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I led a life of darkness, ​lost​ ​in​ ​a​ ​wonderland​ ​of​ ​misguidance.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​a​ yearning ​for​ ​truth​ ​and​ ​a​ ​quest​ ​for knowledge​ ​that​ ​guided​ me to ​the​ ​light​ ​of​ ​Islam​​ ​at​ ​the​ ​turn​ ​of​ ​2009. It changed my life forever.
 

The​ ​moment​ ​was​ ​big, but​ ​shortly​ ​thereafter, so​ ​were​ ​the​ ​ensuing​ ​demands.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​a complete​ ​life​ ​overhaul​ ​that​ ​required​ ​endurance​.​ ​I​ ​was​ ​challenged​ ​with​ ​back-to-back adversities​ that affected all parts of my life, including ​my​ ​profession.​ It​ ​was​ ​a​ ​bitter​ ​pill​ ​to​ ​swallow. Waves​ ​of interviews later,​ ​the​ ​closest​ ​I​ ​could​ ​get​ ​was​ ​a​ ​​mostly​ ​halaal​​ ​job.​ At such a difficult point in my life, it provided me with much needed financial stability. However, ​​demands​​ of compromise ensued with time and knowing that every soul shall get that in which it endeavours I could no longer continue.
 

With my hopes high, ​I​ ​went​ ​on​ ​a​ ​global​ ​search​ ​for​ ​a​ ​creative​ ​job, which included​ ​Muslim​ ​organizations. To my surprise, I was​ ​unable to​ ​find​ ​a​ ​completely​ ​halaal​ ​job.​ ​As someone​ ​who​ ​takes​ ​heart​ ​in​ ​pursuing​ ​a​ ​path​ ​of​ ​purity,​ ​I​ ​felt betrayed by constituents of the ummah operating in the creative industry as if it’s all good. With this industry firmly established upon a kaafir model and Muslims following suit, it begged the questions: in this day and age, are there truly islamic alternatives for Muslim men who insist upon halaal as a lifestyle? The sad reality is that hardly anyone cares for the god-fearing Muslim businessman who conducts his Islam as a way of life. Everybody is in it for themselves.
 

How many times in business circles do you hear the words, “can it scale?” Yet, rarely will you find those who care about the sanctity of Islamic values. Hence, it is near​ ​impossible​ ​to​ ​work for others​ ​as​ ​a​ ​creative without​ ​compromising​ ​one’s Islamic values. Neither did I want to accept the “no way out” route nor pursue the “necessity” alternative for an answer. Even if I did, how many Muslim businessmen and creatives who fear Allah would I leave in the lurch? Indeed, the creative-branding-design industries needn’t be this way. This marked a defining moment. Halaal is the exception, not the rule. ​What if I stepped forward and merge all ​my​ corporate expertise with my passion for branding and brand​ thinking, all whilst enjoining authentic Islamic values.​ Alhamdulillah, this was exactly what I set out to accomplish.
 

Qaasim means the one who ​​​​separates​ ​truth​ ​from falsehood​​, as well as​ the ​​​distributor​ ​of​ ​knowledge​—all​ ​true​ ​to​ ​my purpose. It​ ​encapsulates​ ​my​ ​journey from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light​; from kufr to Islam, from bidah to the Sunnah​.​
 

​In an era of decreasing Islamic freedom and great compromise, Qaasim April is an Islamic Branding Consultant specializing in the development of strong and dynamic Islamic brands that compete in moving markets whilst firmly rooted in authentic Islamic values. Ensuring an Islamic experience, you enjoy peace of mind, attain religious fulfillment and become a brand blessed with success in this life and the next.