Muslim Dating App Frenzy: Which One Should I Choose?
Attorney and writer, Nailah Dean, explores the world of dating apps and assess the pros and cons of some of the big players
Nowadays, dating apps are synonymous with the phrase “paradox of choice,” meaning too many options, and not enough motivation to make a final decision. From personal experience, I can tell you that it isn’t just the endless number of faces that make it hard to select a potential marriage candidate on the apps, it’s the growing number of platforms to choose from.
Just a decade ago, Muslims were afraid to admit they used matrimonial websites like shaadi.com, a popular site for South Asian Muslims, to find prospective matches. Today, Muslim dating/matrimonial apps have become part of our everyday lexicon. And while there are fewer options for Muslims, there are enough apps to cause some to feel overwhelmed. Lucky for you, I’ve done the experimentation and research to be able to direct your search. Here are three of the most popular apps to help Muslims find love and marriage.
Salams App:
The Salams App is the most (in)famous of all Muslim dating apps. It was initially launched in 2015, as Minder, a play on the OG dating app called Tinder. Because of the close association with Tinder, many people engaged in less than stellar behavior. However, in 2020, just as the world was changing due to COVID, Minder changed to Salams.
The rebrand came with a push for a blog with content tailored to help people prioritize the right characteristics and values in their search. The change helped to recraft the narrative that the app was intended for people to find partners solely for marriage. Salams also wanted their users to cultivate friendships and launched another new friendship/networking feature called Salams Connect.
The downsides to this app are that there is such an eclectic mix of individuals—some serious and some not so serious about marriage. Although the bad behavior (particularly from men) has lessened with the rebrand, people still complain about unIslamic behavior being an ongoing trend.
Muzmatch:
Another big player on the app scene is Muzmatch, a UK-based company also launched in 2015. Muzmatch seems to be the more mature twin sister of Salams. Usually, when I’m swiping, I’ll see the same people on both platforms. And yet, some people I’ve spoken to feel that the options on Muzmatch are more earnest in their search.
Word on the street is that there are fewer ghosts, and inappropriate requests. On their website, Muzmatch boasts a whopping 100,000 weddings with their 4 million users. Their clever marketing has allowed them to capture the attention of many in London and Paris. If Muzmatch continues to expand their marketing stunts in the U.S, they could take more of the American market.
Muzproposal
Then, there’s the new kid on the block– Muzproposal. Just as Salams dominates the U.S market, and Muzmatch spreads through Europe, Muzproposal is a Muslim marriage app based in Canada.
How big is Canada’s Muslim population? Studies show the estimate of Canadian Muslims sits at just over one million. Muzproposal’s founder, Faisal Qureshi, has a passion for matchmaking and wants to solve the conundrum of our current generation: why is it so hard for young Muslims to get married?
While searching for answers, he dug into the pain points of some of the most popular Muslim dating apps. After speaking to several users, he realized that many people had a long list of matches, with no movement. People simply were not engaging in conversation after they successfully tapped right on someone’s profile. Perhaps the paradox of choice issue was the main factor, or maybe there was just a lack of initiative or anxiety that kept both men and women from making the first move (i.e. messaging first).
So, taking cues from other leading non-Muslim apps like Bumble, Qureshi and his team created a feature on Muzproposal that forces users to make a move. Unlike Bumble which forces women to make the first move, this app puts the onus on both men and women to initiate conversation. Both parties have 48 hours to make a move before the match expires. Muzproposal encourages people to overcome the paradox of choice, by forcing them to make a move before the option expires.
The other great thing about Muzproposal is the personality-based matchmaking. The technology enables more similar profiles to find their way to each other. In a pool of varied personalities, it’s nice to know that this app brings like-minded individuals a little closer together, increasing chances for a real connection to occur.
The Takeaway?
There are lots of options for dating apps, but nothing to get in a frenzy over. I say, try everything! If you are intent on finding someone in your region, you might select an app based on where it was founded— Salams in the US, Muzmatch in the UK, and Muzproposal in Canada. If you’re open to living anywhere in the world, you might try all three! There are lots of fish in the sea, you just need to make sure you’re using enough tools to catch them. In the game of finding your life partner, it makes sense to use the “breadth, not depth” approach so that you don’t miss out on any opportunities. And when in doubt, try, try again!
