Is it risky to date a never- muslim that you might not have a future with?
My dating journey so far:
Late 2024, I was dating Muslims. I use the term "dating" loosely as I've never made it to the relationship stage 😭 Back then, I accepted that I was going to marry a Muslim guy and fake being practicing. I was willing to fake pray and carry on living my double life after marriage. After meeting Muslim men, I realised they are just pervy misogynists who will definitely turn religious after marriage. The first guy I fell really hard for actually violently threatened to hurt me. I then moved onto to trying to date Muslims that were less practicing or cultural ones. I also realised that the double life is not for me and I really want a partner that I can be myself with and have a haram lifestyle with.
Earlier this year I was dating this really kind Muslim guy I got on really well with for a few months. I made it super clear that I am not religious and do not want to be left in the future for that reason or expected to become more practicing. 3 months later he decided that he did want someone practicing after all.
So then in April this year, my friend suggested looking for ex-muslims on Hinge and Reddit which I decided to do. The Idea of being with an ex- muslim just sounded amazing to me. Being with someone you can relate to but also get your freedom.
I managed to find a lot of ex-muslim guys, talk to a lot of them and I went on a date with 3 of them. My issue was I wasn't finding most of them attractive. I managed to run out of everyone to see on Hinge because I was just pressing the cross icon constantly. The attractive guys I did speak to were looking for something short term. One guy literally asked me on the first call if I have a date rule for sex. He was clearly just looking for sex.
So then the third ex-muslim guy I went out with was the first one I was ever attracted to that also was looking for something serious. Obviously my heart had hope. I wasn't delusional and thought we definitely going to end up together but he did end things very suddenly and out of the blue when I thought things were going well. No real reason or closure was given as well.
But what did I do? I start sobbing like a baby for two days and start worrying about my future. I also was crying when the guy before that rejected me... even though I wasn't really attracted to him. The whole reason why I'm telling you this is because... I don't think I would be that upset if I had more options. If I had a bigger dating pool and wasn't relying on these men to be my escape fantasy to a future of freedom.
There is pressure to get married in a young age in my family. Everyone gets married young. People are always asking me when I'm going to get married. I am realising now that's it's not healthy for me to sob over men that I barely know who reject me.
I've been thinking in order to work on this, I need to live my life more authentically. I need to give myself that freedom rather than waiting on a man. I'm going to be honest with my family about taking the hijab off soon as before my plan was to do it after marriage when I'm no longer under her roof.
I also do enjoy dating and I am thinking I need to date more authentically and not restrict myself so much. I love flirting and teasing a cute guy. I love compliments and physical affection. I love having someone to talk to everyday and laugh with. I love having someone that's thinking about me and I just switch off more when I'm dating someone. I love chivalry from a gentleman. I love how happy and bubbly I feel when I'm with someone cute. If I'm thinking less about an escape fantasy and what my heart truly wants if there was no pressure to get married- then marriage wouldn't even be on my mind. I would just want a long- term relationship.
I've never been in a relationship before but I want to know what it feels like for someone to call me "mine" and to belong to someone. There were a lot of attractive never-muslims on Hinge that I couldn't like because I knew they were not going to be in my future but now im thinking who cares?
My heart just wants to be loved by anyone I want and to date at any pace. No deadline for marriage. Just to date someone of my own choice that I like for however long it takes.
Im considering doing just that. Opening my dating pool to never-muslims even though I might not have a future with them. I don't know how risky that is though. I am a clingy loving person so I am scared of getting attached and then having to let go but maybe it's what I need?
I spoke to an ex-muslim girl a few months ago who had a white boyfriend but she was in the dilemma where she loves him but felt she might have to let him go because she loves her family too. I also don't want to lose my family. Has anyone else been in this position before?