We asked our audience to share their love stories, tales of chance meetings, intentional steps, and everything in between. What came back was a mosaic of experiences, each unique yet equally exciting. Some spoke of stolen glances that turned into lifetimes together, others of introductions carefully arranged by family, and many of friendships that slowly unfolded into love.

This is our ninth story.

Please note that these stories are not for giving advice and are about documenting the lives of Muslim women who got married 🧡

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Zahra & Ali

Please share how you and your husband first met?

We first met on a trip to Masjid Al-Aqsa.

Before entering Palestine, I stopped in Jordan, where I met a lovely girl travelling from London with her family. We kept bumping into each other throughout the trip, but it wasn’t until we were crossing the border that I properly met her brother too. The three of us spent hours talking while we were held there waiting. At the time, I didn’t think much of it.

On the final fast of Ramadan, I was meant to take a coach back to Jordan for my flight home to London. Instead, I slept through every alarm and woke up stranded. After hours of panic, I somehow managed to board a bus that wasn’t even meant for locals, then another coach towards the border.

When I finally got on, I saw familiar faces — it was the same family again.

At the airport, they invited me to have iftar with them. I spoke to everyone, but strangely, the brother who had spoken so much at the border barely said a word to me. Then, as we boarded the plane, I realised my seat was right beside him and his sister.

The flight took off. The cabin lights dimmed, and everyone fell asleep. I sat quietly writing in my journal when suddenly he whispered, “What are you writing about?”

That conversation changed everything.

We spoke the entire flight until we landed back in the UK. Before leaving, I took his sister’s contact details, and we simply waved goodbye.

Weeks later, I received a message from him asking if he could help with some Palestine work I was involved in. He had gotten my number from his sister. We spoke for a few days, and then he told me, very clearly and sincerely, that he liked me and wanted to get to know me for the purpose of marriage.

When we met properly for the first time, he told me his side of the story.

He said he first noticed me in Jordan and couldn’t stop thinking about me afterwards. Every time our families crossed paths, he wanted to speak to me but could never find the courage. He made dua for me throughout Ramadan and spoke about me constantly to his family. They kept trying to create opportunities for us to talk — even inviting me for iftar — but he still couldn’t bring himself to say much.

It was only after reading the dua of Prophet Musa AS that he finally gathered the courage to speak to me on the plane.

After returning home, he continued making dua until we spoke again.

I had no idea he even remembered my name, let alone that he wanted to marry me after meeting me just once.

But when we finally sat down together, everything felt right.

How many times did you meet in person before you got married?

We only met three times before getting married. The next time we saw each other after our second meeting was at our engagement.

Four months later, we had our nikkah, alhamdulillah.

How did your relationship evolve? What made you realise that he was the one, and when did you decide to get married?

From the very beginning, he centred Allah ﷻ in every decision. We didn’t shy away from difficult conversations and were honest about who we were from day one. I admired that he never tried to present a perfect version of himself just to impress me.

How long have you been married? Has your perception of love changed before vs after marriage?

We’ve now been married for 9 months, and honestly, marriage has exceeded every idea I ever had about love. Love truly is one of Allah’s greatest gifts.

What are your thoughts on premarital counselling?

I think premarital counselling is amazing and would recommend it to anyone getting married. We spoke to an imam before our nikkah, and the advice we received really helped us build a strong foundation before marriage.

What advice would you give to single Muslim women?

Look for patience, a strong relationship with Allah, and someone who makes rational, grounded decisions. And don’t ignore red flags like impulsiveness, ego, or someone who is dismissive and emotionally passive.

InshaAllah, we’ll be returning to the Holy Land again soon — this time as husband and wife.