Seeking Advice: My 13-Year-Old Daughter Has a Non-Muslim Boyfriend
As-salamu alaykum. I’m really struggling and would appreciate any practical advice. My daughter is 13 and has her first boyfriend - astaghfirullah. She’s had a phone about a year and I mostly trusted her, rarely checked it. Recently I found out she’s been having long calls and lots of texting with a boy from her school when she goes to friends’ houses. He’s Christian. I confiscated the phone for a month, then allowed it back with only one hour a day, but she’s still communicating with him. I tried talking to her calmly and without shaming. She told me, “Mama… I don’t want to be Muslim.” That hit me hard. We live in an area with very few Muslims; I don’t even know if there are other Muslim students at her school. My husband and I hope to move somewhere with a stronger Islamic community, but that won’t be possible for at least a year. I’m torn. Her faith feels weak, most of her friends aren’t Muslim, and in the wider culture having a first boyfriend at this age seems normal. I’m a revert and had boys calling my house at 11, and my parents were less strict. I don’t want to push her away from Islam, but I also can’t accept this situation. I’m out of ideas. I’ve already taken the phone, but I don’t know the next steps. How do I protect her deen and guide her without alienating her? Has anyone dealt with a similar situation - especially in an area with few Muslims? Jazakum Allah khair.