I wish you would be a little more specific and offer questions about what you might need help with, because otherwise, the help you receive will be somewhat generalized or broad.

Nevertheless — There are a few things to consider in this situation:

1. By technicalities, you probably won’t find a lot of support for your relationship in the Muslim community due to the fact that it is often frowned upon for Muslims to be dating in a Western style anyways, and your man is non-Muslim. It is often made a big deal because in the Qur’an, it states that men may marry Muslim women or People of the Book (Christians, Jews), but does not offer much leeway for

Muslim women to do the same. This ruling is because it is expected that the man, as the head of the family, will lead the family in Islamic practices. If the man is not Muslim, that may mean the children will not get to be raised as Muslim (and it is the goal of most religions, not just Islam, to retain and reproduce followers of that particular religion). You may also face discouragement from his family for similar reasons or other misconceptions. In any case, I would be prepared for your interfaith relationship to not be received kindly. It may take a long time for people to warm up to it, if they do at all.

2. With all of that said, never flirt to convert. Why are you compelled to be dating this individual in the first place? Relationships are hard, but interfaith relationships have their own special difficulties. Despite what the public opinion of your relationship may be, how do YOU feel about it? Do you think because of yours or his religion, your relationship better or worse? Does he encourage you in your spiritual journey? Do you encourage him? He shouldn’t be pressuring you to change your beliefs and neither should you.

3. No matter what your religions are, first and foremost, I would hope you two would communicate with each as humans first. Communication is so important - and this factor doesn’t change if he is Muslim or Hindu or Atheist or otherwise. Have you talked to him about your expectations in general? For the relationship? For the future? Would you want to raise your kids Muslim? Does he want to raise them Christian? These two religions are similar but different in crucial ways. Do you want your kids to be raised believing Jesus is God in flesh? Or believe that God doesn’t need to come to earth in human form? Maybe you are too early into your relationship for that sort of talk, but that is just an example. For interfaith relationships, patience, understanding, and communication is so important. I believe interfaith relationships can work out great, but one has to be communicating and willing to think with an open mind.

My boyfriend is Muslim. We have been in a serious relationship for two years now. Though I am on a journey to converting to Islam, when we started our relationship, I was Christian. He was so kind and always encouraged me to go to church and when he would do his five daily prayers, I would pray my own Christian prayers. He always encouraged me to ask questions or pray or read the Bible while he was reading the Qur’an.

My family on both sides still give me a lot of grief for dating an Arab Muslim man, but my man has brought so much joy and love into my life - I know God had something special in mind when we were brought together.

Religion and relationships

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