Hello there,
I am having a complicated problem and would be more than happy if you take some time to read it and reply with the best of your knowledge.
I am a Sunni and married an Ismaili a year back. That was tragic, and I won’t go in detail. I received mixed views from people. My then-husband told me that inter-sect marriages like this one are allowed in his sect (i.e. Ismailism), whereas my own parents and other people totally rejected that fact. They told me that a Sunni girl and an Ismaili man marrying each other is entirely invalid.
Legally and religiously, please verify what is correct? That is, was my Nikah valid with him?
Anyway, I went for a Khula afterwards. Mind you, I was not in favor of taking separation from him, but circumstances were such that I had to agree to my parents' pleadings and Khula was granted by the family court. I was strictly told by my parents to stop seeing any more of my ex-husband.
But after some months, I started seeing him again and my parents found out about it. They warned me again. They told me that I have taken a legal separation from him now and it's now even a sin to see and contact him. Society does not accept it. And in Sunnism, you can't have Nikah with the same person again, unless you go for a Halala.
Please guide me, is that true? Legally and religiously, am I being sinful by staying connected to him after separation? Can we really not marry again legally and religiously? Is Halala the only option? Or can we go and have another Nikah like the previous one without negating the laws of Pakistan and Islam?
Now, after almost a year, my husband and I want to re-marry seriously. (Okay, now don’t think we are taking marital matters carelessly. We aren't; we really need to be together.) We did a bit of research and found that in order to go back to him as his wife, I will have to go for Halala. Or the option that I am left with, is to file a petition against my own parents over the fact that they forcefully annulled my marriage.
Both of these options leave me helpless.
The option that I am considering is, what if my ex-husband (a now-Ismaili) accepts Islam? As in, enters Sunni-ism? Will then he be Halal over me, and can then I go back to him without having to go for Halala or signing a petition against my parents?
Also, please tell me;
a. Was our previous marriage (I being a Sunni, and he an Ismaili) an invalid one? Was I not then in his Nikah?
b. Is it true that now if I want to re-marry, will I have to opt for Halala? (And I know that marrying another man for Halala’s sake is condemned in Islam)
c. Do you see any other possibility of us getting back together as spouses without him having to convert his sect?
d. If he becomes a Sunni (and converts not only to marry me, but to really be a Muslim and revive/revitalize his life), can we get married, like instantly?
e. How do you think should I persuade him about choosing the right path towards Allah (i.e. accept Sunni-ism), as just mentioning this topic really turns him off.
f. What is the exact/correct manner of entering Sunni-ism? (visiting some court/imam or what – I need to know the procedure)
g. Last and not the least, I know I have been too sinful all this time, but really, we love each other and desperately want to re-marry and convince my parents over it. Having said that, how exactly should I repent for my past mistakes (okay, blunders) and seek forgiveness for him and me from Allah?
Thank you.
Thorough replies are much appreciated.
P.S. Thinking of living without him makes me feel suicidal. It’s the faith in Him that has kept me alive all this time. Please, don’t tell me to leave him and stuff. This is not in my option-list.

