#SHOWBIZ: Nora Danish: I have marriage proposals from uztaz, religious men
KUALA LUMPUR: Popular actress Nora Danish has expressed her disappointment after her wish to perform the haj pilgrimage this year was not fulfilled.
Describing the turn of events as a lack of rezeki (divine sustenance), Nora, whose full name is Nora Mohd Danish Hanif, 43, remains confident that her dream of fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam will one day come true.
"I wanted to perform haj this year. I was ready. When I couldn't go, I felt very upset and sad.
"We can only plan, but God is the one who determines it. After all, the call to perform haj comes from God. If it's destined, then it will happen.
"So, I will celebrate Aidiladha here in Malaysia. Who knows, next year I might have the good fortune to perform haj with my new husband," she told BH Online.
Commenting on the statement that seemed to hint at her remarriage, Nora clarified that it was merely a sentimental remark, not an indication of her desire to end her widowhood as widely assumed.
Nora insisted that remarriage was not currently on her mind, as she is in a phase of self-discovery.
"For me, everyone in this life definitely wants a partner, and I'm no exception. If possible, when going through a challenge, I don't want to face it alone," she said.
"However, for now, I haven't thought about finding a soulmate. My focus today is simply to get to know myself."
When asked if she would consider a match among ustaz (religious scholars), the single mother of two was open to the idea if that were her destiny.
"As I enter a phase of drawing closer to Allah, I am often surrounded by ustaz, habib (descendants of Prophet Muhammad), and maulana (respected religious scholars) to fill the space in my heart," she said.
"There's no doubt that some of them have approached me with the intention of marriage. But that's as far as it goes. I've drawn a line; I'm not ready to marry."
Nora added, "I don't want to rush into finding a partner. I don't want to marry just because I'm lonely." "However, there's no denying that this religious group has a calm demeanour and polite speech. Indirectly, that trait has touched my heart.
"This is the challenge I'm facing now. Fortunately, I have friends who advise me not to get carried away by my feelings," she said.
Nora and her ex-husband, Nedim Mohamad Nazri, 41, divorced in June last year after seven years of marriage.
They have one son together, Mohamed Neqayl, 6.
Before that, Nora married Datuk Rizal Ashram or Jejai on June 20, 2006, and had a son, Putra Rayqal, 15, before their divorce in 2008.
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