Is it permissible to appoint an agent for the offer and acceptance in marriage contracts?

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Agency is permissible in contracting marriage for both the offer (*Ijab*) and acceptance (*Qabul*). This is evidenced by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) appointing Amr ibn Umayyah and Abu Rafi' to accept a marriage on his behalf. Necessity supports this, as one may need to marry someone in a distant location to which travel is infeasible, similar to how the Prophet (peace be upon him) married Umm Habibah while she was in Abyssinia.