Chapter 374 Serious Discussion I (2/2)
It was one of the things that he had been thinking hard about. Why should he insist that Sophia believe in what he did, if he could marry her anyway? As long as there is love, isn't it enough?
Despite the fact that he had first felt it would be great that she converted, as time went by ... he began questioning it. Since it was allowed, why should he be so particular about it?
Omar shook his head.
”It is not that simple,” he said.
”It's not?” Ali asked, surprised and not understanding.
”It is said that a Muslim man can marry a non-Muslim woman,” Omar continued, ”That is a fallacy due to its inaccuracy.”
”What do you mean?”
”Yes, it is true that you can marry a non-muslim woman. However, only one who is Kitabiyah.”
”A 'person of the book?”* Ali repeated and understanding dawned in his eyes. So, Sophia wouldn't 'qualify', so to speak. She was not a Kitabiyah.
”Even then, it is still highly discouraged,” Omar stressed, ”My Faten was Kitabiyah but she still converted for me. She loved me wholeheartedly. She didn't fail me. I failed her.”
His eyes had a faraway look in them.
”For me, I did not do much in terms of 'persuading' her, so to speak,” Omar explained, ”She learns on her own. She asked me things. This is all-natural as she wants to know more about you, and what makes you, you.”
”A woman is like that. When she loves, she loves wholeheartedly.”
Omar looked at Ali squarely in the eyes, ”It is the Man that often fails her. You are to be her pillar, and you must never, ever forget that. You are her protector, and you must care for her unconditionally. She is your wife, and the mother of your children. She is the pillar of the family and you, as her husband, must always, always, protect her.”
”So I ask you this,” Omar continued, ”What have you done so far to prove yourself worthy of this woman, to convert for you?”
Ali was stumped.
He looked down, thinking hard.
”I .. I treat her well,” he began hesitatingly, ”I don't scold her or look at other women.”
”Who are you to scold her?” Omar countered, ”Is she your daughter?”
Ali shook his head, confused.
”You are to be her protector, not her father!” Omar stressed, tapping the table, ”What has our religion taught you? Have you been following its teachings? Its commandments? On how to treat your wife?”
”But she's not my wife,” Ali mumbled.
”Do you not want her to be? Why are you with her then? As a passing phase?”
At that, Ali lost it, ”NO! My feelings are true! I ...”
”Then why aren't you treating her like she is your wife?” Omar asked again.
Ali was still confused. What's his point?
Omar sighed loudly.