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Working for foreign company surrounded by beautiful women

Question

I am working in a foreign company surrounded by beautiful non-Muslim collegues I try very hard not to fall, so I fast and pray, but that does not keep me from feeling alone. I was thinking can I use more time in sport and other studies? Is it ok to use special medicine to either reduce or kill the desire for sex? Getting married is not the answer for me because I am afraid of marriage and I don't have enough money for marriage.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, you should know that it is unlawful for you to continue working in this place. So, you should give up this work and as the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Whoever gives up something for the sake of Allah, Allah will compensate him with something better”. It is clear how bad it is to work in places where the two sexes intermingle (mixed environment). In fact, working in such an environment has very bad effects on one’s religion and morals.

Therefore, we advise you to do the following:

1. Look for work where there is no mixing of sexes. If you are in dire need and cannot find any work in an all-male environment and cannot satisfy your basic needs otherwise, then you should do the following:

a) Marry as soon as possible. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power.” [Al-Bukhari] If you do not possess the money needed for marriage, then do your best to amass it. Meanwhile, you should fast to comply with the advice of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ).

b) Fill your free time with good acts like sports and studying as you mentioned.

c) Choose a good company, and befriend pious and good people and stay away from bad and vicious people.

d) Supplicate Allah to ease your condition.

2. It is permissible to use medicine that reduces sexual desires temporarily if there are no side effects. As for using medicine that totally kills sexual desire, then this is not lawful. The evidence is the Hadeeth which says that some companions asked the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) to allow them to cut off their testicles (castration) and he did not allow them to do so.

Allah knows best.

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