Muslim Women Leaders Unite at Elegant NYC Iftar Celebrating Community and Collaboration
Growing up in the Midwest, Sana Raheem and Hiba Irshad experienced the tight-knit bonds of Muslim immigrant communities, where mothers and aunties created supportive networks while building new lives in America. This sense of sisterhood and understanding became something both women deeply missed after moving to New York City.
Raheem, who serves as Senior Vice President at The Farmer’s Dog and founded The Ramadan Edit stationery brand, felt the absence of that natural community connection. She longed for relationships where her faith didn’t require explanation, where others understood the rhythms of fasting and family traditions without question. Determined to recreate what their mothers had built, she set out to establish that same supportive environment in the bustling metropolis.
This vision came to fruition recently when Raheem partnered with Irshad, a former music industry executive who now runs 25percent.co, a creative studio promoting South Asian and Muslim talent. Together, they organized an extraordinary iftar gathering that brought together 65 influential Muslim women at Maze, an alcohol-free members club in Manhattan’s Flatiron district.
The evening’s dress code called for Ramadan-inspired formal wear, resulting in a stunning display of cultural fashion. Guests arrived wearing elegant kaftans, traditional Palestinian thobes, Pakistani shalwar khameezes, and contemporary fusion pieces from renowned designers including Azeeza from Chicago, POCCAA by Alia from Dubai, and the Indian label AMPM. The venue itself was transformed by event designer Sunji Chowdhury, who created an impressive crescent-shaped floral arrangement using orchids, calla lilies, and roses, complemented by flickering red candles throughout the space.
The gathering represented more than just a meal to break the daily fast during Ramadan. While many people understand Ramadan as the month when Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk, the deeper significance lies in the sense of community, charitable giving, and gratitude that defines this sacred time. For many attendees, particularly those living in a fast-paced city where intimate gatherings require extensive planning, creating authentic Ramadan connections demands considerable effort.
Nayeema Raza, host of the Smart Girl Dumb Questions podcast and someone who has lived in Muslim-majority countries including Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, and the UAE, reflected on the challenges of observing Ramadan in New York. She noted that while the holy month is naturally integrated into daily life in many parts of the world, maintaining those traditions in a city focused on constant activity and indulgence requires intentional community building.
When the evening call to prayer echoed through the venue at sunset, guests broke their fast with dates before mingling throughout the elegantly appointed space. The organizers encouraged everyone to introduce themselves at their tables, often adding impressive details about accomplishments that modest guests had understated.
The attendee list read like a who’s who of accomplished Muslim women across various fields. Notable guests included New York Public Library curator Hiba Abid, antiviolence nonprofit founder and author Rana Abdelhamid, celebrated artist Shahzia Sikander, model and Tunisian footwear brand founder Kenza Fourati, Ford Foundation executive and Girl Scouts National President Noorain Khan, and Dr. Syra Madad, chief biopreparedness officer at NYC Health + Hospitals.
Samina Virk, CEO and CMO of Vestiaire Collective, emphasized the power of building connections across industries. She described feeling humbled to be part of such an accomplished group and expressed excitement about future collaborative possibilities emerging from these relationships.
While current global events in Iran, Palestine, Sudan, and other regions weighed heavily on attendees’ minds, the focus remained on mutual support and collective action. Irshad acknowledged the challenging times while emphasizing the importance of coming together to leverage their combined influence for positive change.
The evening sparked numerous organic collaborations. Celebrity stylist Engie Hassan, cofounder of wellness platform Revelist, offered styling services to Time 100 Next honoree poet Emi Mahmoud for an upcoming ceremony in Norway. When New York state senate candidate Aber Kawas shared her campaign goals, chef Zainab Saadia Saeed from the Gathering Table supper club immediately offered assistance. Throughout the room, actors connected with filmmakers, venture investors met entrepreneurs, and fashion designers exchanged contacts with makeup artists.
Mozilla Foundation executive director Nabiha Syed made an open invitation to anyone working in technology, culture, and power sectors, exemplifying the evening’s spirit of professional networking and mutual support.
As the night concluded much later than initially planned, guests departed with gift bags from The Ramadan Edit, carrying both tangible mementos and intangible inspiration to sustain the collaborative energy throughout the remainder of Ramadan and beyond. The gathering successfully demonstrated how intentional community building can recreate the supportive networks that many Muslim women remember from their childhood experiences, adapted for the unique challenges and opportunities of contemporary urban life.