What is the religious ruling on the marriage of a religious girl to a young man who consumes alcohol and drugs and has illicit relationships, knowing that the girl is convinced of her ability to reform him? And what advice should be given to the father and the girl in this case?

The woman's guardian should choose a righteous husband whose religiosity and character are pleasing, as Allah Almighty says: "Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has preferred some of them over others and by [right of] what they spend from their wealth." Marrying a girl to an unrighteous person is a waste of her interests, just as compatibility in marriage is based on religion. The girl's guardian erred by accepting this suitor, and he must reject the proposal. The girl should leave this young man and not make excuses about her ability to reform him, as Allah Almighty says: "Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided." The harm of remaining unmarried is less severe than the harm of marrying someone who does not observe the limits of Allah. She is advised to be rational, patient, have a good opinion of her Lord, and supplicate for a righteous husband, as Allah Almighty says: "And be patient, for indeed, Allah does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good," and His saying: "And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided."