I have a friend who indulges in sin and does not accept advice. He also dislikes listening to the Quran and likes to listen to songs and other unlawful things. I tried to change him but in vain. What should 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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

You should vary the ways you advise your friend in the hope that Allaah guides him and opens his heart through one of these ways. Sometimes you should encourage him to do good deeds, by reminding him of the eternal reward and the everlasting pleasure that Allaah has prepared for the believers. You should also draw his attention to the fact that righteous believers have tranquility in their hearts in this worldly life due to their righteousness and enjoy an eternal happiness in the Hereafter. At other times, you should scare him by mentioning the punishment of Allaah that may befall him in this worldly life and the Hereafter.

Moreover you can seek the help of his friends and people that he trusts. You should continue to advise and direct him to the right path, while choosing the proper way, time, and place to advise him. The accumulation of sins darkens the heart, making it annoyed refusing to hear the remembrance of Allaah or any religious speech about reward or punishment. It also causes the heart to enjoy any talk about worldly life and its pleasures. Allaah the Almighty Says (what means):

·        {No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning.}[Quran 83:14]

·        {And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful- We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.}[Quran 43:36]

You should be patient with this person as perhaps Allaah would make you the cause for guiding him, and thus you will gain the reward promised by the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,  told ‘Ali that if he was the cause of guiding one person to Islam, this would be better for him than possessing the most precious wealth of this worldly life. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 84348.