I want to get married soon to someone who has a different culture (i am an Indian Muslimah, he’s a Pakistani Muslim) we both have Deen and believe we will be the good Muslim couple. Our Parents are not accepting because of culture issues. They rather me marry someone from same culture who has a high class job, who will have money to flash around instead of someone who prays his salah. Am I going against the sunnah because I want to marry someone from a different culture?
Answer:
You are not going against the sunnah by wanting to marry outside your culture. Indeed, the Prophet of Allah SAW married outside his tribe on more than one occasion. Moreover, the most important consideration in marriage is religiousness, as attested by the hadith:
عَنِ أَبي هُريرة رضيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ عَنِ النبيِّ صَلّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسَلّم قال: ” تُنْكحُ الْمَرْأَةُ لأرْبَعٍ: لمالها ولِحَسَبها ولِجَمَالها وَلدينها: فَاظْفَرْ بذاتِ الدِّينِ تَربَتْ يَدَاكَ
A woman is married for four reasons: for her wealth, her social status, her beauty, and her religiousness. So hold fast on to the one who is religious, lest your hands be covered with dust (you ruin yourself).(Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
Though this hadith refers to marriage of the woman, the converse is also true, that is, the most important factor in marriage; being religious. You should talk nicely to your parents and try to instil in them the importance of religion, which is the means of our salvation in this life and the next. If help is needed ask your chacha, mamoon or grandparents or someone elderly to help you out.