What do you do when a close Muslim friend rejects Islam?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question:

A close Muslim friend of mine has decided to reject Islam. Should my relationship with him change? I had tried many times to advise and to guide him, but to no avail. Should I not be as close to him anymore? Should I continue to stay in touch? Or should I act like nothing happened?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

May His blessings and peace be on His Beloved Prophet, the best of creation, and his family, companions, and followers

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

You should try to keep his company and help him resolve the ‘problems’ he had that led to this unfortunate decision. Usually, people leave religion because of having a spiritual vacuum.

One way to fill this meaningfully is to find an effective way to have him spend time around people of faith and piety, but in ‘non-threatening’ modes of interaction.

Once it becomes apparent that there is no hope of him changing, then you cannot keep his company, though there may be wisdom in maintaining a distant relationship—in the hope of him seeking the truth some time in the future.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Faraz Rabbani

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