‘My Muslim husband insists I must convert’

muslimI met Bakare at a business seminar which held in one of the prestigious hotels in Lagos seven years ago. It was a two-day programme and, fortunately, we sat close to each other. On the second day, we greeted and introduced orselves. “Good morning, my name is Bakare. I remember you sat next to me yesterday; today also we are sitting next to each other. Is this a coincidence or is it planned?” Bakare asked.

Smiling, I replied, “My name is El lena. It was not planned. I must say it is a coincidence.” During the short break before the second and final session commenced, we had a chat after which we exchanged phone numbers and email addresses. From our discussion, it was obvious that Bakare just returned to the country after so many years. Also, we were both aspiring to become entrepreneurs even though I was still working at that time.

A week later, I was in the office when my phone rang. Bakare was on the line. He told me he wanted to invite me for his friend’s wedding that weekend. I told him I would get back to him later in the evening. I didn’t until two days later. I noticed the excitement in his voice when I called to inform him that I would attend the wedding with him. We went together and it was a beautiful Nikkai wedding. We enjoyed ourselves as we sat and keenly watched all the proceedings of the wedding.

It was on our way from the wedding that Bakare told me that he fell in love with me the first day he saw me. He also told me that although he was a Muslim with his entire family, he was a passive one. “Ellena, I fell in love with you the first day I set my eyes on you. I hope you don’t mind dating a Muslim. However, I want you to know that I am a passive Muslim even though my entire family are strong ones. I grew up abroad with my uncle and his family, so I am a freespirited man,” he revealed.

I gazed at him for a few minutes and told him, I had fallen in love with him. “Bakare, I like you a lot even though you profess your love for me. And for you being a passive Muslim is alright by me after all we are just friends for now. I don’t want to rush anything but let us see how things go,” I added. After a while, I discovered that he makes me very happy whenever I am with him; we complement each other and look good together. He also understands my every mood and I feel protected whenever I am with him. But most importantly, he loves me dearly so I decided to give him a chance in my life.

After dating for about three months, I told my parents that I was dating a Muslim and, of course, they were not in support. “There is something I need to tell you both. I know that you know Bakare is my friend; however, I want to open up to you as my parents that we have started dating even though he is a Muslim. We love each other and if he should ask me to marry him, I will not think twice about it,” I revealed.

Shocked, my father said, “Ellena, what is wrong with you? You are a good girl brought up in a Christian home, why will you be dating a Muslim? You two do not have the same belief, please my daughter, snap out of this madness,” he emphasised. “After all we serve and worship the same God, so why the discrimination?” I retorted. At that point, my mother didn’t say a word but the way she kept looking at me spoke volume: she was not in support. I tried to convince them that he was a passive Muslim but they warned me to stop fooling myself.

Indeed, there was nothing anyone could do to change my mind about Bakare. He proposed in the sixth month of our dating and with a cheerful heart, I accepted. Everyone was very nice to me the first time I visited his family’s house. His parents received me with open arm. “My son has told us a lot about you. You are the first woman he is bringing home to us to introduce as his fiancée since he returned to the country, you must be lucky. I hope you know he is from a Muslim family even though he takes religion for granted,” he said. “He told us you are a Christian; I am surprised because you could hardly see Christians and Muslims get married. I am very sure your meeting was destined by Allah,” his mother wondered. We all had lunch together leaving. However on our way home, Bakare told me, “My parents like you; I am assuring you that you won’t have any problems when we finally get married.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Ellena candidly speaking you are not intelligent, and may have reached a monopouse that may have pushed you into hungry marriage. Remember the Bible injunction to respect your Mother and Father,any disobedience to your Parents remains disobedience to God.whatever you do to your Parents must surely come back to you.
    I guess you should not ask any body for advise because you did not ask any body even friends when you got involved.Good luck to you madam Muslim.

  2. In bible From A~Z there is no word christianity. you should know that originally bible & Qur’an are word of almighty god. so the fact is that look the picture of marry, is your appearance looks alike, if not then merry dress like muslim did …..many lessons