SYDNEY: Test cricketer Usman Khawaja, who ties the knot with partner Rachel McLellan at Maleny Manor in a private ceremony on the Sunshine Coast on Friday has spoken about his wife decision to convert to Islam.
However, their Imam performed ‘Nikkah’, a traditional Muslim commitment ceremony last year.
According to DailyMail Online, the Pakistani-born cricketer speaking to Who magazine revealed it wasn’t a ‘deal-breaker’ for him if Racheal didn’t embraced to Islam.
‘I was hopeful she would find Islam on her own but if she hadn’t, it would never have stopped me from being with her,’ said Usman, who was the first Muslim cricket player in Australia.
The 31-year-old sportsman and Rachel became engaged in 2016 during a romantic holiday to New York.
Last month, the 22-year-old young bride opened up about her decision to convert to Islam despite being raised a Catholic Christian. She revealed that she embraced Islam in order to marry the man she loves.
The newlyweds in an interview on 60 Minutes told that there was ‘no pressure’ on Rachel to become a Muslim – and Rachel too shared that she accepted Islam all on her own without any external pressure.
‘I never was going to put a gun to Rachel’s head and say you have to convert,’ Usman said.
‘I told her I would prefer her to convert but she has to do it on her own. Unless it comes from you, comes from the heart, then there is no point doing it.”[I felt] no pressure from him, not any pressure from his family. I just knew it was so important to him,’ Rachel added.
