MY ULTRA-RELIGIOUS PARENTS WANT TO CHOOSE MY HUSBAND FOR ME

Q My parents are devoted Muslims and want me to marry the man of their choice.

They’ve told me they won’t accept me marrying a man from any other religion.

They’ve chosen a man 20 years my senior and it makes me shudder just to look at him. I can’t think how I’m going to allow such a man to even touch me.

He’s rich and will be able to give me a life of luxury but I simply can’t bring myself to even be kind to him – never mind live in the same house with him and have him call me his wife!

I’m only 24. What am I to do? Shaira, email A Your parents no doubt love you and want what they think is best for you. Sit down and have a serious talk with them and be honest about how you feel.

Tell them you don’t want to marry the man they’ve chosen for you and will be extremely unhappy if you have to spend the rest of your life with him.

Tell them you’re sure there are many other Muslim men out there who’d be acceptable to you and them both.

You’re still young, so there’s enough time for you to meet and get to know other men you might like and who might have the potential to be husband material. Speak openly with your parents – surely they wouldn’t want you to be unhappy?

Parents can sometimes be a little desperate when they have grown-up daughters they want to see married. But surely there’s still time for you to find your match.