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 knew since I was a kid that I loved two things: baking and acting! I felt a wide range of emotions and didn’t know where to place them. What I perceived as a flaw in my childhood, Allah opened my eyes to see the beauty of feeling emotions as part of the human experience, which is what drew me to acting. My mom encouraged me to audition for my middle school play, sparking my love for theatre and the artistic exchange of emotions. It felt like a release and a safe space to be completely myself.

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

Faith is a HUGE part of who I am – I learned my deen through the practical, ritual, fard steps but came to learn about the color and beauty of my deen once I went to college and was part of retreats like RIHLA or local events with Razjan, Tanwir Institute, or Maqasid Institute that showed me that the beauty of our deen penetrates all aspects of our lives and gives us bigger meaning and purpose. I love the emphasis our deen places on projecting OUTWARDS – this is not a selfish religion. And I love that we can call people to live the meaningful life our deen gives us in creative ways like storytelling.

What’s a project you’re especially proud of, and what made it meaningful to you? Walk us through the creative process and why it holds a special place in your heart.

Caravan Tales is truly the most meaningful thing I’ve ever worked on. At its root: it comes from a desire to become closer to Allah and show people the beauty of this deen and how it gives us purpose in every aspect of our daily lives. It also incorporates my love for theatre that focuses on human empathy, and the field of community, and locally sourced baking in striving for conscious living and tending to this earth.

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

Does Hans Zimmer count?! I am moved by inspiring music (instrumental specifically) because the flow of music contains a storytelling element. Within one song, you can hear a buildup, a climax, and a resolution; perhaps walking us through a story where a person is fighting to ascend, there is a buildup and a resolution that the journey will be long but they will persevere. What a dream it would be to have him compose a piece to partner with a story I create, ya Rab!

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

How much time and self goes into the work – I think reviewing and critiquing is done widely by those who are not in the arena, but it takes an immense sense of courage and vulnerability to share your art with the world and I wish we could appreciate and congratulate that bravery. We also have the responsibility to not mislead anyone in the work we create and I pray always to be guided by Allah in my work for my work to align to what pleases Him.

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

I share my art form through my travel company: Caravan Tales. On the social media, I’ll share films that discuss the trips and stories. It was important for me to create a place where I share my art form and give people the opportunity to witness the beauty of life and our deen in person, instead of just seeing it on a screen. Right now I am trying to find heartfelt souls to join the Japan 2026 adventure from April 26-May 3, 2026 (Registration closes March 25, 9 PM EST). These adventures are open to my brothers and sisters from all over the world if they are 18+ (or come with the supervision of a family member)! They can follow along at caravan.tales on Instagram and TikTok or sign up for emails on my website at caravantales.org!