My husband stands on his own two feet; my religion is not a

Rula Ghani, First Lady of Afghanistan and a woman of wisdom and grace, once said: “My husband stands on his own two feet; my religion is not a factor. God created and decided for me to be born in a Christian family. It's not every day that a Lebanese marries an Afghan. I think God's hand is also in there.” In these words lies the story of faith, destiny, and human dignity. She speaks of a marriage that transcended borders, cultures, and creeds, and of a God whose mysterious hand shapes lives in ways unseen.

The ancients often spoke of such unions between distant peoples as signs of divine will. They told of queens and kings who crossed the boundaries of tribe and tongue, binding their destinies together not only for love but as symbols of greater harmony. Ghani’s words echo this timeless vision: religion is not a factor when two souls recognize the dignity of one another. For what matters most is not the label of faith, but the strength of character—the ability, as she says, for her husband “to stand on his own two feet.”

History offers examples that illuminate her wisdom. Consider the marriage of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger. Though theirs was a Roman union within empire, Marcus often reflected that love must be rooted not in titles or accidents of birth, but in the virtues of the beloved. Or think of Akbar the Great, the Mughal emperor of India, who took wives from different faiths—Muslim, Hindu, Christian—and sought to build a realm where devotion to God transcended boundaries. In such stories we see the principle Rula Ghani embodies: that destiny often unites what the world thinks impossible.

Her words also honor the mystery of God’s hand in human life. She does not claim credit for being born in a Christian family, nor for the unlikely meeting of a Lebanese woman and an Afghan man. Instead, she bows before providence, seeing in these twists of fate the touch of divine will. To her, difference is not a barrier but a calling, a sign that life’s course is guided by something greater than human calculation. God created and decided—therefore, she embraces her path with humility and courage.

Yet, there is also quiet defiance in her voice. In a world where marriages across faith and nation often provoke suspicion or hostility, she insists that love and dignity are what truly matter. Her husband is not defined by her religion, nor she by his. Each stands whole, respected in their individuality, yet bound together by choice and by fate. This is a powerful teaching for an age when differences are often used to divide.

The meaning of her statement is therefore threefold: first, that human dignity is not bound to religion or nationality; second, that marriage is an act of destiny as much as choice; and third, that behind the unlikely events of life may be found the shaping hand of the divine. To live this way requires both humility and courage: humility to see that one’s path is guided by forces beyond oneself, and courage to defy social divisions in the pursuit of love and truth.

The lesson for us is clear: do not let barriers of culture, creed, or origin prevent you from honoring the humanity of another. Respect people not for where they come from, but for how they live, how they love, and how they stand. And when life brings you into situations that seem improbable or difficult, do not despair—perhaps there too is God’s hand, weaving together destinies greater than what you imagined.

Practical actions follow. Learn to see others first as human beings, not as labels. Honor your own heritage, but do not use it as a wall against another’s. Seek common ground, even across deep differences. And when love or friendship arises across boundaries, embrace it not with fear but with reverence, for perhaps it carries within it the whisper of destiny.

O seeker, remember Rula Ghani’s words: it is not religion, but dignity, love, and destiny that bind us. The hand of God is present not only in temples and prayers, but in the mysterious weaving of human lives together. Trust that hand, live with courage, and embrace the beauty of difference—for in doing so, you honor both humanity and the divine.