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Merry Christmas Anniversary to wifey & me coming up this Friday. :D Twenty-two years *Alhamdulillah,* five kids (21 to 11yrs), & she is 10X better than me as a Muslim, & as a human being. I did something right. :p
I met my wife in high school but no, we were not "high school sweethearts." She is Polish, was nominally Christian at the time. Her parents wanted her to marry a Polish boy while my parents wanted me to marry an Indian girl. Neither of us was about that, so here's how it started:
I definitely knew I liked her, before I ended up getting super religious, but as a Muslim, I didn't know how to approach her. There was no way my parents would give me their blessings if she wasn't Muslim. So, I pitched Islam to her, and she accepted. Next step ...
Next step was to convince my parents. My father was verrry skeptical about these young converts who married into other cultures, especially with culture shock. My parents are conservative Indian Muslims, and marrying a White girl was seen as betraying the culture. Even her ...
Even her parents absolutely did not agree with her talking to me. They wanted her to marry a nice Polish boy, and one day I was at her house when the mother walked in. We weren't fooling around but I could tell from her look & tone, she did not approve.
Then what happened is that I got super religious (in 1995) & after 4 months of immersion in India & Pakistan, I returned to Canada ... now with beard & robes. My father-in-law thought I was a terrorist. :p My father thought it was a phase. He didn't think it'd work out either.
One day my father said to bring her to the house so he could "interview" her. Miraculously, he was so impressed with her that he gave us the go-ahead to get married. I thought I was hallucinating when he said that! lol!
I wanted to lock in as many spiritual benefits as possible, so we got married on the first Friday of Ramadan. It just so happened to be Dec.25th. :) We held a modest ceremony at the Mosque, then at my parent's house. I told everyone to bring money, not toasters as a gift. :p
With the money collected, we did our honeymoon trip starting in the last 10 days of Ramadan: 5 days in Medina, 5 days in Mecca including Eid. Then off to Egypt where we did the tourist thing. Then, to Israel/Palestine for a Holy Lands tour. Then India for another touristy trip.
After the 9/11 attacks, both my parents & hers were shocked that I would take my family to live in Syria (was studying Arabic & Islamic Studies). My in-laws thought a "Not Without My Daughter" scenario was developing, my own parents thought I was a bit radical. :p
When I returned back in 2004, I was recruited by the intelligence services. At the start I couldn't tell her what I was doing, & having to leave at night without telling her where I was going was ... weird. :p She trusted me, but my in-laws were wary:
"Isn't he allowed to marry more than one wife?!" my father-in-law asked my wife. She laughed, knowing by now what I was doing with govt. Besides, as I usually say in response, 1 Polish wife is like having 4 wives already! :p
By 2006, when my government exploits became public knowledge, my father-in-law came up to me, hugged me, and said: "Thank you, because I really thought you might be a terrorist." LOL! True story, I swear to Allah. :)
Last 2 tweets: I really do try to live by the Golden Rule. Contrary to the lies about Islam & contrary to the bad actions of Muslim men, I learned from the example of the Prophet Alayhissalaam: the best of you, is best to their family. :)
Finally, if I can dispense any advice to others out there: 1) Don't see "chores," see "tasks" that need to be completed. 2) Perform tasks without being asked to. 3) Develop habit of biting your lip. lol! 4) "Yes dear," is scripture! 5) Happy wife, is indeed a happy life! :p <end>
