Prestigious award for Islam For Today contributor Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood.
English convert to Islam and IslamForToday.com columnist, Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood, has been honored by the Muslim News, the leading monthly Muslim newspaper in the UK.

(October 27, 2001) At a recent ceremony in London as part of the 2001 Muslim News Awards For Excellence Sr Ruqaiyyah, who is the author of over thirty books on Islam and other subjects, received the Allama Iqbal award for creativity in Islamic thought.  The award is named after Muhammad Iqbal, one of the most versatile, creative and original thinkers of modern Islam. He was born in India, knighted by Britain, but is most revered in Pakistan - which he never lived to see, but where his birth is an annual holiday.

Receiving the award Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood said:

"I felt overwhelmed and flattered. I thought it was a wonderful evening and I felt very honored to be selected. It is wonderful encouragement for people who are striving to do their best."

Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood contributes to the understanding of Islam and Muslims through teaching and resource materials. A familiar name in the Muslim community in Britain, Ruqaiyyah is a former Head of Religious Studies at various UK inner city secondary schools.  She is probably Britain's leading authority on GCSE Islamic studies*.

Sister Ruqaiyyah identifies with the "battle to preserve Islam as the one true faith, tolerant, noble, and compassionate - in face of the growth of the 'other Islam' which is extremist and intolerant, and which she regards as both false and dangerous".

*UK educational qualification usually taken at age 16.

Read Islamic articles by Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood at Islam For Today here.

View her book list here.

Visit her Islamic Studies GCSE site here.

Visit her main web site here.