What is the ruling on continuing to speak with a young man who proposed to me several times and was rejected by my family, most recently due to his drinking of alcohol, even though he has repented and regretted his action?

It is not permissible for a woman to establish a relationship with a man who is a stranger to her, even if he intends to propose to her. This is due to the religious prohibitions that surround such relationships, such as looking and private seclusion (khalwa). If the family rejects this suitor multiple times, the relationship with him must be ended immediately.

A woman should strive to marry a man of good religion and character. A young man who drinks alcohol is an indication of his lack of religiosity. The woman should stop speaking with this man and completely sever her relationship with him, focusing instead on her own rectification.

Among the things that will help her to break free from this relationship are: 1. Attaining the love of Allah the Almighty and engaging in His obedience. 2. Avoiding meeting the young man, sitting with him, and looking at him. 3. Getting rid of thoughts about him by occupying oneself with beneficial matters. 4. Turning to Allah with sincere supplication, such as: "O Allah, purify my heart," "O Turner of hearts, keep my heart steadfast upon Your obedience," "O Allah, grant me of Your fear that which will come between me and disobedience to You," "O Allah, I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity, and self-sufficiency," and "O Allah, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen, there is no god but You, Lord of everything and its Sovereign, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my soul, and from the evil of Satan and his polytheism, and from committing any evil against myself or bringing it upon a Muslim," along with asking Allah for a righteous husband and righteous offspring. 5. Constantly occupying oneself with beneficial knowledge and actions, so that Satan does not find any void to fill with negative thoughts.