Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

In the name of Allah the most beneficent the most merciful

I'm 24 and I have a Girlfriend who is 21. She is a Muslim as well. I'm currently involved in my University education and have no means of marring this girl right now. There for we have to have an affair for at least 2 more years until I settle down. I know that an affair is not allowed in Islam, but I can't marry her right now due to the situation, and we keep out of a sexual relationship due to the reason that she lives far away from my city and she will be going abroad for 2 years. Can I ask for dua from Allah to get us together and a good future for us together. Please advice me on this.

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Answer:

Dua to enable to get married

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Firstly, it does not behove a non-mehram believing man and a believing woman, who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day to have a relationship or friendship out of marriage. Secondly, it is a grave sin to have a sexual relationship without marriage in Islam. Thus the reason for a believer to abstain from a sexual relationship out of marriage should not be because the woman lives far away from the city, or because she is going abroad for a number of years; but rather it should be because Allah Subhanah has forbidden sexual relationships out of marriage.

There is absolutely no harm if a believer makes supplications to Allah Subhanah to help and enable him to marry the women of his choice. But one must abstain from meeting the prospected woman in private and/or forming an illicit relationship before marriage.

It would be better and purer for you and for the woman, if both of you wish to get married in the future but are separated due to circumstances beyond your control, to perform the ‘nikaah’ at an early date and then consummate the marriage when you are ready, and your conditions improve.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan