Engagement is declaring the intention of marriage between a man and a woman who both are agreeable. Virgin girl marriage requires her father's approval or approval from her paternal grand father. It is the first step leading to Islamic contract of marriage which is called A'qd in Arabic or Nikah in Urdu. Agreement in engagement by itself does have any effect on man ir woman as far as rules of Mahram and non Mahram are concerned. Both remain non Mahram and must apply rules of full Hijab, until the A'qd or Nikah is recited between them. Engagement does put on man to spend on the engaged woman, nor puts on the woman any obligations or duty of married wife. Breaking the engagement remains in the hands of any of them if they found that they can not continue with it. Engagement can be terminated by both or by any one from them and it does not need any recitation like Talaq, nor any Mahr is to be paid after termination of engagement. Engagement does not make the woman a Mahram to the father of the man, nor man become a Mahram to her mother.

Some persons think that after the engagement they are allowed to shake hands or talk intimately or go out together for shopping or dining etc. This is wrong and sinful because there is no A'qd yet.

'We read in our history the engagement was immediately followed by reciting the A'qd or Nikah with no gap. If there a gap of time, both man and woman need to wait and control over themselves till A'qd or Nikah is properly recited.

Wassalam.