New Delhi: A new wave of Muslim led ventures across India is shaping services around work, finance, education, clothing, and marriage. These initiatives focus on practical needs within urban and digital life, without framing their work as protest or politics.
In Delhi NCR and New York, Ruha Shadab conducts online sessions for Muslim women preparing for formal workplaces. The sessions cover LinkedIn profiles, interviews, and professional conduct. Many participants are first generation job seekers. Shadab launched Led By in 2019 to support women aged 18 to 30 from lower middle income families. Around 1,200 women completed structured programmes, while over 50,000 received guidance.
Economic participation remains uneven. Government data shows Muslim women participation in the workforce stood near 21 percent in recent years, rising from earlier levels. These numbers influence career and training choices. Shadab said professional spaces often assess identity before skill, shaping hiring experiences.
Finance forms another area of activity. In Jharkhand, Nadim Iqbal Khan advises Muslims on stock market participation aligned with religious principles. He screens companies for alcohol, gambling, debt levels, and interest based income. He explains investment as shared ownership with shared risk. Queries increased sharply after the pandemic. He said roughly half of listed companies meet such criteria, with indices tracking them.
Marriage platforms also adapted to social change. In 2019, Hammad Rahman launched NikahForever to support marriage focused matchmaking. The platform reports over two million registered users.
Education and clothing round out the picture. AzanGuru digitised Quran learning, crossing five lakh downloads. In Mumbai, Nidah Merchant launched Némah in 2020 to design modest activewear and swimwear suited to Indian conditions.
Together, these ventures address gaps where mainstream services fall short.
Story by Ismat Ara for Indian Express
