Assalaamu Alaykum,
A revert brother I know mentioned that a few times Somali sisters keep asking him questions in his place of business, often with their mothers or aunts in attendance and a Somali brother with us said it's because they are 'interested' then laughed and wouldn't explain further and I realized I know next to nothing about how the whole showing an interest, courtship, marriage process goes on with Somalis and people here in the past mentioned it was different, or difficult.
As I am often asked to advise new Muslims, this is just something I'm going to have to ask about and over time and learn't about the whole embarrassing, telling people you are 'looking' thing with Asians and to some extent Arabs, then people going away, asking their friends and acquaintances, before coming back and asking you about individuals and whether you are interested, then the sit downs as you discuss marriage with her and her wali, or single sit down and quick glace as she brings in the tea for pashtoons, before the marriage is done.
But Somalis despite the fact I pray and sometimes attend classes in Somali masaajid here in my city are almost a complete mystery to me. Which is weird as most revert weddings I get invited to are usually to Somali sisters and it's just a whole let less embarrassing asking these questions here online than with people I actually know in real life.
So how do Somalis go about letting people know they are wanting to look to get married?
How do they show interest in someone?
What is the process of approaching the wali like?
What are the cultural traditions and practices?
And how does it differ to the way Asians / Arabs do things?
A revert brother I know mentioned that a few times Somali sisters keep asking him questions in his place of business, often with their mothers or aunts in attendance and a Somali brother with us said it's because they are 'interested' then laughed and wouldn't explain further and I realized I know next to nothing about how the whole showing an interest, courtship, marriage process goes on with Somalis and people here in the past mentioned it was different, or difficult.
As I am often asked to advise new Muslims, this is just something I'm going to have to ask about and over time and learn't about the whole embarrassing, telling people you are 'looking' thing with Asians and to some extent Arabs, then people going away, asking their friends and acquaintances, before coming back and asking you about individuals and whether you are interested, then the sit downs as you discuss marriage with her and her wali, or single sit down and quick glace as she brings in the tea for pashtoons, before the marriage is done.
But Somalis despite the fact I pray and sometimes attend classes in Somali masaajid here in my city are almost a complete mystery to me. Which is weird as most revert weddings I get invited to are usually to Somali sisters and it's just a whole let less embarrassing asking these questions here online than with people I actually know in real life.
So how do Somalis go about letting people know they are wanting to look to get married?
How do they show interest in someone?
What is the process of approaching the wali like?
What are the cultural traditions and practices?
And how does it differ to the way Asians / Arabs do things?
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