Re: ...Nikah vs. Engagement...
Getting married without even seeing the person, and never having talked to them....? I know it happens. I am just not convinced thats a good way to decide.
Yeah, so parents etc would have looked on your behalf, but unless you are a clone of your parents, it just makes sense to have it as YOUR decision. Putting it all on parents is perhaps one way people avoid taking responsibility later on, and blame it all on their parents when the marriage goes sour.
Whether you get engaged or not, or you just go around meeting serious candidates for marriage, its all fine. Its upto you and the values you hold dear.