I have mixed feelings over the self-centric, flawed, selfish and other anti-diversity accusations hurled towards Norlinda's arguments on inter-religious and inter-cultural marriages.

As a Malaysian who takes pride on the society's tolerance to embrace diversity of cultural values, I don't see any problems in marriage of two lovebirds from different races as long as the shared principles sought in the marriage does not contradict the beliefs deeply held by either party.

But I believe what Norlinda truly wants to say is that agreement of deeply held values on divine attributes serve as a mandatory prerequisite before love chemistry can serve as a ticket to long-lasting marriage, although her statements generalise religion together with ethnicity, which I do not agree.

Islam's central conviction on sincerity to judge things through the eye of monotheistic divinity (ikhlas) and motivation to conduct actions according to practices laid down by the final Messenger (ittiba) are the two cornerstones of the testimonials of faith (the shahadah), or and it is sufficient enough to justify Islamic injunctions for Muslims to marry with those who embraces similar principles.

Principle-centred passion, commitment and intimacy are important elements in long-term love, and it is important for all of us to note that the consensus of past and current credible Muslims scholars of religious exclusivity in marriage does not mean that Muslims' love for diversity and humanity exclude the non-Muslims.

The last Prophet of Islam said people should put religion as the prime mandatory criteria instead of lineage, physical attraction and wealth when finding the perfect life partner. After all, marriage is for life, and life is solely for God in Islam. Friendship is different, as commitment varies in friendship relationships. Marriage, unlike friendship, is a core building block in any religious society.

It is not my intention to bring up issues that can create unnecessary religious debates, as all religions have their own truth claims. There are a lot of interfaith debates out there where people from different religious creeds can voice out their disagreements of specific divine knowledge in a perfect harmony.

Truth is never relative, and those who believe that all religions are equal in the eyes of God are not Muslims in the first place. Rather, they are agnostics, and they can't impose Muslims to adapt their beliefs or to the non-Muslims that their way is the way Islam should be.

To capitalise on malaysiakini's diverse reader base in order to highlight one's own discomfort to the tenets of other religions is just something I can never successfully fathom.

I love my religion, and I respect the beliefs of others, therefore I wish people will stop arguing why I have to be hypercritical to the divine principles of my love partner when I do not have to do the same in order to be friends with the non-Muslims.