Linda says: July 5, 2015 at 11:38 am
I am facing some confusions after reading different articles and replies in forum regarding interfaith marriage especially when it involves a Muslim. I am a Malaysian Chinese, registered as Buddhist in IC but agnostic in life. I am currently dating a Pakistani Muslim and we were talking about the problems we would face to get marry, which involves me getting converted. I am not ready to convert to Islam but as meichenxiang (below) said the law doesn’t apply to foreigners who are Muslims, is that true? We plans to reside in Malaysia. -Linda
Meichenxiang says: February 23, 2015 at 6:58 pm
Yes, you can get married in Sgp under civil law, no problem. Then you can live in Msia. Why? Because the law doesnt apply to foreigners who are Muslims, meaning your Brit bf’s status as Muslim does not carry weight. If he was a Msian Muslim then no, you must re register your marriage in Msia and that means under Muslim marriage (which means that YOU have to embrace Islam). -Meichenxiang
admin says: July 5, 2015 at 9:09 pm
Hi Linda,
Please read below first two “Also read” articles. Yes, Malaysian government mainly cares for Malaysian Muslims but laws are vague. This is true especially if you wish to settle as Muslim-Buddhist couple and raise your Muslim-Buddhist children. What kind of religion your children will have in their IC card?
If possible, go get married in Singapore by their secular civil laws and settle in Malaysia as foreign married people. Again issues will come up later in life, especially after children.
Major issue we see is – you are an agnostic. What are your concern converting to Islam? If at all, we hope that is not a FAKE-conversion (read). Islam does not tolerate agnostic, you MUST 100% submit to Islam. After marriage, he will keep pressuring you to convert, especially your in-laws from Pakistan. When time comes to raise children, your husband and his parents will not even let your shadow fall on his (your) children. So, think deep if you really want to get into this religious issues at all.
An agnostic may see that all faith could have Allah/God but Islam has something more, that is a “Muhammad-factor”. You must praise Muhammad every talks and every namazes (PBUH). Even your conversion to Islam is not only to submit to Allah (LA ILAHA ILLALLAH) but to endorse Muhammad as some special man (Muhammadur Rasulullah). Agnostic may see (Islam) minus (Muhammad) = (Judaism or even Buddhism). So you should start learning about Muhammad because one day you will be teaching about him to your children. If you are not ready to accept “Muhammadur Rasulullah” by your heart, better take it as a major warning sign for your future with this Pakistani. Let us know how else we could help you. -Admin
Also read: Love with a Malaysian Muslim, Malaysian Marriage Laws, VIDEO: Interfaith Marriage with Equality, Hindu-Muslim Marriage-video, Love-Jihad, Don’t fake-convert, Polygamy and talaak, Akansha unwillingly converted to Nusrat, Hindu-Muslim marriages, Hindu-Muslim lovers’ experiences, Hindu girl-Muslim boy, Idols, pluralism, SRK-can you do it?, Zakir Naik, Christian-Hindu marriages, Jain-Muslim marriages, Brahmin-Muslim marriages, Bollywood and Interfaith Marriages.
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My main concern is changing the original name after converting to Muslim which seems compulsory in Malaysia. Embracing Islam in Malaysia is mostly like that you have to give up on your own identity and the cultures that you had before. Furthermore, after changing to Muslim name, you had to officially announce to the bank and many offices and request them to change the name. It seems it would be followed by a complicated process after converting.