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:

Asalamu Alay`kum brother,

My older sister does not practice Islam and she has a boyfriend. She lies to my parents and goes to see him. I am aware of this and when i confronted her she lied to me and said she does not meet him. I saw pictures of both of them together. I know this is a big sin and it is prohibited in Islam because she is not married and she is seeing a man. I want to tell my parents and show them the pictures but would that be right of me to do? I don`t want her to get sinned more for it, that is why i want to tell my parents because they should just get her married. What should i do? just make a prayer for her and/or do something about it?

jazakAllah khairun.

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Answer:

Older sister has boyfriend

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Dear and beloved sister in Islam, it would only be an extension of your love and your genuine well-wishing for your sister that you fear for her future and strive your utmost to politely but firmly guide her to fear Allah and His Day of Accounting, and warn her of the consequences which her daring transgression of Allah’s Prescribed Boundaries might bring upon her. If after your very best efforts your sister does not heed your good caution, and you genuinely intend good for your sister, there is absolutely no harm in you informing your parents so that they as her guardians may fulfill their duty and stop her from falling further into sin and transgression.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.733 Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar

That he heard Allah's Messenger (saws) saying, "Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for those in his care; the ruler is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; the man is a guardian in his family and responsible for his charges; a woman is a guardian of her husband's house and responsible for her charges; and the servant is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for his charge; so everyone of you is a guardian and responsible for those under his care."

You being the younger sister are obviously not responsible for the deeds of your elder sister; but it would be an extension of your sincere love and genuine well-wishing for your sister that you at least make sincere efforts to stop your sister falling further into transgression and sin. The final responsibility of striving to stop your sister from sinking deeper into transgression would lie foremost upon your sister herself and also upon her parents/guardians.

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan