THE CAST
Mohammad & Ferdaus
Mohammad and Ferdaus got hitched in a way that was hard to explain to their non-Muslim friends. Sticking to Islamic guidelines, their relationship quickly moved from emails and phone calls to family involvement and the Nikah, an Islamic marriage contract. Although their courtship was not arranged, it shows the importance of Muslim family and friends in supporting the Islamic means of marriage.
Zahra
Zahra never dealt with dating and breakups in high school. She believes Islamic etiquette between the sexes kept her focused and emotionally un-entangled. Now a law student, the pragmatic Zahra remains dedicated to her career goals, only considers men who can handle her ambition, and watches her Muslim friends, one by one, succumb to cupid's arrow.
Michelle
Michelle entered a new world when she converted to Islam. The dating game gave way to matrimonial websites, third party matchmakers and cultural hurdles when she took the Shahadah, or testimony of faith. Eluded by romance, Michelle believes the best solution is to find a Muslim adoptive family who can guide her through the maze of Muslim courtship in America.
Jameelah
Jameelah's spirit of social activism and vivacious personality makes her priceless to the people around her. However, when her engagement was called off because she discovered her future in-laws' prejudice toward African Americans, she realized that racism in the Muslim community in America won't be resolved with her generation. Marriage prospects face cultural and generational obstacles from parents, who are often immigrants struggling to pass on traditions from their homelands to their Americanized children. Unfortunately for Jameelah and many Muslims who are perfectly comfortable with intercultural relationships, the communal discord these marriages would cause isn't worth the struggle... for now.