With Ramadan around the corner, Toronto’s Muslim community is preparing to celebrate. Culminating in Eid al-Fitr, a day of festivities and commemoration, Ramadan is a holy month observed by fasting, celebrating with community, and praying. But for Muslim women in Toronto, community can be hard to come by — especially for those new to the city (or the faith itself). Toronto Muslimahs is here to change that.
A founder-led platform bringing Muslim women together, founder and executive director Iman Farooqi created Toronto Muslimahs “out of a very personal experience of moving to the city and wanting friendships grounded in shared faith, but without the pressure or intimidation that can sometimes come with more traditional spaces.”
The platform was born during one of Farooqi’s most “isolating chapters” in her life. When Farooqi was newly married and new to Toronto, she sought sisterhood and connection, desiring to meet other Muslim women in similar stages of life. She felt that “finding your people” shouldn’t be so hard, so she created Toronto Muslimahs. Beginning as a small group chat, it quickly grew into a community of Muslim women connecting from across the GTA. Above all, Toronto Muslimahs is meant to “evolve with us, to hold space for the many roles we carry as Muslim women, and to grow alongside our stories.”
During Ramadan, those new to the faith may be celebrating alone. Far too often, new Muslims lack familial support, or existing relationships with fellow Muslims. As a result, Toronto Muslimahs is particularly mindful of newcomers, acting as an entry point into the Muslim community. It focuses on smaller, reflective spaces that feel authentic and grounded. The group also has a dedicated space for new moms, titled “The Village,” where new Muslim mothers can connect with others while enduring the challenges of motherhood. A new mom herself, Farooqi further highlighted the importance of a “village” and how deeply women need spaces to connect.
Alongside groupchats for easy, online connectability, Toronto Muslimahs also thoughtfully organizes in-person gatherings across the city. These curated spaces are designed to feel warm, welcoming, and approachable for all Muslim women. Farooqi highlights that the goal is “simply to create spaces where women can show up as they are and form genuine connections.”
Looking ahead, Farooqi aims for Toronto Muslimahs to continue creating spaces centred on social connection. During the month of Ramadan, community is of the utmost importance, as finding others to connect with during Ramadan can make a world of a difference. And with more resources available now than ever before, the Muslim community is becoming more accessible to all.
For those interested, upcoming Ramadan gatherings are shared directly to their social media, @torontomuslimahs. You can learn more about Toronto Muslimahs here.
