Established in 2014, Ill Muslims founders Rummi Khan and Sadaf Javaid sought to create a space for Muslim creatives in the USA.  Their events looked to surface the work of Muslim creatives. A recent video by NOW THIS was deemed problematic by many on Muslim Twitter after it referred to Muslims as ‘Arabs and South Asians’. Many also took issue with the presence of a DJ, music and lack of prayer spaces. Some even noticed that the man in the NOW THIS video was in fact Kanye West…

Related: Why It Is Important to Have Black Muslim Only Spaces: An Interview With Neimo Askar & Ayo Olatunji on #BlackOutEid

illMuslims will lead the reformation of the Quran

— ☔️ (@brownaandlovely) July 23, 2018

Kanye West also made an appearance in the video.

Oh, today we're hating on #IllMuslims? Sign me up. I've been done with their corny faux-clubbing attempt at being white millennials for years.

— Firas Alkhateeb (@khateeb88) July 22, 2018

Y’all got a lot to say about #illMuslims as people who have never even ever attended their events. Y’all just love tearing apart any good any Muslims try to do. Goodnight.

— rayyan (@anotherarabgorl) July 23, 2018

Me at an #illMuslims function with my glorified kool aid drink watching brown kids awkwardly rap along to the clean version Bad and Boujee while trying to avoid the n-word pic.twitter.com/Yt9DjaumQs

— Mo Salah 2018 Ballon d’Or (@LebanonDon16) July 23, 2018

After further review, the recent hate on #IllMuslims was due to an interview where the co-founders said dumb things.

Not because the idea itself is obnoxious, pseudo-Islamic, and detrimental to our community's spiritual and social health.

Makes sense.

— Firas Alkhateeb (@khateeb88) July 23, 2018

Just heard about #illMuslims and it's not something I would go to but I don't see why people criticizing it without giving solutions. We are all part of one ummah.

Like it or not they are our brothers and sisters. We should advise to make it better for them.

— Aarif Y (@ArifA59521694) July 23, 2018

.@QuilliamOrg #illMuslims More of a reason to showcase that no single voice speaks for all Muslim Americans. Don’t let anyone corner people to tell you otherwise. More diverse voices needed. Privleage isn’t just “white” and my fellow Muslims have issues too. Erasure is real!

— MuhammadFraser-Rahim (@mfraserrahim) July 24, 2018

#illMuslims might take the gold for one of the cringiest things I’ve seen in my life. https://t.co/yGXwITdaBg

— Master Spliffter (@its_fayhad) July 23, 2018

so many #BlackMuslims hating on #illMuslims… why so much hatred and towards Muslims who are tryna act cool and blend in with whatever it is they are tryna blend in with (American culture I guess?)

— X (@LilBubly) July 22, 2018

Someone said illmuslims tryna gentrify Islam lmaoooooooooo

— Hassan (@adeerxasan) July 23, 2018

Sup guys just finished putting my thinning hair into a man bun and sliding into my floral patterned buttoned shirt. Bout to button it all the way to the top, put on my round glasses and step out. Got like 5 Malcom X quotes memorized. Get ready bitches, I’m coming to illmuslims

— Saif (@Low_KeySaif) July 23, 2018

How are you engaging with and giving Black Muslims a platform or space in an area that low key appropriates blackness? You’ve characterized Muslims as Arab and South Asians, I’m sure unintentionally, but you’ve erased entire populations so how will you reconcile and be inclusive?

— KNM ✨ (@damnafrkah) July 22, 2018

I don’t know about American muslims sometimes but this illMuslims thing looks corny. Looks like a non-lit club with no area to pray and no inclusion of black Muslims

Makes me grateful for our segregated UK charity dinners at the Waterlily ????

— Ruqaiya (@ruqaiya_h) July 22, 2018

Illmuslims been corny since the day it was conceived. The name alone is corny asf. U will never catch me drinking mocktails listening to 2009 clean version of lil Wayne NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

— Leila (@_leelaw) July 21, 2018

Don't tell me how cutting edge and epic and cool and subversive you and your org are just bc you've set up a rave that features hijabs and Mipster beards. That's not subversive – it's laughable and immature.

— The Salafi Feminist (@AnonyMousey) July 22, 2018

Imagine coming to this country and working at a gas station for 30 years just so that you can see your daughter in the newest illMuslims promo.

— Ahmad (@Frank_Sriracha_) July 23, 2018

illmuslims have awesome goals but HORRIBLE execution, like lmao I just want one conversation just one

— wasif (@yqxif) July 22, 2018

This is why organisations like @BlackMuslimPsyc @thelight99 & @MuslimARC are very important.

Social club illMuslims criticised for lack of black Muslims and ‘non-Islamic’ ways by @FaimaBakar https://t.co/tTBZROV4qg

— Habeeb Akande (@Habeeb_Akande) July 24, 2018

From what I gathered, it’s not a good space for anyone struggling with their deen. I find myself wrestling with modesty & trying to phase out of giving guy friends hugs & here comes illMuslims broadcasting their “halal dance off” between guys & girls.

— Amina ???????? (@AminaTheArtist) July 22, 2018

I feel like some of us are missing the point that “illmuslims” are promoting and producing an event that is 99% antithetical to Islamic principles and conduct anyway…

You think they care about colour? They don’t even consider the Dīn.

— Ould Tarique (@Internalstrife) July 22, 2018

That fact that you had to specify ‘yes, including African Americans’ proves the inherent exclusionary nature of, particularly, Desi American Muslim communities. Your parents, by and large, are racist towards Black American Muslims. And you all are perpetuating that tradition.

— Bunny (@VocalFriez) July 24, 2018