Am I wrong for wanting to marry the man I love even if it risks losing my parents?
As-salâmu 'alaykum - I’m in a really painful spot with my family and I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing. I met someone with the intention of marriage. Technically I’ve known him since high school, but we reconnected a bit over a year ago. Since then, our focus has been finding a way to get married with my parents’ approval. He’s a practicing Muslim, respectful, gentle, and deeply thoughtful. We share the same goals for life and marriage. He knows I’ll never abandon my studies - that’s very important to me - and he supports it completely. We both have clear priorities and a very realistic view of what marriage means. It’s not an impulsive or childish choice. Honestly, he’s the kind of man most parents would dream of for their daughter: mature, well-educated, calm, and kind-hearted. If my family met him with an open mind, I truly believe they’d see the goodness in him and in his family. The “problem,” according to my parents, is that he’s not from the same background as us. I’m Tunisian born in France, and he’s a Black man from the West Indies also born in France, who embraced Islam a little over a year ago. When my parents found out, they shut me down. They refused to meet him, refused to listen to the imam who tried to help, and told me if I go through with this marriage they’ll disown me. My father even said that no matter how good a Muslim he is, he’d never accept him while he’s alive. My husband-to-be (I guess that’s what I’ll call him) has tried everything. He reached out to my father, came with me to the mosque, and acted with nothing but respect. My father later admitted he never intended to respond or truly meet him. He’s said harsh, prejudiced things about him and his family - and about me - and it’s been deeply painful. For my mother and father, a convert is not a “real” Muslim, which is heartbreaking and wrong. His faith and sincerity are dismissed simply because he wasn’t born into the community. Beyond cultural differences, I have to be honest: much of my father’s reaction is rooted in racism and judgment. He won’t admit it, but I hear it in his words. It’s heartbreaking to see such negativity and prejudice from my own family. I understand their fears - they think I’m too young, that I’ll ruin my future, that I’ll regret it. But they’ve ignored how all this has affected my mental health. I’ve rarely made major decisions for myself; it’s always been for them or for others. For once, I want to take charge of my life. I’m not rejecting my roots or my parents. I just wish they’d care more about my well-being than about what people will say. I wish they’d at least meet him, to see why I chose him, instead of assuming the worst. We’ve spent the past year doing things the right way - patiently, respectfully, without hiding. But the constant rejection, harsh words, and emotional pressure have taken a toll on us mentally. Still I keep forgiving because I love my family, even though they’re ready to cut me off for making a choice that feels right and honest. Sometimes I don’t know how to cope anymore. I try to be patient every day, but constant stress is exhausting. They make me feel unwelcome in my own home, and then they wonder why I want to move out. I put in so much effort, but it’s never emotionally mutual. I get where their behavior comes from - they’ve had a hard life and they work incredibly hard - but where is the line between respect and self-destruction? Am I supposed to keep suffering just to protect their honor? Even without the marriage issue, I’ve considered getting my own place and putting distance between us for my sanity. Something feels broken, and I know if things go how I fear it will be painful, but I need to move forward with my life. I feel trapped. No matter what, I’ll always come back to them because they’re my parents and I love them. I’ll keep praying to Allah to soften their hearts and forgive all of us. I don’t want to sever ties. It hurts to know some relatives wouldn’t mind if I were disowned. I believe family should support one another. If any of my cousins were in this situation, I’d fight to help their parents understand. I know I might be alone in this journey; I’m preparing myself to marry without family support. Marriage should be a blessing, not a battlefield. I’m not rushing this, I’m not naive, and I’m not giving up my dreams or independence. I know what I want, and I’m trying to make choices that please Allah and bring peace into my life. So… am I wrong for wanting to marry someone my parents refuse to accept because of their prejudice, even if it risks losing them?