Do your research Sofii - please!

Submitted by Isis (Australia), Nov 22, 2008 at 09:16

You are only 17 so you have a lot to learn in life. For starters - Islam is not just a religion it is a way of life, It controls every event in a Muslim's life from marriage, family, sex, how they raise their children, what they eat, what they drink and of course prayer. It also controls a woman's life - what they wear, (married Egyptian Muslima wear a hijab and galabeya so they are fully covered and usually in black) their role in society, their role in a marriage, where they can go, who they can see. Muslim women do not have male friends - their social life revolves around their husbands, their children and family and domestic chores. Most Muslims in Egypt are traditional and if your friend is from a rural background he will be more traditional than a man from Cairo or Alexandria.

Your comment " ... and obviously because he is muslim he needs to get married to the person who he wants to be with" is puzzling because this is not the case at all. Muslim men in Egypt are encouraged to marry a Muslim woman and often they do not have the choice because the families arrange the marriages. His mother and sisters will oversee this part of his life.

If your man is educated there is a chance that he is aware and accepting of western society but already he is putting pressure on you to convert to Islam. This gives the indication that he is not as liberal thinking as you have convinced yourself he is. I spent up to four months of the year in Egypt and I am still learning and have a lot to learn about their culture and Islam. The internet is a great resource for information about Islam so my advice would be to start "Googling" and not to get too excited about this man. After all - you've only ever conversed over the internet.. I hope this helps you.

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