Physical intimacy before marriage

With Islam, the primary aim of marriage is to safeguard modesty, which is inherently present in every human being, regardless of sex.  To safeguard this modesty, it has prohibited adultery and other things which lead to adultery such as indecency, lewd talk, relations between non-Mahram men and women and has declared them as Haraam.  It has bound men and women to fulfill their natural desires in such a way that their modesty is not compromised and their dignity is made safe.  For this reason, in the Holy Quran, adultery and fornication has been prohibited and marriage has been declared permissible to have sexual relations within the bounds of modesty.