The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Wednesday said that a gap between Nikkah and engagement may help future husband and wife understand each other and hence reduce the possibility of divorce.
Samia Raheel, a member of the council said that people who have to travel abroad sign their Nikkah without knowing their partner as they need those documents to apply for immigration. However, this may lead to an increased rate of divorce, she said.
Allama Iftikhar Naqvi said that engagements are not equivalent to Nikkah, and are only a promise for Nikkah. Therefore, Islamic law allows either party to break off their engagement.