[Hayat R.]

This is a strange habit you’ve touched on, and as a Pakistani I have never done this, but I think I can tell you the reason for it. In Pakistan and India, the system of merchant/customer relations is a very tricky one. Basically, their prices are not regulated, and it’s you vs. him. He wants to make the most money off you as possible, and you want to get the product as cheaply as you can. It’s buyer beware and seller defend yourself. When some Pakistanis and Indians come to the United States, they still carry that mentality. They have never been taught any regulations in buying, as there really are no shopping ethics in their home countries.

Also, a good majority of the type who do buy, read and return books are young students who have limited funds and are simply here to get a decent education. In education, people from the Sub-continent usually put forth their greatest effort, so if they’re strapped for cash, some would rather buy a book, Xerox what they need and return it. It doesn’t seem wrong to them because they’re not damaging the book and probably take great pains to make sure it’s kept in good shape so it can be sellable. Having the book is a matter of passing and failing sometimes, and if their parents have sold the family car, house and jewelry to get them to the United States for an education, they’re not about to let the matter of money stop them from fulfilling that obligation.

It’s a matter of culture and circumstances. You won’t find all Pakistanis and Indians doing this, and chances are it will be forgotten by the next generation that brings their children up in the West. Please have patience with them. The United States is a whole other world for us, and we have so much to learn on arrival that things like this fall through the cracks while we focus on more important things, like the language, idioms, social norms and what-not.

User Detail :  

Name : Hayat R., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Caucasian/Asian mix, Religion : Muslim, Age : 20, City : Islamabad, State : NA, Country : Pakistan, Occupation : Journalist, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Hayat R.]

In Islam the choice of your mate is entirely up to you. Without consent there is no marriage. However, in Islam there are many rules regarding inter-gender mixing. Technically, the things included in typical dating are forbidden to unmarried people, like kissing, having sex and being alone together. Due to this Muslims often have a limited contact with the opposite gender. Culturally, to rectify this problem there is a system of arranged marriages. Its not neccessary but it is commonly practiced. In modern times Muslims meet many people in school and at work so ‘arranged’ marriages are not neccessary, though the rules of mixing still apply. About bigamy, in Islam polygamy is allowed, but with many limitations and stipulations. The maximum amount of wives a husband can have is four, and he must be able to support them all well, have a legit need for one (first wife is infertile, invalid, etc) be just with them and show no favourtism. Due to this, many find it hard to meet these requirements and avoid it. I guess these rules were instated to weed out the type of people who would exploit this allowance. You rarely find a person who practices polygamy, and if you do find one, chances are they’re not following all the rules. Hope this helps!

User Detail :  

Name : Hayat R., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Caucasian/Asian mix, Religion : Muslim, Age : 20, City : Islamabad, State : NA, Country : Pakistan, Occupation : Journalist, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Hayat R.]

To literally answer your question ‘What happens when Muslims marry outside the faith’, the answer is nothing. They don’t get shot down with a bolt of lightening or killed or stoned or whatever. But here are the specific rules they govern themselves by and the reasons. Men can marry ‘Women of the Book’ if they are pious and righteous with the stipulation that their children be Muslim. That includes Jews and Christians. The stipulation is listed because for Muslims, as in most religions, it would be counterproductive to the religious cause and purpose for mankind to raise non-believers once one has found the faith. Muslim men are forbidden to marry polytheists, atheists and those who have changed Islam. They are forbidden these ‘non-believers’ because the difference in faith would be so severe as to cause problems in raising a harmonious household. Muslim women are only to marry Muslim men. The reason for this is because often in society men impose their beliefs on their wives. This might be due to the fact that they are allowed to do it, or perhaps the women compromise more, or maybe it is due to force. Anyways, thats how life has been in history. So, a Muslim woman might marry a non-Muslim man only for him to impose his faith on her and their children. That is just one common reason. Hope this helps!

User Detail :  

Name : Hayat R., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Caucasian/Asian mix, Religion : Muslim, Age : 20, City : Islamabad, State : NA, Country : Pakistan, Occupation : Journalist, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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