Islamic Ruling on Exchanging Rings During Engagement
The Islamic ruling is that it is haram for a man to put a ring on his fiancée before nikah, because they are still strangers to each other.
According to this fatwa and Islamic scholars of the Shafi‘i school, it is not allowed for a man to put a ring or any jewelry on his fiancée at the time of engagement. This ruling stays the same even after engagement and before the nikah is completed. The reason is that before nikah, the man and woman are still non mahram and strangers to each other.
The fatwa explains that touching is not allowed because there is no need for it, and touching is more serious than looking. Islamic scholars clearly state that physical contact between a non mahram man and woman is haram, as it can lead to desire.
However, if the man wants to give a ring, he may ask his mother, sister, or another close female relative to place it on the girl. He may also ask one of the girl’s mahram men, such as her father, uncle, or maternal uncle, to do so. This way is allowed according to the Islamic ruling.
This fatwa shows the clear Islamic ruling based on the statements of Islamic scholars and classical fiqh books.