Born Muslim ...but DON'T want to marry a Muslim man?!?

You know how there some stories that are so far out in left field that you have a hard time believing it to be true. Then you get the facts and proof and you're floored! You feel like you've heard it all! That's me. I tell I have see it all. This is how it goes, I met this South African/ American (a little confusing but you gained citizenship) sister, Soumaya, at a function. It was funny how we didn't know one another but somehow ended sitting at a table with all the other brown and black non Arabs. So she was a striking sister. Well dressed, I mean Islamically sophisticated in a nice jilbab, matching hijab and stilletos. We began to make small talk and she told she was expecting her first child. I congratulated her and she went on to tell me that she been trying for six years Mashallah and this was the best feeling to be pregnant. She was beaming and said that her husband was more excited than her. He was 49 and this would be his first child. After the evening was over she gave me her number and invited me to come over. She wanted to meet my son and have an opportunity to play with the baby.

I went by to see her week later and Mashallah her home was absolutely gorgeous. We sat on the pation drinking mango smoothies and watching my son play in the grass. Ever now and again, Soumaya would mention her husband, Marc. I thought it was odd that she called him Marc. Most of the reverts that I knew back in the States always changed their name. Not always legally but still they gave themselves a Muslim name to use in the community. Although, I know theres always exceptions. Soumaya said her parents were going to come from her child's birth and she most happy that her dad would enshallah call the adhan in the baby's ear. I know its neccessary, but I didn't mention it to her. For many its cultural anyway. But what sparked my interest again was why would her dad do it and not her husband? So I asked and she replied very plainly that Marc, her husband, was not Muslim.

I think I looked away and scratched my head in order to gain a little composure. I have never met a Muslima married to a non Muslim. I did speak up about it to her, in the most non confrontation way I knew how to. She didn't take offence. She said she always knew she would never marry a Muslim even as a young child growing up in South Africa. She said she loved her father but he'd never been a good man to her mother and her brothers were the same. I think that was the saddest part of my day. I felt horrible because I felt the exact opposite. I have great Muslim father but my husband can neve measure up to him. I WISHED I had a husband more like my Muslim father and I pray sooner or later Allah allows me to have one. But if not, I think I'd have to agree with Soumaya...I don't want another Muslim man .....like the one I have. I rather be divored and single.

Now on to you....Muslimas who were born Muslim, Muslimas who reverted, Muslimas from the East and West, how do you honestly feel about Muslim men? Is there were no limitations on who we could marry, would a Muslim man be your first choice?

President Elect - Barack Hussein Obama

Yes he did! I think this is a beautiful moment in history. This has been one of the most watched, followed and heavily weighed campaigns in my time and I wanted to recognize the significance of this win for this man.

Im not ashamed to say that I am equally pleased that the President elect has such a beautiful family with many hues of brown- from his daughters to his wife, that the President elect stood before the world and said the love of his life was dark skinned black woman and you could see in his face the pride he felt in that. I think this is profound image, black pride and black love being viable in this world today when countless people of the world and even blacks within the African diaspora doubt it, deny it and are ashamed of it. But he proved people wrong in that too. Yes he did!!

Ofcourse history is still being written but without doubt, I think President elect Obama's landslide win over a wealthy, elderly white man gives instant legitimacy to educated people within the African diaspora. In our lifetime?

Yes, in our lifetime, a qualified black man has earned his place in history and brought his family along as well!