Nura Maznavi couldn’t help but smile when she heard that Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim mayoral candidate in New York City, met his wife on Hinge. “It made me feel like less of a loser,” she joked, reflecting on how she met her own husband online years ago—before dating apps like Hinge became so mainstream.
Mamdani’s story, along with Hulu’s reality series Muslim Matchmaker, offers a window into how American Muslims are navigating the journey to love—blending traditional practices with modern tools.
For many, this journey involves balancing religious values, varying levels of devoutness, and diverse lifestyles. “We just wanted a realistic view of what’s happening in the love lives of Muslim Americans,” said Yasmin Elhady, one of the two matchmakers featured on the show. “Yes, we face unique challenges—but also very universal ones.”
One of those challenges is geography. “Most of us are few and far between, and quite spread out,” explained co-matchmaker Hoda Abrahim. “You’re not going to walk into a gym and be surrounded by eligible Muslims.” As a result, many are open to long-distance relationships and already use Muslim-specific and general dating apps.
At Rutgers University, Muslim chaplain Kaiser Aslam regularly fields questions from students about dating—like how to assess compatibility and get to know someone without breaking Islamic rules that prohibit premarital intimacy. His advice includes having open, intentional conversations in public or chaperoned settings, and involving friends and family in the process.
A recent Pew Research Center study found that 60% of Muslim adults in the U.S. consider religion “very important”—a number close to the 55% of Christians who said the same.
Cultural expectations can also complicate things. Aslam noted that some parents resist their children marrying outside their ethnic background, while others simply worry their kids are abandoning their heritage and need reassurance.
Regardless of religion, Elhady believes one truth remains: “People just want to fall in love—and that’s not always easy in today’s world.”