My Younger Sister Has Run Away With a Non-Muslim Man. What Should We Do?

Answered by Shaykh Sulayman Van Ael

Question: Assalamu alaykum

My younger sister is making my father and mother upset because she is appearing to be “eloping” with a non-muslim male. Her reasons for doing so is that she is 22 years old and doesn’t want to stay at home with parents anymore and seems to feel like she can no longer bear the environment at home. What should we do?

Answer:  Bismillah,

To a worried sister,

There is a basic principle in Islam: “And none will carry the burden (sins) of another!” and: “You will not be asked about what they have done.”

This applies of course if one has done his best to prevent a person from falling in to that what has been prohibited by Allah ta’ala The way you explained it to me shows that you did your best. On the other side it is your parents responsability before being yours. It is their daughter they will be asked about. If they, from their side, did their best as well then the only person that will be asked about this sin is your sister. May Allah guide us and her, amin.

I do not advice you to cut ties with your sister. Give her love and affection and advice her with patience and wisdom. I ask Allah ta’ala to guide us all to that what is good for us, amin!

[Shaykh] Sulayman Van Ael