Filhaal is an Urdu word meaning “at present” or “for now.” It speaks to the tenderness of the temporary: this fleeting world, full of sorrow and sweetness, where we’re called to make meaning while we’re here. Filhaal, this is what I’m thinking about, creating, and holding close.
This space is both a reflective blog and a home for my wider body of work: an archive of writing, research, and creative projects that explore faith, history, and the world in this very moment. Each piece draws from Islamic thought, cultural critique, and lived experience to confront the defining crises of our time and ask what it means to live with integrity in an age of injustice. I truly believe writing is a sacred act, and that words, when wielded with care, can open hearts and reshape the world.
About Me
I graduated from King’s College London in 2021 with my bachelor’s in Religion, Politics, & Society, translating that into years of work as a research fellow journeying through the depths of Islamic history and contemporary geopolitics. Today, I pour my passions and experiences into my writing, weaving stories at the crossroads of faith, ethics, culture, and womanhood. Everything I’ve worked on, whether as a writer, researcher, filmmaker, or entrepreneur, is rooted in this deep intrigue: how belief can shape both critique and creation.
Having grown up across three continents, with a life steeped in travel, books, and the belief that there is no pursuit more noble than knowledge, Filhaal is also an attempt to honor those roots. My life continues to be split between the US, UK, and Pakistan, each place coloring the lens through which I live and create. When I’m not lost in a good book under Washington’s sun, you’ll find me designing traditional South Asian womenswear in Islamabad, typing away in a London café, or strolling new paths in places sweet and unknown.
My many devotions are a product of a life spent crossing borders, guided always by a profound reverence for all that is sacred and sincere. More than anything, I’d like to believe that everything I do is rooted in the belief that life is a constant pilgrimage: a search for beauty, wisdom, and light. After all, isn’t that why we’re here?
I hope that in this space, you find something that speaks to you, and something that stays with you. If you like what I share, do consider subscribing. You’ll receive weekly posts, every Thursday, straight to your inbox.
Thank you for being here.
With warmth and gratitude,
Zahra
