Strange Inc. is a non profit creative institution. Join our newsletter: https://sendfox.com/StrangeincorporatedJoin our Muslim creative community: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...Find out more: www.strangeincorporated.org

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The Creative Excellence Awards 2026 applications: https://strangeincorporated.org/excellenceawards/

Shahida Rahman is an award-winning author and writer, born and raised in Cambridge, UK. Her late father, Abdul Karim, moved to Cambridge from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1957. Shahida writes historical fiction, non-fiction and children’s stories; particularly focusing on and raising awareness of South Asian history and heritage. Her first novel “Lascar” was published in 2012 and “An Ayah’s Choice” in 2022. “An Ayah’s Choice” audio book was published in December 2022. She is currently writing her third novel. In 2015, she was awarded the Arts and Culture Awareness award at the British Muslim Awards. ‘An Ayah’s Choice’ recently won the Strange Inc Publisher’s fiction award.Shahida is a trustee of Karim Foundation (local charity helping families in need) and the only UK female trustee at Cambridge Central Mosque. She is also an advisor to the trustees at the Museum of Cambridge and is involved in several organizations.www.shahidarahman.co.uk

Stay Connected with Strange Inc: https://sendfox.com/StrangeincorporatedJoin our Muslim Creative Community: https://strangeincorporated.org/creativecommunity/Makeda Yasenlul is an Ethiopian-born mother, author, and entrepreneur who blends strategic storytelling with Islamic principles to help women—particularly Muslim women and single mothers—heal and rebuild their lives after divorce. After navigating her own deeply transformative divorce, she channeled her resilience into her debut book, Bigger Than Divorce: A Muslim Woman’s Path to Healing and Purpose, which utilizes the wisdom of the Quran and Sunnah to guide women beyond heartbreak toward a life of self-worth and purpose. Today, she works as a book coach and consultant to help professional women turn their own lived experiences into impactful books, brands, and purpose-driven businesses. You can connect with her, explore her coaching, or buy her book directly on her Official Website: https://makedayasenlul.comReach out via her Contact Page: https://makedayasenlul.com/contactRead her articles on Medium: https://medium.com/@MakedaY/beyond-the-shame-navigating-divorce-through-the-lens-of-history-183cfd9d7af5or purchase her book through major retailers like Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F4Q1RXSX?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback

Cyrus McGoldrick is an American-born, Istanbul-based Muslim activist, artist, and academic of Iranian and Irish descent. A 2010 Columbia University graduate, he is a poet, musician, and long-time speaker on Islam and Western relations. For years, he served in prominent leadership and advisory roles for several prominent Muslim advocacy and social justice organizations in New York—including CAIR-NY, the Coalition for Civil Freedoms, and the Islamic Leadership Council of New York—while also supporting global Islamic causes.In 2015, he relocated to Istanbul to pursue higher education at Ibn Haldun University and traditional Islamic studies, completing an M.A. in 2018 and working toward a Ph.D. He has contributed chapters to academic books on political Islam and resistance. Most recently, in 2025, he partnered with local master silversmiths to launch Hoodhood Culture, a boutique specializing in handcrafted sterling silver rings and gifts rooted in Islamic tradition.Find More about Br. Cyrus here: https://cyrusmcgoldrick.com

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Becca Syme holds a master’s degree in transformational leadership and has been a success coach (primarily utilizing the Gallup Strengthsfinder®) for over fifteen years. She’s coached over 5,000 individual authors and creatives through her Write Better-Faster and Strengths for Writers classes & coaching cohorts: six- and seven-figure authors, major award winners, midlisters, and new authors alike. Becca is the host of QuitCast for Writers and a mystery author. Connect with Becca at betterfasteracademy.com.

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Dr. Nour Akhras is a pediatric infectious diseases physician, one of only 1,500 in the United States. Just One: A Journey of Perseverance and Conviction chronicles the life of this Syrian American doctor, honestly portraying her struggles as an American Muslim in an Islamophobic climate and as a mother providing humanitarian aid in war-torn countries around the globe. Throughout her journey, she takes inspiration from the extraordinary courage of young and old refugees forced to abandon their homes yet determined to survive and rebuild their lives. Each story is different, and every loss is personal. Between heartbreaking realities and moments of resilience, she implores readers to respect the dignity of every human life.

Buy her book here: https://a.co/d/0wz0J4i

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If creating feels exhausting lately — this is why.It’s not a lack of talent. It’s not laziness. It’s what happens when you spend too long creating on someone else’s timeline instead of your own.

This episode is about returning to your rhythm, honoring your seasons, and remembering why you started.

The Muslim Creative is a part of Strange Inc. — a home for Muslim creatives through programs, publishing, and gathering.

#creative #muslim #islamic

You were never meant to be new. You were meant to be true.A short reflection on originality, comparison, and what it actually means to create something that is yours.The Muslim Creative is part of Strange Inc. — a home for Muslim creatives through programs, publishing, and gathering. Join our newsletter to stay updated on what’s current in our atmosphere. Stay Connected with Strange Inc: https://sendfox.com/Strangeincorporated

AI can copy our work — but it can’t replace the soul Allah placed within us. In this episode, we explore why human creativity is sacred, rooted in fitrah and divine inspiration.

🌱 Apply for the Beautiful Seeds Grant:

https://strangeincorporated.org/seedgrant/

This January, as we celebrate Muslim Heritage Month, we reflect on the centuries of beauty, science, and storytelling our ancestors gifted the world. But heritage isn’t just about what was—it’s about what we build next.To honor this month and the upcoming month of Ramadan, Strange Inc. is officially opening applications for the Beautiful Seeds Grant 2026. We are looking for one “seed”—a creative project rooted in Restorative Beauty and Faith-Driven Purpose—to champion this year.The Harvest:💰 $1,000 Cash Seed Grant🎙️ Featured spotlight on the Muslim Creative Podcast🎭 A stage at the 2026 Muslim Creatives FestDeadline: February 15th Apply at the link in bio. ( Open Call Beautiful Seed Grant - Strange Inc.) Let’s add a new chapter to our heritage.Link to apply: https://sendfox.com/lp/mn4k0p