Initial stage of dating a muslim man

Submitted by Laura Prieto (United States), Aug 16, 2006 at 15:13

I am starting to date a muslim man and have several reservations about the issue. First note that I have had several inter-racial relationships that have been very positive for me. But dating a muslim is very different. I have no intention of ever converting to Islam, changing my clothing habits or my lifestyle to fit the Islamic way. Islam is a good religion but there are a lot of rules which I do not believe I could ever adapt to: e.g. no drinking, no dancing, no wearing any suggestive clothes, raising one's daughter as a muslim and prohibiting her to marry someone of another faith, etc. What scares me the most is the danger raising a daughter with so many restrictions.

I know realistically that these things can be overcome if the quality of the relationship is good. However, I know how to manage and predict the behavior of men of my own culture. When it comes to reading someone else, you start on a little bit of a blank slate. What are some indications, to those of you who have dated or married muslim men, that the man would eventually want to convert you or is strict about raising his children muslim?

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