The third issue: for a Muslim to sell against his brother’s sale is also forbidden, and to propose marriage over his brother’s proposal is likewise prohibited. Selling against his sale means saying to the buyer, “If you purchased that item for ten, I will sell you the same for eight.” This is unlawful, because the buyer will then try to annul the first contract in order to obtain the goods at the lower price.

The same principle applies to proposing over another man’s proposal. Suppose you learn that a certain person has asked a family for their daughter’s hand, and you go and request that same daughter—this is forbidden unless the first suitor gives permission. In practice, you would approach him and say, “Brother, I heard you have proposed to so-and-so, and I also wish to marry her. Do you give me leave?” If he says yes, there is no harm, for the right is his. Or if he is turned down—that is, the girl’s family reject his proposal—and you know for certain that they have done so, then you may propose, because he no longer has any connection to the woman.

But if you merely hear that someone has proposed to a family and you are unsure whether they have rejected him, it is not permissible for you to propose, for they may be about to accept him. Should you step in and they then refuse him, you would have deprived that suitor of his rightful chance with the prospective bride. Allah alone grants success.