Our Story

At Strange Inc., we live and breathe our mission to empower the voices of Muslim women. We were born out of a burning passion to uplift and celebrate the creativity and diversity of our community, especially our youth and their poetic talents.

Our journey began with spoken word performances, but as we went deeper, we saw the truth more clearly. Muslim women’s voices weren’t just missing; they were being silenced, distorted, and misrepresented across media and politics. For too long, our stories have been taken from us and reshaped by others, our voices drowned out by harmful narratives told about us, not by us. At Strange Inc., we refuse to be erased. We are here to speak, to create, and to reclaim what is ours.


We are a faith-based organization guided by the Quran and the Sunnah of our final Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him). Truth is our banner, and excellence is our standard. At Strange Inc., we bring together Muslim creatives from around the world, using faith-rooted art to heal, reclaim identity, and speak with purpose.

Since our mission shift in 2022, we’ve published Poetic Justice, launched writing shows, and built a nurturing writing community for Muslim women. Our mission is to amplify authentic Muslim women’s voices—publishing their work, supporting their growth, and challenging harmful media narratives. We stand as a powerful force for religious freedom, sharing stories of faith, integrity, and culture to ensure our voices resonate boldly and unapologetically across the world.
Our vision

A world where the genuine and unique creative perspectives of all Muslim creatives are valued, appreciated, and integrated into the global cultural narrative.

Our mission

To champion Muslim creatives as the essential architects of authentic narrative, cultivating a global space where their unique creative perspectives are appreciated, funded, and celebrated.

We help you share your voice

At our non-profit publishing house, we are driven by a strong desire to empower all Muslim creatives through writing, publishing, and dynamic creative events.
While our broader mission supports every Muslim creative, our publishing arm currently focuses on championing Muslim women writers and their books. We want to help you share your voice and tell your unique story.
But we’re more than just a publisher; we’re a community that cultivates connections across all creative disciplines. We do this through writing initiatives and annual creative events designed to support and showcase Muslim artists. Our Writers Block Community is also dedicated to Muslim women.

Learn more

Our Pillars

Faith-based

Our direction as an entity is deeply rooted in faith, guided by the teachings of the Quran and the noble example of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him).

Integrity

We seek not perfection, but rather a standard of excellence that is guided by authenticity and the manifestation of the best versions of ourselves.

Community

Our community is one of support and encouragement, fostering growth and instilling confidence in self-expression in line with our values.

Remedy

We believe that our art serves as a wholesome and meaningful remedy, offering solace, reflection, and renewal to those who engage with it.

Authenticity

We embrace authenticity, wholeheartedly embracing unique voices that are guided by truth and inspired by life experiences.

Legacy

We write, we create, we
build for the future and for
the past. We honor those
who came before us and
inspire those who will follow
in our footsteps. We are the
storytellers, the artists, the
innovators who ensure our
legacy endures.

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.