I think I'm going mad, either that or I must be a coconut!

Well do they? No. So why should people who don’t do jack for you get to have such a big say in your life?

Well that’s a stunningly childish argument. Right up there with “that’s not fair,” or “well everybody else is doing it,” or “everybody else agrees with me.”

I know it’s hard, but you (and all of us) have got to stop making our choices based on what others will think (as previous posters have stated). We should worry solely what Allah thinks, make the best decision we can make, and move on with our lives.

Good luck with your business venture.