we navigate our relationships in context of our muslim identity. 

We face impediments to dating, silence around sex and physical intimacy, and internal and external pressures in that first stage of romantic relationships. How do we [not] talk about relationships?  Can we be accepted by our communities, regardless of what our relationships look like?   

Contributors: 
For this dialogue, we partnered up with Ishqr, an online platform connecting Millennial Muslims. 
Forever grateful to Salma Abugideiri & Wajahat Ali, for sharing their professional insight and personal stories on being Muslim and dating. 
Thank you for your time and contribution in helping bring about a conversation generally not had in a community context.   

The following questions guided our small group discussions: 

• How comfortable are you talking about romantic relationships in both your Muslim and non-Muslim social circles?

• What are external and internal pressures you feel that affect your relationship decisions?

• How comfortable do you feel or have you felt pursuing, turning away, and/or interacting with potential romantic interests? 

• In your experience, is there a particular silence around sex and physical intimacy? 

Final Activity: "Telling our younger selves"
Following the small group discussions, participants reflected on their individual relationship journeys and were asked to fill in the statement: "When it comes to relationships, I would tell my younger self ________." 


Volunteers then shared their statements with the larger group. 

Shout out (as always) to the photographers making us look so good. Tanjil B. & Nadia Mughal, you have mad sneak skills for aerial imagery.