Re: ...Nikah vs. Engagement...
everyones situation is different, im having my rukhsati this summer inshAllah.....im in my final year at uni and i didnt want to move in with him till after i graduate....theres nothing to say its not allowed obviously if you've had your nikkah you can move in with your hubby it depends on your situation and how you feel,
secondly, you can get to know the guy...but obviously if you're a practising muslim than you have a third person there to act as your wali...because a non-mahram male and female are not allowed to be alone together,il get you references from quran hadith if you are interested...
thirdly, like i said once your husband and wife you can avail the benefits of marriage.....this concept that people have that o if you are married and not consummated the marriage within a specifc period of time is nonsense, it is not stated anywhere in quranic ayah or ahadith....if you havent consummated the marriage it does not affect the legal validity of marriage in anyway...this is what i know from a sound scholar not something i have heard.
the concept of nikah is n ot being exploited..if you accept a marriage proposal is not better to perfom the nikkah and stay away from haram then just do an engagement and be sinning with your fiance and destroying the barakah for your marriage.