Answer
In this counseling answer:
“As she already expressed that she is not interested in marrying you, instead of focusing on her, start to engage more socially, meet new brothers at your Masjid and go out for enjoyable times along for worship. In time, these activities will take your mind off of her and in sha’ Allah, Allah (swt) will place the wife he has for you in your life.”
As-Salamu ‘Alaykum brother,
Thank you for writing to us. I am sorry to hear that the one you desire to marry only sees you as a friend. Marriage, in fact, should be based on a good friendship! You both have known each other a long time and appear to be close. Sadly, this often happens when two people start off as friends and one or the other cannot switch out of friends mode, thus the idea of marriage would be a strange concept. This happens sometimes in work and university situations wherein a friendship form based on shared school work or employment tasks, no intention of marriage is said, nor does any harm come to mind.
This is why Islam prescribes certain etiquettes in regards to the interaction between men and women so that situations such as this does not happen.
In situations such as these wherein the limits were already set to co-worker relationship/friendship, it is often if not nearly impossible to switch to a romantic mode which is needed for marriage. By stating “romantic” I mean the attraction one sees when looking at someone and feeling this is someone who looks nice, let me inquire as to their character, their Islam as well as our commonalities for marriage.
A close friend once said to me “Why don’t you marry (insert name)”. I was shocked and stated, “Wow, we have been coworkers for almost 10 years, he is like a brother to me. This would feel too strange.” Now, it wasn’t because he wasn’t attractive because he was. He was also intelligent and a pious Muslim. However, our “relationship” was one which started as co-workers and over the course of 10 years, in my mind that is how I saw him: my coworker and brother in Islam, and there was no way I could change how I felt. Now, had I met him initially for purposes of marriage, things might have turned out different. However, that was not how my mind was thinking for 10 years.
My suggestions for you, brother, to not take her rejection personal. For her to reverse her mind to look at you as a potential suitor may be difficult at this point. She will not likely change her mind as it has been kind of programmed that way. Accept your position as a friend, as a co-worker, and look for a wife elsewhere. Had you met under different circumstances, it may have turned out differently, but Allah (swt) had other plans.
Because of this friendship, you also seemed to have strengthened your worship and Islam as you stated you started praying 5 times a day wherein you did not before. Perhaps Allah (swt) brought this “friendship” to you for exactly that reason. Your prayer and your relationship with Allah (swt) is the most important relationship in your life that you will ever have.
With that said, dear brother, I encourage you to keep seeking Allah (swt), continue actively practicing Islam and seeking His guidance. Do not feel hurt because she does not want to marry. Continue to value this friendly relationship on halal terms and seek out interests for marriage elsewhere.
Instead of focusing on her and worrying about her in Dubai, start to engage more socially, meet new brothers at your Masjid and go out for enjoyable times along for worship. In time, these activities will take your mind off of her and in sha’ Allah, Allah (swt) will place the wife he has for you in your life.
However, you will have to let go of the feelings of love for her as Allah (swt) will want you to feel love for your wife, not another. With time, prayer and faith, you will succeed at this, brother.
We wish you the best.
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