This ḥadīth serves as proof for the juristic maxim, “The ruling of the means follows the ruling of the ends.” Because the proposal is a means to the contract and the contract is a means to intercourse, both the proposal and the contract are therefore forbidden while in iḥrām.

The ḥadīth combines two matters: one that is prohibited and invalid—the marriage contract—and one that is prohibited yet not characterized as either valid or invalid—the proposal.