'They would never look at me as a good person, instead I’d be the guy who changed her completely

(Secrets and Lies of Love; Part 2)

To convert from one religion to another is a huge milestone one could make in their life.

Khan (24) from Birmingham talks about how his interfaith relationship with 23-year-old Amrita, questioned the beliefs and strength of their religions.

A religion are rules individuals follow, Amrita a Sikh and Khan a Muslim epitomises the differences in their belief systems. The two religions and very much different and unique with the Holy Scriptures, yet both religions follow the same beliefs of marriage. In both faiths, the couple have to belong to the same religion in the commitment of marriage.

"I may not be religious and pray 5 times a day but I do strongly believe in Islam. At first I wanted Amrita to convert, because I knew my parents would accept her immediately" Khan said.

Khan had asked Amrita the question of converting, "she’d always say to me that she needs to think about it. After a few months went by I asked again and got the same response.

"I had then come to my senses that I cannot ask her to convert, since her parents would probably disown her for changing her identity. They would never look at me as a good person, instead I’d be the guy who changed her completely".

Khan did not want to be responsible for any changes in Amrita’s life. He had learnt that love does not require changes, but with a lot of compromising; sacrificing a religion is not necessary.

"Even if I had asked her to convert, how much would she actually believe in Islam? I know that she would convert just to spend the rest of her life with me and gain blessing from my parents, which is not the purpose of converting for marriage. It becomes an excuse".

Khan added, "Amrita is good in heart; I don’t need her to convert to be with me. She won’t need to change her identity, name or religion for me. I will ask for her hand in marriage as the same person she was 3-years ago and as she is now".

Marriage for Khan does not mean sacrifices in religion or changing one’s identity.

"It is a bond between two people who are willing to understand and compromise, not to match identities like twins. It is a test of marriage, and I will show the world that two people can love each other from different faiths", he said.

Khan has shown that converting is not always the answer for approval of marriage. Interfaith relationships embrace the reality and truth of faiths.