As-Salamu`Alaykum wa-Rahmat Allah wa-Barakatuh!
This year I performed Hajj with my parents, al-hamd li-Allah. We prayed on the Day of Arafah that Allah grants me a true companion. I really hope that I go for Hajj again next year with my wife, In-sha`Allah al-Aziz.
I am originally from Lucknow, India and belong to a very religious and respectable family, al-hamd li-Allah. By the sheer grace of Allah, I am quite well educated (hold a PhD from a red brick British university) and am very well placed in my profession. To be more specific, I have studied and graduated at a renowned Islamic institution, and hold several ijazahas in Tafsir, Hadith and Fiqh. I have completed three postgraduate degrees in Islamic Studies, including my PhD. Al-hamd li-Allah, I have studied Islam thoroughly in both traditional and modern settings and I will always continue to explore the treasures of Islamic knowledge. After teaching Islamic Studies at a reputable British university for quite some time, I am currently working as tant Professor of Islamic Studies at a university in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
I consider myself a practising Muslim and try to emulate the Sunnah of the Prophet-- Sall Allah `Alayh wa-Sallam-- in every aspect of my life; inwardly and outwardly. My faith is complemented with a spiritual cum intellectual outlook, hence I whole-heartedly embrace moderation in my religiousity. However, moderation for me doesn't mean having a 'relaxed' attitude towards faith and morality.
As for my views on different denominations within Islam (if you are particularly curious about that), I am quite tolerant and respectful towards all the legal/theological schools. In terms of fiqh, I subscribe to the Hanafi madhhab and yet I am not a staunch and rigid Hanafi. I look at it objectively and at times even from a serious critical point of view, but I favour it on many grounds, especially when it comes to the commercial and constitutional framework of Islamic law. In no way, nevertheless, I dare to undermine other legal schools. In short, I despise being rigid in my approach and being harsh towards different denominations within Islam. Despite all the existing difference of opinion and divergence, I revere all the schools as long as they are within the realm of ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama`ah. I am quite inclusive in this sense. Moreover, as a Muslim, I respect every human being and would never want to harm or hurt anyone whether Muslim or non-Muslim.
I view Islamic spirituality, when not coupled with shirk or other irrelevant innovations, as a very important dimension of Islam. Developing a personal relationship with Allah and His beloved Messenger lies at the core of our faith.
I am not in the UK at the moment, and I am also not British by birth/nationality (if you are wondering about my residence status), but I have lived and worked in the UK for about ten years or so. I have recently left the UK and moved to Saudi Arabia where I am very contented in every sense, spiritually as well as professionally, al-hamd li-Allah. I am not sure when/if I would like to return to the UK. As of now, it's a beautiful feeling living next to the House of Allah!
I am seriously and desperately looking for a sincere, soft spoken and simple Muslimah, preferably from a good family background. It is very important for me to find a life partner who appreciates the value of knowledge and spirituality and who can become my real companion. I am a very mellow and considerate person, so I am looking for someone equally, if not more, tolerant, patient and generous towards people. She should be open to living with my parents, who would accept her as their daughter rather than daughter-in-law.
My future wife should also be ready to travel and relocate. I might, at some point, decide to move to the UK, India or somewhere else for the sake of da`wah or other obligations. I want to live a purposeful life and want to contribute to my society, in terms of da`wah and other humanitarian/social work. Therefore, I might want to move to a place where I can fulfil these duties (or rather this desire) freely and properly. I pray that my wife is also equally motivated and is prepared to, in-sha`Allah, dedicate herlife with me for the service of Din.
