I study in another city and I live with few young men. Two of them are Christians and another two are Muslims. One of the Christian roommates brings a girl home. I have many problems with them as I did not expect that they would be that immoral and I cannot leave the flat as I have already signed a contract and paid money in advance. What can I do?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallaallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

The solution is that you should seek help from Allaah The Almighty so that He would drive away their harm. Moreover, you should enjoin them to do what is good and forbid them from doing evil. At the same time you should be patient for any harm that might befall you.

When enjoining them to do good and forbidding them from evil, you have to start by doing this by your hand (i.e., physically) if you are able to do so and if there would be no harm for you. For example, you can prevent them from entering the flat if they bring home a non-Mahram (i.e., marriageable) woman. If you are not able to do so, you can prevent them by your tongue, and lastly by your heart. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered any one who sees an evil to change it by his hand if he is able to do so. If he cannot, he should change it by his tongue, then by his heart and this is the weakest level of faith. [Muslim and Ahmad]

If you are unable to forbid them by your hand or by your tongue or if you have done that and they did not respond, you should not remain with them. You should either remove the evil or go away from where it is. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

·       {And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversion.} [Quran 6:68]

Imaam Ibn Al-‘Arabi said that this proves that it is impermissible to be in the company of people who are committing major sins. Ibn Khuwayz Mandaad said that anyone who engages in offensive discourse concerning the verses of Allaah The Almighty, should be abandoned whether he is a Muslim or a disbeliever.

We advise you to try to get your money back and look for another flat if you are keen on preserving your religion. If you are unable to get your money back, Allaah The Almighty will compensate you but you should nevertheless not live with such people anyway.

Allaah Knows best.