What should one do who loves an unveiled woman of ill repute, and has prayed to God for her guidance so that he may marry her, but is assailed by thoughts of her that lead to zinā al-khawāṭir (fornication of thoughts)? Should he continue to supplicate, or propose to her on condition of commitment, or forget her?

Your prayer for a woman's guidance is a good thing, so continue with it as long as you can ward off evil thoughts. If thoughts that might lead you to displeasing Allah overcome you, then turn away from them and forget them. A woman's religiousness and uprightness are the best qualities, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "A woman is married for four things: for her wealth, for her lineage, for her beauty, and for her religion. So, succeed with the religious woman, may your hands be dusty." If she becomes upright, then propose to her. Otherwise, leave her and strive to forget her. We do not advise marrying her on the condition of uprightness, because her lack of uprightness might negatively affect your religion and yourself. Ibn al-Arabi said: "If a man does not have a righteous wife, his affairs with her will not be set straight except by the loss of a part of his religion." The Hadith supports this: "There are three who pray to Allah, but their prayers are not answered: a man who had a bad-tempered wife and did not divorce her."