Naielah Ackbarali is the founder and CEO of Muslima Coaching. She is passionate about teaching people how to create meaningful relationships. Naielah is a faith-based marriage coach and life coach. She learned from renowned relationship experts and completed training in the Gottman Method for Couples Therapy. Combined with her professional training, coaching experience of over ten years, and personal marriage of 16 years, she offers marriage coaching to Muslim couples, wives, and husbands. She also offers premarital counseling for Muslim singles. She is an author of several marriage books and has been featured on popular Muslim television shows and podcasts.
Where are you from? Where do you practice?
I am of mixed origin and had a multicultural upbringing. I was born Muslim, but I come from a family of different faiths and practices.
I am originally from Trinidad, a small island in the Caribbean. I later moved to America when I was a young girl, but my family kept strong ties to our Caribbean roots. I grew up in South Florida, USA and went to university in Tallahassee, FL.
I have lived in different countries over the years, like Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. I finally relocated to London, United Kingdom in 2021. I live with my British husband of more than 16 years.
My coaching practice at Muslima Coaching is online. Working online has allowed me to meet loads of people from various locations across the globe, which keeps my life interesting.
My clients are from the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. This has given me broad exposure to relationship issues in different regions and cultures.
We’re curious to know your story – what made you want to be a marriage coach?
Ever since I can remember, I was in love with love. When I was a teenager, I would stare at couples and wonder why they loved each other so much. I became increasingly curious about what makes a romantic relationship successful.
When I became older, I heard a few stories about struggling marriages, and I decided that marriage was not for me. I ignored my natural urge to find love because I was so scared of getting married and it not working out. I convinced myself that studying was a better option and buried my head in books.
However, in my twenties, someone suggested my husband to me. We met and spoke a couple of times. I really liked him and my doubts went out the window. We agreed that marriage was the best step forward.
In the time leading up to my wedding, I read books about how to be a good spouse. I spoke to close friends who told me why their marriages were blissful. I was willing to listen to anyone. In my heart, I wanted my marriage to succeed so badly.
My husband and I had our ups and downs in the beginning like everyone else, but overall my experience with marriage was very positive.
I realized that I could greatly influence the quality of my marriage with my thoughts, my words, and my actions. I prayed every day for a good marriage. As a devout Muslim, my faith became my source of inspiration and a guiding light in moments of darkness.
Through my own journey, I felt like I discovered gems that I wanted to share with the world. It became increasingly obvious that creating and sustaining a loving marriage in today’s fast-paced world is still possible.
I eventually decided that I wanted to help others foster long-lasting love in their marriages too. I started enrolling in courses and training programs with top relationship experts. My goal was to learn the keys and steps towards forming a great relationship from anyone who knew it.
My coaching first started with helping wives, but then it expanded into couples coaching and premarital counseling. Couples coaching is my absolute favorite. I love meeting couples and teaching them the tools of how to be best friends through the good and hard times.
Read the full interview here: https://www.brainzmagazine.com/post/inspiring-love-mercy-in-muslim-marriages-exclusive-interview-with-naielah-ackbarali
