Is it permissible to look at the leg of a fiancée? Is the story about 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, true that he let 'Uthmaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, look at the leg of his daughter in order to take her for marriage?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We have already discussed the views of the jurists about the extent a person who proposes to marry a girl is permitted to look at his fiancée, and we clarified the preponderant opinion in this regard in Fatwa 88012, so please refer to it.

As regards the story to which the questioner pointed, it is known that this happened between 'Umar and Um Kalthoom the daughter of 'Ali and it was reported by Abdur-Razzaak. However, there is a discontinuity in the chain of narration and thus it is inauthentic as stated by Al-Albaani.

Allaah Knows best.