3,000 Muslims Took Over Times Square for Taraweeh

Thousands gathered under the bright Muzz pink lights of Times Square for a historic Taraweeh prayer. From viral billboards to a surprise shahada, here’s how we took over NYC for Ramadan. #MuzzInTimesSquare

Taraweeh in Times Square? Yeah, That Actually Happened.

If you were in Times Square last Sunday night (March 2nd) and saw thousands of Muslims praying under the bright pink billboard lights, you weren’t imagining it. Muzz pulled off something absolutely unreal in the best way possible. We took over Times Square and co-hosted a Taraweeh prayer with SQ (IG:wayoflifeSQ) right in the middle of the chaos, and let’s just say it went off. Social media? Exploding. News outlets? Covering it. Tourists? Confused, but vibing.

But this night wasn’t just about making history, it was about making a difference. This Ramadan, we’re partnering with Droplets of Mercy to raise $500,000 to build a hospital in Jordan for Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Because while moments like this make an impact, real change happens when we turn that energy into action. 

Making History in Times Square

Praying Taraweeh in the middle of Times Square? It’s been happening for three years, but this time, we partnered up to make it the best one yet. We reached out, made it official, got the right permits, locked in six massive billboards, and prepped 1,000 goodie bags to hand out to the crowd. The countdown was on.

The second it was locked in, we got to work. Flights booked, schedules tossed, and a group chat that did not stop buzzing. If we were gonna do this, we were gonna do this big.

And we were glad we did, because even in the freezing cold, over 3,000 people showed up for Taraweeh. Muslims from all over the city came together to pray, reconnect, and share in the beauty of Ramadan, right in the heart of NYC. The energy was unreal, the atmosphere unlike anything we had ever experienced, and when the adhan echoed through the streets, the city itself seemed to pause.

The Pre-Event Chaos (aka Us Running on No Food or Sleep)

No one tells you that planning an event in the middle of one of the busiest places on Earth is absolute mayhem. Actually, yeah, makes sense. But what we didn’t expect? Designing six billboards in under 24 hours with a studio team five hours ahead, stress-refreshing our inboxes every five minutes, and praying everything would be ready in time. We locked in the placements, finalized the copy, and handed it off to our creative team, no sleep, no backup plan.. just hoping for the best.

Meanwhile, we had 1,000 goodie bags to fill, and just tracking down the right snacks was a whole mission on its own. Everything had to be 100% BDS-friendly, so we hunted down dates, water, cookies, granola bars, Salaam Cola, and chips. Once we finally secured everything, we realized we now had hundreds of heavy boxes that needed to be moved, unpacked, and sorted. And then came the real test– filling all 1,000 bags one by one in a cold, dusty warehouse while fasting. No caffeine, no water, no food, just pure willpower and a whole lot of side-eye when someone packed too slowly.

As if that wasn’t enough, we were also practicing our 10-minute speech for the event. Because why not add public speaking to the chaos?

By the time the billboards finally lit up Times Square in our bright Muzz pink, we were running on 10% battery, covered in dust, and anxiously running through all the ways this could go wrong. We were either about to pull off something unforgettable or witness the most beautifully chaotic moment of our lives. Spoiler: it was both, and we wouldn’t change a thing.

The Big Moment: Taraweeh Takes Over Times Square

People started showing up as early as 4 PM, almost two hours before iftar, waiting in the cold just to be part of the moment. We handed out our 1,000 goodie bags, and iftar meals were passed around to the crowd. Then, right on cue, the adhan echoed through Times Square.

As soon as maghrib prayer started, the energy shifted. In a place known for its flashing lights and constant movement, there was this rare moment of stillness. People broke their fast, prayed together, and braced themselves for a night that was only just getting started.

After maghrib, SQ took the mic, narrating the moment and reminding everyone just how powerful we are as Muslims. The energy was already high, but before Taraweeh even began, a woman in the crowd decided to take her shahada. With SQ guiding her through it, she embraced Islam right there in Times Square, surrounded by thousands. Tears were shed, emotions were high, and we had barely even finished iftar.

The crowd settled. Some sat, some stood in small groups, and others just took it all in—3,000 Muslims gathered in the middle of Times Square, something none of us ever expected to witness. SQ was still on the mic, keeping the energy high, making sure the moment didn’t just pass by. People stayed put, waiting for Isha.

When the time finally came, the crowd stood up again, forming lines as the adhan rang through the streets. They prayed Isha, and then it was our turn to speak.

We introduced Muzz, who we are, why we wanted to co-host this event, and what this moment meant for Muslim identity. While we started to help Muslims get married, we’ve become so much more than that. Muzz Social is our way of creating space for all Muslims to connect, beyond just finding a partner. And this year, we’re doing something even bigger, we’re running our most ambitious campaign yet: raising $500,000 with Droplets of Mercy to build a hospital in Jordan for Syrian and Palestinian refugees.

After the speech, we had a short window before Taraweeh, and after standing outside for hours, we needed warmth. We stepped into the nearest lobby, just long enough to thaw out before heading back into the cold for the final prayer of the night.

For the next hour, Times Square belonged to us. Thousands stood shoulder to shoulder, praying Taraweeh under the bright pink glow of the billboards. Tourists stopped mid-step, phones up, watching as the city rushed around them, but in that moment, we weren’t moving. We were praying.

The Internet Couldn’t Get Enough

Before we even packed up, the internet was already going crazy. We went live on both TikTok and Instagram, and let’s just say, the numbers were wild. By the end of the night, over 45,000 people had tuned in, watching the historic moment take place.

As the event was happening, we were posting videos, and within minutes, they were getting shared hundreds of times. News outlets were on the scene, trying to capture the moment, while social media was flooded with clips of the prayers, the speeches, and the sheer scale of what was happening. Everywhere we looked, another video of the event was going viral.

Even the billboards became a whole thing. People couldn’t get enough of them, especially the one that said, “How many Muslims can we fit in Times Square? Let’s find out.” Turns out, the answer was over 3,000. Another crowd favorite? “Insha’Allah this is your last Ramadan single.” Screenshots of them were everywhere, sparking memes, tweets, and even more hype.

And the hashtag? #MuzzInTimesSquare was everywhere.

At the end of the day, it wasn’t just about going viral. It was about Muslims taking up space, being loud, being present, and doing it all right in the middle of Times Square. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.

What’s Next?

Would we do this again? Look, we’re still recovering from the chaos and cold, but… Insha’Allah, yeah. Ramadan, Eid, or just another reason to bring the community together, this definitely won’t be the last time we take over a city.

Shoutout to everyone who made this happen, the Muzz team running on little sleep, no food or caffeine, the volunteers who kept things moving, and every single person who showed up or tuned in from home. If you missed it, don’t worry. Something tells us this won’t be the last time we pull off something this wild.

Want to see what it actually looked like? We filmed the whole thing, check out the full behind-the-scenes video [here].