With all due respect queen, meeting a member of the opposite sex online in a chat room, chatting exclusively and exchanging phone numbers, then having long and lengthy phone conversations…I pretty sure this constitutes “dating” as well. Just because you never physically met your husband out alone anywhere prior to engagement, doesn’t mean you weren’t “dating” him.
The term “dating” implies interest and intimacy…something beyond platonic hi’s and hellos…it can be done from behind a computer screen or telephone cord just as easily as in a cafe, restaurant, park or club.
No offense meant to you, but if you’re going to being Islam into this, then recognize that any form of mixing/interaction of the opposite sex in social ways is discouraged,
regardless if it is in person or online.