May the fiance speak with his fiancée?
Short answer
Speaking is permitted for a need connected with the marriage, with the temptation secure, without seclusion, and to the extent that achieves the interest of lawful getting acquainted.
Evidence and explanation
The Shaykh restricted the permissibility to the interest of marriage, absence of seclusion and the absence of what leads to evil.
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)
Original answer — Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz
حكم تحدث الخاطب إلى المخطوبة — فتوى ١٤٥٥٣- Question
«المستمع محمد علي حسن بعث برسالة وضمنها سؤالًا واحدًا، يقول فيه: هل يحق أن أكلم مخطوبتي أو أن أتحدث معها؟ وما هي نصيحتكم لكل مخطوبين؟»
English translation (unreviewed): The listener Muhammad 'Ali Hasan sent a letter including one question, in which he says: Is it right for me to speak to my fiancée or to talk with her? And what is your advice for all engaged couples?
- From the text of the answer
«نعم، لا حرج في التحدث مع المخطوبة من طريق الهاتف، أو من طريق المباشرة عند وجود محرمها، أو غيره على وجه ليس فيه تهمة، وليس فيه خلوة إذا كان الحديث في مصلحة الزواج، لا بأس في ذلك. أما إذا كان الحديث قد يجر إلى منكر، أو إلى فاحشة؛ فلا يجوز، لكن إذا كان في مصلحة الزواج، وليس فيه خلوة، بل من بعيد بالهاتف، أو بحضور أبيها أو أخيها أو أمها أو نحو ذلك؛ فلا حرج في ذلك، نعم.»
English translation (unreviewed): Yes, there is no harm in talking with the fiancée by telephone, or directly in the presence of her mahram or others, in a manner free of suspicion and without seclusion, if the conversation is for the purpose of the marriage; there is no harm in that. But if the conversation may lead to evil or to indecency, it is not permissible; but if it is for the purpose of the marriage, without seclusion, rather from a distance by phone, or in the presence of her father or brother or mother or the like, then there is no harm in it. Yes.
The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.
Source
Ruling on the fiance speaking to the fiancée
Title of the original page (Arabic): حكم تحدث الخاطب إلى المخطوبة
Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him