. • The husband is in charge of the woman. • The man is more perfect in reason than the woman, and more far-sighted, so you do not see him choosing to divorce unless there is no alternative.

Deciding the amount of the Mahr (dowry) is to be left to the woman and her guardian. There is no set limit for the amount of the Mahr. If marriage occurs without a Mahr , it is still valid, but the woman is still entitled to a Mahr like that of a woman of similar standing.

Whomever Allah blesses with a righteous wife, He has helped him with half of his religion, so let him fear Allah with regard to the other half.

• If a man divorces his wife and this is the first or second pronouncement of divorce and she has not ended her `Iddah, then he can take his wife back by saying ‘I am taking you back’ or ‘I am keeping you.’ • If the `Iddah has ended following a first or second pronouncement of divorce, then there has to be a new marriage contract. • If the divorce is irrevocable (i.e., third divorce) , then she becomes prohibited for him until another man has married her.