Feeling Envious of a Sister Who Left the Halal Way - Need Advice, Assalamu Alaikum
Assalamu alaikum everyone, I grew up in the West in a small Muslim circle. I’ve done my best to stay halal - no alcohol, no smoking, no haram stuff - but honestly it’s been lonely. So much social life around here is built around drinking, and making close friends, especially with non-Muslims, has been tough. A while back I noticed a sister from my home country who has a background like mine - same madhhab/sect, conservative family - but over time she’s changed a lot. From what I’ve seen through tagged posts and photos, she’s started drinking, eating non-halal food, travelling a lot, dressing more revealingly, and basically living a very Western lifestyle. Even though I don’t know her personally, I found myself getting fixated on her life. I kept thinking, “Maybe if I behaved more like her, I’d have more friends and feel less isolated.” I hate that I felt jealous. I know the choices she’s making aren’t right according to our deen, but part of me wonders if I missed out by being “too halal.” Some Muslim friends tease me for being overly conservative, which makes the feeling worse. What confused me was seeing her profile on a Muslim matchmaking app where she says she wants a Muslim (same sect) to marry, yet she admits she doesn’t always eat halal and posts revealing photos. It’s hard to reconcile - she still calls herself Muslim but her lifestyle looks very different. I keep checking her posts and thinking about her, even though I want to stop. It’s been years and I’m still struggling to move on. Has anyone else felt obsessed or envious of someone who seems ‘free,’ even though you know that path isn’t right? How did you cope and find contentment with your own halal choices? Jazakum Allahu khairan for any advice.