{"_id":"668da0bd0b76658b4c233f54","title":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"How can one navigate feelings for the opposite gender when working with them?\"}]}","question":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"I met this sister a couple years ago and I have gotten to know her better through doing dawah projects throughout the community. A few months ago I realized that I have developed intense feelings for her and decided to spend less time around her as I feel awkward and don't want the feelings to grow stronger. Now I wonder if it is right to reduce my involvement in beneficial projects because of these feelings? Should I just ignore them and continue working alongside this sister-in a respectful manner of course, or should I try to focus my attention on other things that don't involve her even though they might not be as impactful?\\n\\nIf this sister asks me to get involved in another dawah project that she is starting, how should I best communicate with her that I can't get involved? Is it permissible for me to lie and say that \\\"I don't have the time to commit\\\" so that I don't have to admit my feelings towards her?\"}]}","answer":"{\"ops\":[{\"insert\":\"Your thoughts and sentiments are commendable, alhamdulillah. If your affection for the sister is sincere, you should take the right step by considering marriage. In the event that marriage is not currently feasible, it becomes imperative to safeguard her by maintaining distance, even if you cannot find an alternative project that holds a similar impact. Continuing to be in close proximity to her, especially when you acknowledge having feelings for her without a lawful avenue to express or realize these emotions, does not demonstrate true love for her; rather, it can be perceived as a self-centered approach. True love entails preventing any situation where she might be compromised or experience harm. Love, in its essence, involves self-sacrifice, not jeopardizing the well-being of your beloved.\\n\\nThere is a story involving a female servant of Ali ibn Abi Talib and a young man that was caretaker of a masjid close to imam Ali's house. The young man would tell her that he loves her whenever she passed by the masjid. She never responded to him or acknowledged him. After a while, she became annoyed by what this man was doing so she mentioned it to imam Ali. He told her that the next time this happens, tell him that you also love him and then ask him what he wants to do next. The next time it happened she did exactly what Imam Ali told her. The man's response was, \\\"We remain patient until Allah judges between us.\\\" She told Imam Ali what the man said, and it pleased Imam Ali because the man's answer was what imam Ali was looking for. He wanted to see if the man was truthful about his claim or if he just wanted to indulge in lowly behavior. Imam Ali called the young man over and said to him, \\\"Take her to you, for Allah has judged between you.\\\"\\n\\nIn the event that she asks you to assist her with something in specific: Yes, you should make up an excuse and not divulge the truth.\"}]}","tags":[{"_id":"668d9ff10b76658b4c2329d2","tag":"Relationships: Opposite Gender","count":80},{"_id":"668d9fdf0b76658b4c2327a6","tag":"Marriage: Pre-Marriage","count":68},{"_id":"668d9fdf0b76658b4c2327a9","tag":"Relationships: Potential Spouse","count":44},{"_id":"668d9fe80b76658b4c2328bd","tag":"Worship: Dawah","count":24}],"createdOn":"2024-07-09T20:42:37.470Z"}