We recently had the chance to connect with Zaakirah Muhammad and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Zaakirah, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Since 2025, I’m being called to become a Death Doula, a natural continuation of everything I’ve already been doing. As a cancer survivor, I have witness morbidity first hand. For years, as a professional photographer, I’ve captured some of the final or only professional images people will ever have of their loved ones. I didn’t realize at the time that I was already sitting with grief, legacy, and transition through a lens, literally. It is calling me even more so after the loss of multiple family members since the pandemic. Now, I’m embracing the calling to walk alongside people in one of the most sacred transitions of life: death. It’s not about morbidity. It’s about meaning. It’s about storytelling, memory, closure, and love. It is a privilege to guide others through this sacred transition. After all, my first name Zaakirah, means the hereafter/afterlife.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) Nayyar (Ne-yar) Muhammad. My first name is Arabic for the afterlife, my middle name is Arabic for bright light, and my last name means servant to God. I’m a storyteller at heart, whether through the lens of a camera, the written or audio word. My journey has been anything but linear. I was first introduced to a camera at the age of five as a means to heal, especially after being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 9 months. I later began as a professional photographer. Through my work as a photographer, I’ve captured weddings, births, milestones and sometimes, the last moments a family has together, images that became cherished legacies. That work taught me the power of storytelling and the importance of preserving memories.
As a brand strategist, I’ve helped others tell their stories in ways that resonate and leave a lasting impact. An extension of my storytelling is helping people reflect on their lives and articulate their legacies. What makes my work unique is this intersection of creativity, authentic listening, and compassion. Whether I’m guiding a brand into alignment, helping someone tell their story, or walking with a family through grief, the end all be all is presence, purpose, and love.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Both of my parents but most importantly my father, Abdul Haadee Muhammad El, saw me in full color before I even understood my own reflection. He had a way of noticing my gifts, my empathy, my vision, my ability to move between worlds, foresee the future, and still remain humble, kind, grounded. Before I had the words for what I do, he knew I was meant to make an impact. When I was younger, he would always tell me that I had a gift for connecting with people and making them feel seen and understood and that there was a certain personality trait that gravitates people toward me and that it was both a blessing and a curse. He passed away in April 2024, and the grief was immense but so was the clarity. His belief in me still echoes, his love for me still remains in spirit. He showed me how to embrace faith, family, and integrity.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were two very distinct points in my life when I didn’t want to keep going. In middle school, I struggled with suicidal ideation, feeling like I didn’t belong and questioning my worth. I was navigating so much being different, being disabled, being seen and unseen all at once. The isolation was heavy. I didn’t yet know the language of mental health or self-advocacy. It was a dark time, but it taught me resilience and the importance of seeking help and connection.
Later, during my divorce proceedings, I found myself in a similar place of despair. The dissolution of a marriage felt like the unraveling of everything I thought I knew about myself and my future. But both instances taught me something powerful: survival is sacred. I didn’t just “make it through” I transformed, like a butterfly. Those experiences have given me a deep empathy for others who are struggling, and they’ve fueled my desire to make a global impact by helping people find hope and meaning, even in their darkest moments.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My friends know I move with intention. They’d say I’m committed to making a global impact, not for ego, but for alignment. I care deeply about representation, storytelling, and legacy-building, especially for the underdogs. Whether I’m working with young creatives in Kenya, supporting Muslim women in business, or building spaces for disabled voices to thrive, I’m always thinking globally. I want every room I enter, every life I touch, to be more expansive because, in the lyrics of Beyonce, “I was here.”
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I understand, on a soul level, that life is worth living, even when it’s hard, even when it hurts. As a photographer, I’ve captured the beauty of life’s fleeting moments. As a brand strategist, I’ve helped people articulate their purpose and vision with clarity. I’ve come to see life as a full circle: birth, death, legacy, rebirth. Just like the world is round, so is the journey. Nothing is wasted. Even the pain has purpose. That’s why I do the work I do. I help people see the wholeness of their story, the beauty in every chapter. Because the end is not really the end—it’s just another solar return.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zaakirahnayyar.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illuminousone
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/zaakirahmuhammad
- Other: www.
Image Credits
Ivanna Price/ Curtis Price The Social Bar LLC
Sooner Marketing
Fotokopy LLC
Michael Mutiso
GTC Kenya
