Q: What is the Islamic ruling on dating? Will there be any difference in the ruling if the boy and girl are engaged and intend to get married in the future?

A: In Islam, it is not permissible for a non-mahram male and female to be in contact or to have a casual relationship with each other. Hence, dating is not permissible. Even if the boy and girl are engaged and intend getting married in the future, it is not permissible for them to date as this is shameless behaviour and totally prohibited in Islam. Apart from this contact being a sin in itself, it generally leads to many other wrongs and sins taking place.