Is it permissible to show a picture of a woman to someone interested in marrying?
Question:
"Is it permissible for a family to send a picture of a woman to an individual who is interested in marrying their daughter so that the individual can see whether she is to his liking or not, with the arguments that they live very far apart?"
Answer:
"This is not permissible; because the legislated ruling regarding taking pictures, is that it is haraam. The picture may get into the hands of someone it was not intended for, or the individual may do something inappropriate with the picture that is haraam (like showing it to someone else). Therefore, sending the picture in this manner is not permissible. Rather, the legislation of Islaam has made it mandatory for the individual to go and look at the woman he wants to marry. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered a man who wanted to get married to look at the woman before marriage.[5] There is no problem with him seeing her in person before marriage; however the issue of the pictures is not permissible."
Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Ghudayyaan, may Allah have mercy upon him
Source: Question and Answer Session, 17th of November, 2007.
"Is it permissible for a family to send a picture of a woman to an individual who is interested in marrying their daughter so that the individual can see whether she is to his liking or not, with the arguments that they live very far apart?"
Answer:
"This is not permissible; because the legislated ruling regarding taking pictures, is that it is haraam. The picture may get into the hands of someone it was not intended for, or the individual may do something inappropriate with the picture that is haraam (like showing it to someone else). Therefore, sending the picture in this manner is not permissible. Rather, the legislation of Islaam has made it mandatory for the individual to go and look at the woman he wants to marry. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم ordered a man who wanted to get married to look at the woman before marriage.[5] There is no problem with him seeing her in person before marriage; however the issue of the pictures is not permissible."
Shaykh 'Abdullah al-Ghudayyaan, may Allah have mercy upon him
Source: Question and Answer Session, 17th of November, 2007.