From Voice to Legacy

At Strange Inc., we cultivate restorative artistry. Our journey began with a simple but burning passion: to uplift the poetic talents of Muslim youth. Through the raw power of spoken word, we witnessed the transformative potential of the creative spirit. However, as we moved deeper into this work, a starker reality emerged.
We saw that the voices of Muslim women were not merely absent; they were being intentionally silenced, distorted, and reshaped by external narratives. For too long, our stories have been treated as commodities for others to edit. At Strange Inc., we realized that to speak is an act of reclamation. We refuse to be erased.
Our Evolution
Since our pivotal mission shift in 2022, we have transitioned from a performance collective into a faith-rooted creative organization. Guided by the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we have moved beyond expression toward impact. We have published Poetic Justice, launched global writing programs, and built a sanctuary for Muslim women writers.
The Work of Restorative Artistry
We believe that true creativity requires inner alignment and narrative responsibility. We are no longer just sharing stories; we are building legacies. By supporting Muslim creatives across all disciplines, we ensure that their work is not only beautiful but healing—restoring culture and challenging harmful media narratives through the lens of faith and integrity.
Today, Strange Inc. stands as a powerful force for religious freedom and authentic representation. We are here to ensure that Muslim artistry remains a source of truth and beauty, producing enduring works that will inspire generations to come.

Our vision

We envision a world where Muslim artistry is a source of beauty, truth, and collective healing—contributing enduring works that restore culture and inspire generations.

Our mission



Strange Inc. empowers Muslim creatives to cultivate restorative artistry—supporting the inner alignment, creative development, and narrative responsibility needed to produce work that heals and leaves lasting impact.

Our Usul (Roots)

Alignment 

All creativity is rooted in remembrance and right orientation.

Restorative Ihsan

Beauty is not decoration. Beauty heals, settles, and reorders the soul.

Intellectual Haqq

We tell the truth about wounds, veils, and distortions without spectacle.

Sacred Suhbah

No restoration happens in isolation. Community is part of the medicine.

Civilizational Ikhtira’

We build for transmission, not trends. For generations, not platforms.

Meet the team

Aishah Alam Founder and President A social worker with a passion for empowering others, Aishah holds a Bachelors in Social Work and Islamic Studies from Mishkah University and is pursuing her Masters in Social Work.  She is the founder of Strange Inc., established in 2014, which took a new direction inspired by her two adorable daughters (who some might say bear an uncanny resemblance to hobbits!).  Aishah has served as editor for two of Strange Inc.’s publications.  She is also a published author, with two books to her name: The Woke Writer, a guide for Muslim women writers, and The Man and the Tree Stump, a children’s book.
Kashmir Maryam Co-founder and Vice President
Kashmir Maryam is an internationally-acclaimed author, poet, and therapist-in-training who is turning heads in the literary world with her unique insights on mindfulness, spirituality, and personal growth. Born in England and of Kashmiri heritage, her books ” The Muslim Woman’s Manifesto: 10 Steps to Achieving Phenomenal Success, in Both Worlds,” and “Nafsi: Jihad Upon My Self,” offer a fresh perspective on the intersection of spirituality and modern life. Through her guidance on self-care, inner peace, and finding purpose and meaning, she has helped countless readers discover the transformative power of personal growth and spiritual fulfillment through an Islamic framework.
Hager Shawkat Board member Hager Shawkat is the Program Director of the Community Wellness department at Sauti Yetu Center for African Women in the Bronx, NY. She has been working in public health for over 10 years. Since beginning with Sauti Yetu in 2015, she established the Community Wellness department to provide tailored reproductive health education and expanded the scope of the Department’s work to include outreach and education for other health-related services to improve the health and well-being of our community members. She currently oversees five projects within the Department. Ms. Shawkat holds a Master’s in Public Health from the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College. She gained prior experience in research, program coordination, and program evaluation at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the New York State Health Foundation, and Public Health Solutions.
Ali Ahmed Board member Ali specializes in the Private Investment space with WahedX, a subsidiary of the world’s leading Islamic FinTech Wahed Inc. Ali’s focus is on building partnerships with investors and institutions globally. Prior to joining WahedX, Ali worked for both JP Morgan and EY in London for over 5 years. Ali holds a qualification in Investment Management and studied Management with a specialism in Accounting and Finance at the University of Manchester. His mission is to democratise access to investing so regardless of who you are, you have the same access to investment products as high net-worth individuals and institutions. Ali is also the founder of GradGurus, a social enterprise that helps students from low socio-economic backgrounds transition from education in to professional careers.
Imam John Starling Advisory Board Member
John Starling is a religious leader dedicated to preserving and reviving the intellectual and spiritual legacy of Islam. He is the founder of Hanbali Disciples, where he teaches, publishes, and mentors a new generation of English-speaking students in the Hanbali tradition.
An alumnus of NC State University and the Islamic University of Madinah, John holds master’s degrees in Islamic Studies and Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy and is currently pursuing a PhD in ‘Aqīdah (creed) with a focus on sulūk (spiritual wayfaring). His translations, teachings, and publications—spanning more than ten titles—have made the seminal works of great Muslim masters accessible to contemporary audiences.
Through his leadership at GCLEA in South Jersey and his educational and publishing initiatives, John seeks to bridge faith, intellect, and creative expression. His work empowers Muslims to build institutions, produce knowledge, and craft a living legacy—one rooted in revelation, enriched by tradition, and relevant to the world they create.
Stephanie Golden Advisory Board Member
Stephanie Golden isa freelance book author and book collaborator/ghost, journalist, and book doctor in Brooklyn, NY.

Her first book, “The Women Outside: Meanings and Myths of Homelessness” (University of California Press, 1992), was a finalist for the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award and received Honorable Mention, Emily Toth Award (Women’s Caucus, Popular Culture Association, American Culture Association). She’s also author of “Slaying the Mermaid: Women and the Culture of Sacrifice” (Harmony Books, 1998) and has written seven books with expert collaborators, most covering health, fitness, and medicine. She’s written websites, newsletters, training manuals, and reports for different clients.

Her essays and articles have appeared in The Startup, Aeon, Salon, Tricycle, Curator Magazine, The Manifest-Station, and Dorothy Parker’s Ashes, among other publications.
Rumki Chowdhury Editorial Director

Rumki has many years of experience in the publishing, academic and media worlds. She has worked for publishers like Simon & Schuster Inc., Pearson’s Publishing, Global Bookshelves and Djarabi Kitabs Publishing. She is the author of four books, three of which were award-winning. Her most recent award-winning YA mystery/thriller, “Secrets in the Wind,” was featured on the New York Times Square Billboard! Additionally,her shorter works have been featured across various media such as Brown Girl Magazine and Northjersey.com, and books such as Hirji and Your Story with Musart. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in English Writing from the William Paterson University of New Jersey and a Masters Degree in English Literature from the Queen Mary University of London. Since then, Rumki has embarked on a literary journey that has gained her enormous recognition: she has even edited Just One by Dr. Nour Akhras, an Amazon “Best New Release.” Moreover, Rumki is a mother of three daughters. Not to mention, she is an active blogger on writing advice via www.rumki.com and Social Media @rumkitheauthor.