What’s the story behind your creative journey? Tell us how you got started, and what moment made you realize this was your calling?

I have always been drawn to art whether its through painting, drawing, creative writing or poetry. It has always been my favorite part about going to school. Most people have a fav subject like math class or history class but mines has always been art. It was always a privilege to have music class and art class especially when you are young just exploring around what life has to offer.

How does your cultural or faith background influence your work? We’d love to hear about the unique perspective you bring to your art.

Arriving in America at the age of three or four, I initially struggled to find a sense of belonging within my South East Asian American identity. It wasn’t until recently that I began a deliberate process of cultural embrace, including wearing the Sari and cultivating relationships based on shared faith and South Asian heritage. This journey coincided with the pandemic, which provided the time and impetus to deeply examine what it truly means to be a practicing Muslim.”

The core perspective I bring to my work is rooted in my journey to understand the crucial difference between Cultural Norms and Islamic Practice (Deen).

Unlearning: Growing up in an immigrant Muslim household, it was often confusing to differentiate between customs inherited from a specific culture and the true tenets of Islam. This realization sparked a journey of self-teaching, utilizing reliable scholarly resources to unlearn misconceptions and solidify my understanding of the faith.

Open-Mindedness: This process instilled in me a deep sense of humility and the importance of not judging instantly. This open-mindedness allows me to connect with people from all backgrounds, utilizing my corporate networking experience to genuinely understand and engage with the community we serve.

Working at Kufi has allowed me to apply my professional skills while aligning with my personal mission. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone and solidified my purpose:

Embracing Character: My perspective emphasizes that being Muslim is fundamentally about one’s character (akhlaq)—how we treat others, speak to them, and serve the community. Implementing the noble characteristics of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is paramount. Modesty is key, but compassion, service, and good conduct are equally vital.

Community Building: A key project at Kufi involved writing about various Muslim organizations and events in NYC. The goal was to share with the community that there is a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of background, faith, or personality type (introvert or extrovert). This work has been a platform for bringing people together.

Inspiration from Reverts: I’ve found particular inspiration and common ground with converts (reverts) to Islam. Their fresh commitment to seeking closeness to Allah (God) is a profound example of finding purpose. Their immediate adoption of practices, like performing Umrah or wearing the hijab, motivates my own difficult journey of putting the hijab back on as an adult.

Ultimately, my journey from feeling disconnected to finding a sense of belonging in my faith and community is the unique perspective that influences everything I do—it is a drive to create welcoming, non-judgmental spaces for others who may also be searching.

What’s a project you’re especially proud of, and why?

A key project at Kufi involved writing about various Muslim organizations and events in NYC. The goal was to share with the community that there is a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of background, faith, or personality type (introvert or extrovert). This work has been a platform for bringing people together.

If you could collaborate with any artist (living or historical) from the Muslim or ethnic diaspora, who would it be and why?

Wow, this is a hard question as I would love to meet with many folks and collab with. Angelina joilie &  Omar Suliman.  Out of the two it would honestly it would have to be Shk Omar Suliman just because hes been one of the biggest inspiration for me turning back to Islam and understanding it from a whole new perspective. I would love to have the honor honestly to have him attend one of Kufis events to go over his book that I recently got done reading- Allah Loves. This book is a collection of 30 short, spiritually enriching chapters that delve into the characteristics, actions, and beliefs that make a person beloved to God. The main purpose of the book is to provide a roadmap for believers to cultivate qualities that will help them attain Allah’s “endless, infinite, and everlasting love. 

I want to ask Omar what inspired him to write this book? If he intends to write more? What made him become a scholar? If he would like to be a part of the Treaded Path Pod cast as a Guest? 

How does he reconcile his political activism (such as advocating against deportations or police brutality) with the spiritual principles outlined in his works like Allah Loves?

In light of issues like “Internalized Islamophobia,” how can Muslim institutions, like mosques, create an atmosphere that is truly welcoming to women and young people?

What are the biggest lessons he learned during his journey from skepticism to faith and in his early days of daʿwah (calling to Islam)? 

What’s one misconception about your art form or your community that you’d like to challenge? What do you wish more people understood?

If I were to challenge one prevalent misconception about the Muslim community, it would be the deeply ingrained, false narrative that women who wear the hijab (or observe modest dress) are inherently oppressed.

This idea is not only factually incorrect but a reductive and disrespectful assumption about the agency and faith of millions of women worldwide.

For the vast majority of Muslim women, observing modest dress is a conscious, personal choice rooted in their relationship with God. It is a commitment to faith, not a symbol of subjugation. To assume oppression strips them of their spiritual and personal autonomy.

The practice shifts the focus away from a woman’s physical appearance and redirects attention to her character, intellect, and contribution to society. This liberation from the intense objectification prevalent in many Western cultures is a source of strength.

 Modesty (Haya) is considered a beautiful act of devotion. In a modern environment where sexualization is pervasive, maintaining one’s privacy and dignity can feel like an act of power and self-respect.

Beyond the hijab, several core Islamic terms suffer from severe misrepresentation in the media:

• Jihad: This term is routinely conflated with “Holy War.” Its primary meaning is a personal, internal struggle to live a moral and pious life, including striving against one’s own vices and shortcomings. The concept of armed struggle is a secondary, highly contextual application with strict rules.
• Sharia Law: This is frequently portrayed as a monolithic, medieval legal code. In reality, Sharia is a broad set of guiding principles derived from the Quran and Sunnah, interpreted by scholars over centuries. It encompasses everything from dietary rules and daily prayers to finance and family law—a complete framework for life, not just penal code.

⁠How can our community support your work and stay connected with you?

The best way to support my work is simply by engaging with it: reading, sharing, and showing up. Whether that’s coming to a poetry performance, following along with my blog in Kufi Productions, or supporting the small businesses and local communities I highlight, it all makes a difference.

You can find my work on the Events Page under Resources in our website, www.kufiproductions.com. I share everything from community events and behind the scenes footage of my experiences and activism. My content is a reflection of the things I care most about: storytelling, advocacy, and connecting people through art, faith, and culture.

Engage, collaborate, and connect, because when you support artists, you’re supporting the stories and projects that fragrance our world.