Muslim dating in Chicago

The Chicagoland area hosts some of America's most significant Islamic institutions, including the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview, the Islamic Center of Wheaton and the Downtown Islamic Center in the Loop. The community is known for its emphasis on family values, education and civic engagement, with lectures, conferences and community events throughout the year.

Chicago has many mosques and Islamic centres. Among the best known:

• Downtown Islamic Center

  231 S. State Street, the Loop — serving worshippers since 1976.

• Muslim Community Center

  4380 N. Elston Avenue — founded in 1969, in the former Rivoli Theater.

• Mosque Foundation

  7360 W. 93rd Street, Bridgeview — founded in 1954; its current building opened in 1981.

In Illinois, a nikah becomes a legal marriage with a marriage licence. The main steps:

1. 01

   Get a marriage licence

   Apply to the Cook County Clerk. It takes effect the day after it is issued, is valid for 60 days and only for ceremonies in Cook County.

2. 02

   Hold the nikah with the licence

   An imam can officiate according to the rules of the faith, and returns the licence to the clerk within 10 days.

3. 03

   Prepare the nikah

   Consent of both spouses, the wali, two witnesses and the mahr: the imam leads the ceremony.

Informal (common-law) marriages are not valid in Illinois: without a licence, a nikah is not a legal marriage.

For a first meeting, choose a public place that is calm and busy enough, ideally with a chaperone. A few ideas in Chicago:

• Millennium Park

  The Loop — 24.5 acres opened in 2004, home to Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate.

• Art Institute of Chicago

  Michigan Avenue — founded in 1879.

• Lincoln Park Conservatory

  Lincoln Park — a glasshouse built in 1890-95, free entry.

Despite Chicago's large Muslim community, finding the right partner can be challenging — especially for young professionals in the city centre who may be disconnected from suburban community hubs. ZemZem bridges the gap between Chicago's urban and suburban Muslim communities, connecting singles from the Loop to the far suburbs. The app's focus on marriage intention and Islamic values resonates with Chicago's community-minded Muslims.

• True compatibility

  Practice, marriage plans, languages and distance: every profile shows how compatible you are.

• Protected photos

  Blurred by default, sharp for your matches. You can also make them public.

• Safety

  Optional selfie verification, photo moderation, and report or block in one tap.

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