All interpretations, I hope! I believe most religious schools of thought already have their own channels for faith-based practise, and one of the basic tenets of Islam is to respect everyone’s truths, to celebrate pluralism. So, my goal is to focus less on dogma or theological differences and more on how our shared, universal values manifest through the stories we showcase. Through stories, we are able to see ourselves reflected in each other’s journeys, no matter how seemingly different they are from our own.

Absolutely! This content is designed to provide an introduction to Muslim narratives that are often underrepresented in mainstream media and education systems, and can be useful for anyone interested in learning about this topic. I believe that education is key to understanding and respecting different cultures and religions.

When I was growing up in the deep American south, there was only one page about Islam taught in my World History or Religious Studies courses in school, and even that provided a very narrow representation of the 1400 years of rich, complex cultural and civilizational contexts within the Muslim world. Even today, I often see the incorporation of Muslim narratives in Western education systems limited to Ramadan and Eid celebrations, which is a great start! But, what about all of the other subjects? There is room to incorporate Muslim athletes and scientists and writers and more across the entire curriculum, such that all kids can see themselves represented positively within the mainstream narrative rather than at the periphery, waiting for an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging.

My ideal goal is to capture as much breadth of content as possible to increase understanding about the two billion people who identify as Muslim around the world, but I would be remiss to not humbly acknowledge that I am but ONE of these individuals. I was born in Pakistan and raised in North America, and with that comes inevitable constraints, limitations, and biases to how I may see the world, despite the best of intentions. Doing justice to my vision to challenge misperceptions about Muslims with this project requires building relationships with and accessing communities outside of my own. It relies on the participation of content creators and artists who don’t look or think like me. This takes time and trust, and I am seeking and looking forward to welcoming diverse perspectives to better fulfill our shared objective to leave behind a meaningful legacy for the children we serve across all faiths and cultures.

Although I would love the opportunity to document diverse Muslim experiences around the world, the country where I was born seemed like the most logical place to start. Having grown up in North America, I know very little about the incredibly rich history, cultures, peoples, traditions, and landscapes found across Pakistan. As the country with the second largest Muslim population in the world and located strategically along the ancient Silk Route, I know that I will uncover unforgettable stories and experiences as I rediscover my heritage here with you.

I am currently a self-funded creator, but I have a HUGE network of friends and family that are helping with their time, mentorship, resources, and creative talents in ways that are immeasurable and invaluable to bringing my vision to life. I am beyond indebted to the hundreds of people from all beliefs and walks of life, who have and are continuing to add their light to this work, especially at this early stage when my learning curve as a social entrepreneur is incredibly steep.

I am hopeful that together, you and I will figure out how to keep the integrity of this vision alive. Thank you for showing up for me, but more importantly, for the next generation of stewards in this world!