One seminar, called 'Dating,' promised attendees helpful hints for 'Muslim families struggling to save their children from it.' 'If we called it speed dating, it will end up with real dating,' said Shamshad Hussain, one of the organizers, grimacing.īoth the banquet earlier this month and various related seminars underscored the difficulty that some American Muslim families face in grappling with an issue on which many prefer not to assimilate. They were called the 'matrimonial banquet.' Hence the wildly popular speed dating sessions at the largest annual Muslim conference in North America were given an entirely more respectable label.
Many American Muslims - or at least those bent on maintaining certain conservative traditions - equate anything labeled 'dating' with hellfire, no matter how short a time is involved.
On SeptemThe New York Times reported, "So here’s the thing about speed dating for Muslims.