Is It Sunnah to Recite Al-Fatihah at Engagement?
Question

I am a young Muslim man who is about to get married. In the country where I am going to do the marriage contract, they do something that they call “Reciting Al-Fatihah.” When a man wants to get married in our country, they recite Al-Fatihah, and they invite some of the male relatives to that, and they offer them some sweets and drinks. Is reciting Al-Fatihah part of the Sunnah, and if that is the case, what are the consequences of doing that?
Praise be to Allah.Ruling of Reciting Al-Fatihah during Engagement in Islam
Reciting Al-Fatihah at the time of the marriage contract or engagement has nothing to do with the Sunnah; rather it is an innovation (Bid`ah). It is not permissible to single out any part of the Quran for any actions except on the basis of evidence.
Abu Shamah Al-Maqdisi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Al-Ba`ith `ala Inkar Al-Bida` wal-Hawadith (165):
It is not appropriate to single out times for acts of worship that were not singled out for such acts in Islamic teachings. People have no authority to decide such matters; rather that is the prerogative of the Lawgiver. (End quote)
The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked:
Is reciting Al-Fatihah at the time when a man gets engaged to a woman an innovation (Bid `ah)?
They replied:
Reciting Al-Fatihah at the time of a man’s proposal to a woman or at the time of his marriage contract with her is an innovation. (End quote)
None of the rulings of the marriage contract come into effect as a consequence of reciting Al-Fatihah. Reciting Al-Fatihah does not mean that the marriage contract has been completed; rather what matters is the proposal and acceptance with the Wali (woman’s guardian) and witnesses.
Engagement and Marriage Contracts in light of the Sunnah?
The Sunnah is to recite Khutbat Al-Hajah at the time of the marriage contract.
It was narrated that `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught us Khutbat Al-Hajah, (to be said) at weddings and on other occasions:
“Inna Al-hamda  Lillahi nasta`inahu wa nastaghfiruhu, wa na`udhu bihi min shururi anfusina. Man yahdih Illahu fala mudilla lahu wa man yudlil fala hadiya lahu. Wa ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan `abduhu wa rasuluhu (Verily, all praise is to Allah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Him from the evil of our own souls. Whomsoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).
`Ya ayyuhan-nas ittaqu rabbakum alladhi khalaqakum min nafsin wahidatin wa khalaqa minha zawjaha wa baththa minhuma rijalan kathiran wa nisa’an wattaqu-Llah alladhi tasa’aluna bihi wal-arhama inna Allaha kana `alaykum raqiba {O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person, and from him He created his wife, and from them both He created many men and women, and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship) Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you).} [An-Nisa’ 4:1 interpretation of the meaning]
`Ya ayyuha’lladhina amanu-ttaqu’Llaha haqqa tuqatihi wa la tamutunna illa wa antum muslimun {O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah.)} [Al `Imran 3:102 interpretation of the meaning]
`Ya ayyahul-lladhina amanu-ttaqul-Llaha wa qulu qawlan sadidan  yuslih lakum a`malakum wa yaghfir lakum dhunibakum wa man yuti` Allaha wa rasulahu faqad faza fawzan `adhima (O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth). He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to Paradise)’ [Al-Ahzab 33:70, 71].”  (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 2118, and classed as authentic by Al-Albani in Sahih Abu Dawud)
The people have turned away from this Sunnah and adhered to this Bid `ah. We ask Allah, may He be exalted, to bring the Muslims back to their religion in the best way.
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And Allah knows best.