Thoughts on Marriage Preferences and Revert Stereotypes

As-salamu alaikum, folks. I gotta say, it really rubs me the wrong way when I hear someone claim they'd rather marry a revert than a born Muslim. Like, why make it a competition? Sometimes it feels like reverts get put on this pedestal as being somehow more "pure" or sincere, while born Muslims get unfairly judged for cultural habits, cousin marriage jokes, or whatever else. That whole vibe just doesn't feel Islamic to me. Honestly, looking for a spouse shouldn't be about checking a box of revert vs not. What actually counts is taqwa, good character, and how solid someone's deen is. We reverts aren't some blank slate-we bring our own pasts, our own family dynamics, sometimes a whole suitcase of stuff that can make marriage tricky in ways people don't expect. Take me, I'm in an interracial marriage, and trust me, blending two cultures isn't always a romantic fairy tale. It takes work. So yeah, don't put one group above the other. Focus on someone who truly puts Allah first, whatever their story might be.