Sir, I am a practicing divorced Muslim woman, but not very strict. I have a 45 year-old male friend who is Muslim on paper but says he is a non-believer. How can I help this person and what should I do? He does not live a reckless life but is committing the unforgivable sin. Can a person turn from 'Kafir' to believer? I fear for my friend's afterlife.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Taking a friend from the opposite sexe is strictly prohibited in Islam. It was a well-known form of adultery before the advent of Islam.

Arabs used to prevent such a deed in public before Islam. But, they approved it secretly. Islam forbids such an act completely.

Allah Says (what means):
• {…And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed., …} [Quran 6:151]

• {[They should be] chaste, neither [of] those who commit unlawful intercourse randomly nor those who take [secret] lovers.} [Quran 4:25]

• {…desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers.} [Quran 5:5]

As mentioned above, Islam forbids any form of taking a girl/boy as a friend, since this is the nearest channel that leads to Zina (fornication or adultery).

Thus, Islam forbids any kind of sexual relations outside marriage. In other words, Islam does not sanction what is known as “a love between the two sexes.” The Prophet said: “No man should remain with a woman alone unless in the presence of her Mahram (unmarriageable male relative).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] He also said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, should not remain with a woman alone unless there is a Mahram with her, since Satan will be their third one.” [Ahmed]

Here, we advise you to avoid such a relationship, and if he repents, Allah will accept his repentance and forgive him. After that, if he becomes a righteous man and proposes to marry you, then there is no harm.

Allah knows best.