What are some of the good ways to encourage her to do good things that are pleasing to Allah so that when I propose her after graduation I don't find myself in dilemma.
Answer
In this counseling answer:
• The first step in encouraging her to do good is to remove the temptations of this relationship from her until you are able to seek marriage.
• Move forward in getting married soon so that you can resume such contact.
• Once married, you would be more easily able to directly influence her behaviors and encourage her to do things that please Allah.
• Also you may ask other sisters (by halal means!) to invite her along to local religious events and classes in the community that will encourage her to keep good company with those who do good deeds and conduct themselves well.
Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullah wa barakatuh,
Alhamdulillah that your intentions for her are good in that you want to encourage her to do things pleasing to Allah.
However, having a relationship outside of marriage, even as friends, is not something that will be pleasing to Allah. He has prescribed marriage to meet the needs of such relationships, and this is what pleases Him.
Therefore, the first step in encouraging her to do good is to remove the temptations of this relationship from her until you are able to seek marriage.
Wearing hijab
I would advise you to refrain from direct contact with her, even via non-face-to-face means such as WhatsApp and Snapchat.
This might seem quite harsh since you have already developed feelings for her and you would like to marry her at some point in the future. However, there are many good reasons for this.
Keep in mind that having this kind of relationship with her does not encourage the hijab you would like to see her observe.
By having such contact, you automatically contribute to her not observing modesty.
Remember, hijab does not only mean covering the hair. It implies both physical and social modesty.
As you have observed first hand, talking to her and getting to know her has led to the development of romantic feelings. These feelings can easily lead to haram via fornication, Zina, and even adultery.
When it comes to romance and intimacy, Allah has encouraged us to get married to fulfill many of these desires.
However, the fulfillment of these desires outside of marriage is a sin and this is why marriage is encouraged as protection for society to prevent things such as children being born outside of marriage and rights not being fulfilled.
There are much wisdom and benefit in a marriage that cannot be attained through non-marital relationships.
You may feel you have control over these things and that you won’t commit sin, but controlling the nafs is never an easy task and jihad of the self like this can be very challenging.
Allah knows us better than we know ourselves. This is why he prescribed marriage in order that we don’t have to face what we are not strong enough to.
Get married
Therefore, I would suggest that you either move forward in getting married soon so that you can resume such contact.
Or if you don’t plan to get married anytime soon, then either cut contact completely until then or if you want to be in touch, make sure there is a third party present to prevent you both falling in to sin, even via online contact.
This can be done by adding her mahram to the WhatsApp conversation, for example, so they can monitor your conversation.
Check out this counseling video:
It may seem like a strange thing to do, but even one to one contact online can lead to inappropriate interactions.
In fact, even more so than face to face as when people talk online, they are behind a veil which leads to losing one’s inhibitions to some extent which can lead to sin even more easily than face to face contact.
Easily to influence her after marriage
Beyond your current situation, once married, you would be more easily able to directly influence her behaviors and encourage her to do things that please Allah, such as observing physical modesty and wearing hijab.
She would also be less inclined to engage with other men as she has a spouse and this would protect her modesty more generally.
For now, you could instead take indirect steps by asking those that you are permitted to talk to talk to her and encourage good in her.
This may be less direct by asking them to invite her along to local religious events and classes in the community that will encourage her to keep good company with those who do good deeds and conduct themselves well. They, therefore, will nurture her to do the same.
This way, they have to necessarily make direct comments about the way she dresses for example and will encourage her to make these changes herself of her own volition.
Conclusion
In sha Allah, by the time you are ready to wed her, she will have already established these things.
May Allah guide you and this girl to the things that He is pleased with and grant you happiness and success in both this life and the next.
Amen,
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