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Wants to cut relationship with her non-practicing colleague

Question

assalam akm.i have a university friend who does not pray,does not wear the islamic hijab and when we go for lectures she dresses in trousers. our behaviours are totally different.we are now in different faculties but same university.she never asks about me except when she needs somethng from me,then she would call me.i sincerely dont feel very comfortable being with her,because our outlook in life is differnt and even our religious perspective is different.i feel offended most of the time by her statements about me,especially if they are concerning amy hijab and issues to do with religion,we always differ in this matter.i tried advising her on hijab,and prayers but to no avail.once she called me after a while b4 we saw each other,i did not respond to the mobile.she called several times i ignored and even when she came to knock to my room i didnt respond.i did ths in fear of being offended by her and i dont feel comfortable being with her.she sent me an angry message that she will delete my no.from my mobile and wont talk to me again.bear in mind sheikh,that if she doesnt talk to me i wont get affected and i really feel fine with this.she is a type of friend that if i am seen with, it doesnt really give a good picture(our way of dressing is totally different) about me(according to me),though she doesnt mind walking with me though am munaqqaba.plz advice me.is a muslim allowed to forsake a muslim if they differ on their religion outlook?are we allowed to keep friendship ties with people who dont pray even after advice and are argumentative on this issue?jazakAllah kheir.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

If it is true that your friend was repeatedly advised but in vain, and keeping company with her is a defamation to the person who keeps company with her, then it is permissible for you to cut relationship with her. It is proven in the Sunnah that it is permissible to cut relationship with sinful people, especially if one fears that they will harm him in his religion.

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "A person follows the religion of his friend; so each one should watch whom he befriends." [Ahmad and Abu Daawood], meaning that he follows his habits, ways and behaviour.

There is also another Prophetic narration about the dislikeability of keeping company with a non-righteous believer.

Therefore, if you are able to advise that girl while staying away from her –like by sending her some beneficial books and tapes –then this is better than completely cutting relations with her as she may accept advice in the future.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 85264, 84390 and 88953.

Allaah Knows best.

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