I am a 25-year-old male, and like many others my age, I am seeking affection and intimacy but feel unable to find a path forward. I am currently working while pursuing my Master’s degree, so my free time is limited. I spend most of it gaming or working on robotics projects.
I have wanted to get married for a while now, but I can’t seem to find the right path, and I am facing a major logical hurdle. I am currently staying in Egypt due to the ongoing conflict elsewhere; while my salary isn't bad for the local market, it is significantly less than what I earned in Saudi Arabia. I can fully cover my own expenses, but I don’t feel I can support a household yet, let alone get married the way I envision. I want to be the provider for my family and avoid the "Qaima" system, as I believe it can be extremely risky if a marriage doesn't work out.
My question is, how am I supposed to meet these needs? I need someone I can lean on and be vulnerable around, but the traditional route feels impossible right now. My mother thinks it is fine to go into debt to get married or to live in a very underdeveloped or unsafe area. I lived in those areas during college and was fine, but I don’t want to put a wife in that environment—I’ve witnessed extreme violence over minor disputes in those neighborhoods, and I don't want that for my future family.
Then there is the situation with a friend. She is from Europe; we met through gaming and have been friends for five years. She is in a relationship, and we don’t share religious values or lifestyles, so it is strictly a platonic friendship. She has been there for me during my lowest points, and I have been there for her. I have even shared Islamic values with her that helped her through her life.
However, I believe it is a wife’s right to be the only woman in her husband’s life. Even though we see each other only as best friends, I feel a conflict here. I don't want to lose a support system that has carried me for years, but I want to do things the right way when I eventually marry.
I have been stuck in this situation for a few years, and it feels like it gets harder every day. As work and life become more stressful, the loneliness of being single is becoming more difficult to manage. Any advice on how to navigate the financial, safety, and personal aspects of this would be appreciated.
**I used AI to rewrite this as it was getting taken down for acrynoms on other communities**