Inspired by Iranian women’s wrestling uniforms, they designed custom gear: long‑sleeved shirts layered atop each other, pants over leggings, and head coverings. Early attempts were “kind of rough” — hijabs slipped off, shirts untucked — until coaches helped them add velcro and tape to secure everything during competition.

In 2022, Latifah qualified for the Pan American Championships but was barred from competing internationally due to United World Wrestling’s rejection of her modest uniform. Yet at the college level coaches at Life University stood behind them, working with NAIA to approve the modified uniform — leading the sisters to join Life that fall and be welcomed into a supportive team culture where teammates respected their prayer times and Ramadan fasting.

Their perseverance paid off: USA Wrestling updated its rules to formally allow modest gear, and the sisters competed nationaly — even fasting during Ramadan. Zaynah and Latifah won championship titles; Jamilah placed second and earned a spot for the U.S. Olympic trials, though UWW later disqualified her again over uniform rules. Still, Latifah reflects: “Even if I don’t ever step on an Olympic stage… if I’ve had a positive effect on one other Muslim girl… then I’ve done my job.”

Source: National Public Radio (NPR)

Aboulela described the award as “a complete and utter surprise,” expressing gratitude to English PEN and the judges for recognizing her work.

She said she was “honored to win a prize established in memory of Harold Pinter, a great writer who continues to inspire so much loyalty and consistent high regard.”

Reflecting on her identity, she added, “For someone like me, a Muslim Sudanese immigrant who writes from a religious perspective probing the limits of secular tolerance, this recognition feels truly significant.”

Leila Aboulela, born in 1964 in Cairo to an Egyptian mother and Sudanese father, was raised in Khartoum, Sudan, where she lived until 1987.

She studied at the Khartoum American School and the Sisters’ School, a private Catholic high school, before earning a degree in Economics with a specialization in Statistics from the University of Khartoum.

She later moved to the UK, completing an MSc and MPhil in Statistics at the London School of Economics. In 1990, she settled in Aberdeen, Scotland, where she began writing in 1992 while working as a lecturer and research assistant.

Aboulela is the author of six acclaimed novels, including The Translator (a New York Times 100 Notable Book), Minaret, Bird Summons, The Kindness of Enemies, Lyrics Alley (winner of the Scottish Book Awards), and River Spirit.

Her short story collection Elsewhere, Home won the Saltire Fiction Book of the Year Award.

She was the first-ever winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing and has been longlisted three times for the Orange Prize (now the Women’s Prize for Fiction).

Her work has been translated into fifteen languages, and her plays such as The Insider and The Mystic Life have been broadcast on BBC Radio.

She is Honorary Professor of the WORD Centre at the University of Aberdeen and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Source: Maktoob Media

Munazza Malik secured 6,215 votes, joining the legislative assembly in a result she described as “a really positive experience.”

Originally from the UK, Malik moved to Guernsey five years ago and has since become an active member of the local community.

“I feel welcomed, I feel integrated into the community, I’ve been here for over five years and I’ve been part of Women in Public Life since the beginning of last year. I think that has really encouraged more women like me to understand the local politics and the issues around us, and stand for office.”

Women in Public Life is a volunteer-led initiative launched in 2020 with the aim of inspiring and supporting more women in Guernsey to take on public leadership roles.

Malik encouraged others to get involved in local politics, saying, “I would recommend running for election to anyone. I’m looking forward to my time in the States.”

When asked how Guernsey could continue to increase representation, she highlighted the importance of outreach: “We need more awareness in the public sector, just reaching out to those communities and making sure they engage in the dialogue. That’s how we make them interested in the local issues and feel welcome.”

The election of Malik represents a significant shift for the island, reflecting Guernsey’s slow but growing embrace of multicultural participation in its public life.

Source: BBC

He expressed deep gratitude for the honour, writing: “This honour is not just a personal milestone, but a reflection of the collective work, unwavering support, and most notably the exceptional guidance I have been privileged to receive. From the good days to the most difficult ones, I remain committed to serving my country and our communities, and playing my small part in helping make the world a better, fairer place for all.”

The King’s Birthday Honours are part of the British honours system, announced annually to mark the sovereign’s official birthday.

They recognize individuals from all walks of life who have made outstanding contributions to society, including in public service, the arts, charity, science, and community leadership.

Source: About Islam

Iqra Khalid, a long-serving Liberal Member of Parliament, secured her fourth term with a lead of more than 5,000 votes over her rival.

Salma Zahid, another prominent Muslim and Pakistani-origin politician, also retained her seat, securing over 21,000 votes.

Both Khalid and Zahid have been recognized for their consistent advocacy on issues related to human rights, immigration, and inclusivity. Their re-election is being seen by many as a reflection of the increasing political engagement and influence of Canadian Muslims.

More than ever before, Muslims made their electoral power known in Canada’s 2025 general election.

Muslim Canadians are urging political leaders to move beyond symbolic gestures and adopt concrete policies to combat Islamophobia and uphold human rights—both domestically and abroad.

The urgency of these demands is heightened by the alarming rise in Islamophobia in Canada, Canada currently holds the grim distinction of leading G7 nations in targeted killings of Muslims.

Despite the ongoing challenges faced by the Muslim community, the issue has received little attention in election debates.

Canada’s foreign policy on Gaza is under scrutiny, with Muslim voters expecting the next government to show leadership and integrity.

Recently, The Advocates’ Society canceled an event with Syrian peace advocate Tareq Hadhad after he condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. Though they apologized, the incident highlighted growing intolerance toward pro-Palestinian voices.

While progress has been made—such as the 2023 appointment of Amira Elghawaby as Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia—advocates say more is urgently needed.

She emphasized the need for education that goes beyond awareness to active resistance against Islamophobia.

Source: AboutIslam.net

The awards, which took place at the Grand Botanical Suite, were set up to celebrate local talent and inspire young people to take up the sport.

Samera Ali, England Boxing’s first Muslim female director, won the Female Community Impact Award.

Haseebah Abdullah, who trains up to 40 Muslim women weekly at Smethwick’s Windmill Boxing Gym, was also given the award after she played a crucial role in changing strict dress code rules to allow more women to compete in the sport.

“It’s an honour to be recognized, but for me, the real reward is seeing more Muslim women step into the gym, gain confidence, and break barriers,” she said.

Shabaz Masoud, 29, from Stoke-on-Trent, was awarded both Super Bantamweight and Golden Glove Muslim Boxer of the Year.

“I grew up in a rough area, and it would’ve been easy to take the wrong path,” Masoud explained.

“Boxing gave me discipline, a purpose, and a future. If this event helps even one young person find that same path, it’s worth it.”

The awards also highlighted the sport’s role in tackling youth crime, after a recent Sport England report found that young people engaged in structured sports like boxing, were 60% less likely to be involved in violent crime.

Adil Hussain, founder of event sponsor Legal Blows, added: “The goal is simple – to get kids into boxing and off the streets. If even one young person chooses gloves over gangs, this event has done its job.”

Source: BBC

After being rejected by three different banks and payment processors due to concerns about the company’s Muslim identity and its focus on international humanitarian work in regions like Syria, Amany Killawi, co-founder of the Muslim crowdfunding platform LaunchGood, and her co-founders were forced to build their own network of payment processors to protect their platform. This ensured that no single bank could bring down the business.

To mitigate the impact on the business if and when another bank decided to stop working with LaunchGood, Killawi and her co-founders, Chris Blauvelt and Omar Hamid, made the decision to establish a network of payment providers and banks to work with. When they were dropped by a bank—which continued to happen over the years—they had several backups.

Now, more than 10 years since its founding, LaunchGood has become a household name and has enabled its largely Muslim user base to raise nearly $700 million. While the platform also hosts personal fundraisers, LaunchGood is better known for its emphasis on charitable giving.

This experience led Killawi to establish a sister company, PayGood, in 2024. PayGood is designed to offer Muslim businesses and charities a payment system that is reliable and free from discrimination.

While LaunchGood was among the early entrants into the largely untapped Muslim-friendly tech space, its sister company is part of a growing class of tech and software companies that aim to cater to Muslims in the US, Canada, and the UK.

PayGood aims to provide an alternative to mainstream payment processors like Stripe and PayPal, which have faced backlash for their treatment of Palestinian accounts and affiliations. In light of recent events, the Muslim community is now more intentional about where they spend their money, seeking products and services that align with their ethical stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Boycat, created by Adil Abbuthalha, is an app that helps users identify brands linked to Israeli occupation or human rights violations, empowering them to make ethical shopping decisions. It also offers alternatives to these brands, aiming to become a comprehensive marketplace for ethical consumption beyond just Palestine-related issues.

Makani Homes, founded by Nourin Abubaker and Yara Ourfali, started as a home-swapping platform catering to Muslim preferences. The platform grew into a rental service similar to Airbnb, with a focus on providing a pro-Palestinian alternative after Airbnb’s involvement in illegal West Bank settlements. This reflects a growing trend among Muslim entrepreneurs to create businesses that align with their community’s ethical values.

Source: The Guardian

The triennial competition, founded in 2009 in collaboration with Art Jameel, focusses this year on artists working with moving image and digital media. An exhibition of works by the winner and shortlisted artists opens at the V&A South Kensington on November 30, 2024 through to March 16, 2025.

Khandakar Ohida received the award for the film ‘Dream Your Museum’ (2022) a portrait of her uncle, Khandakar Selim, who has built an extraordinary collection of objects and memorabilia over the last 50 years. Ohida documented the collection as it was displayed in her uncle’s traditional mud home, which has since been torn down. The work challenges the formal nature of museums in India, particularly as bastions of nationalism that offer little room for alternative narratives. ‘Dream Your Museum’ counters the colonial museum model, instead inviting people to find value in the seemingly banal objects that are an intrinsic part of their lives. As members of India’s Muslim community, both Selim and the artist confront the socio-political hierarchies that shape identity, offering a nuanced exploration of cultural representation and belonging.

For ‘Jameel Prize: Moving Images’ the film is accompanied by an installation of objects from Selim’s collection, which he transports in simple metal trunks. This portable museum is displayed informally as a jumble of curious items, an installation choice intended to defy the authority and neatness typically found in conventional museums. In this work the artist invites us to envision a future where cultural heritage is liberated from the constraints of convention and exclusivity.

Tristram Hunt, V&A Director and chair of the Jameel Prize judging panel, said, “The jury praised the quiet power of Khandakar’s beautiful cinematic work, ‘Dream Your Museum’. The film and installation of objects from her uncle’s vast esoteric collection speak to the experience of Muslim communities in India, and challenge the authority of conventional museums.”

Antonia Carver, Art Jameel Director, said: “We are so thrilled to celebrate the seventh edition of the Jameel Prize, awarded to Khandakar Ohida based on a rigorous selection process. The significance of this prize lies in its ability to highlight the innovative spirit at the heart of practices that draw on the legacy of Islamic art and design. This year, by focusing on moving image and digital media, the prize sheds light on artists who are redefining visual storytelling in form and content, and are engaging with urgent issues – from ecology and spirituality to the resilience of community histories”

Source: ArtDependence Magazine

Nelson Community Mosque, in Bradshaw Street, collected the ‘Best Women’s Service’ award and was commended for its commitment to empowering women, fostering inclusivity and creating impactful services for women in the community.

The awards celebrate excellence among mosques, madrassahs, Imams, Alimahs, and volunteers across 11 categories, with independent judges selecting the winners.

The mosque’s success was highlighted with a specific focus on providing tailored services for women, including educational workshops, health awareness sessions, counselling support and opportunities for spiritual development.

Shaukat Warraich, chief executive of Faith Associates, commending the mosque’s efforts, said: “The Nelson Community Mosque has demonstrated outstanding dedication in the field of women’s services. With over 60,000 votes cast online for this year’s British Beacon Mosque Awards, and tough decisions made by the judges, this recognition highlights the exceptional work being done. It’s heartening to see British mosques leading by example, bringing communities together and addressing critical societal issues.”

Providing spiritual education through structured Qur’an and Fiqh classes, as well as other short courses, the mosque was praised for seeing more than 300 women attending and enhancing their confidence in practicing and sharing their faith.

Additionally, the Chat and Chai gatherings were said to provide a great platform for women to connect, share experiences and foster meaningful friendships.

The mosque also offered a “Teens of Faith” programme which enhanced emotional wellbeing and social skills for teenage girls to express themselves.

Also, through food bank initiatives, it has helped more than 400 women in the past few months alone, including 225 single mothers.

Also, family-focused services such as the family wellbeing service, parenting workshops and marriage counselling were said to have positively impacted women by providing them with the tools and strategies needed to build strong, healthy family relationships.

Source: Lancashire Telegraph

Representing California’s District 12, Lateefah Simon (D-CA) joined an esteemed group of re-elected Muslim representatives, marking a powerful step forward in representation for American Muslims, CAIR said in a statement.

Simon, who currently serves on the Bay Area Rapid Transit board, brings a wealth of experience to Congress.

Her distinguished career includes roles as the Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights in the San Francisco Bay Area and as a California State University Board of Trustees appointee under former Governor Jerry Brown.

Her election is a celebrated milestone, expanding the presence of Muslim voices in Congress.

Alongside Simon, CAIR congratulates re-elected Representatives André Carson (D-IN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), all of whom secured decisive victories on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

These victories mark a historic moment, with four American Muslims now serving in Congress.

New Milestone

In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert McCaw emphasized the significance of this milestone.

“Lateefah Simon’s election is a powerful reminder that American Muslims are making strides and finding their voices in the halls of Congress,” McCaw said.

“Especially during a time when many in our community feel the weight of rising Islamophobia. Her presence, alongside Representatives Carson, Tlaib, and Omar, demonstrates our community’s resilience and commitment to justice.

“This achievement should inspire every American Muslim to have faith in their ability to create positive change and to contribute to a more inclusive and just society.”

CAIR has been instrumental in mobilizing the nation’s over 2.5 million registered American Muslim voters, particularly during the final stretch of the election season.

In the days leading up to the election, CAIR sent over 600,000 text messages to remind Muslim voters across the country, including those in critical swing states, of the importance of their vote.

Looking ahead, CAIR is eager to collaborate with the new Congress to advance civil rights, social justice, and peace advocacy initiatives that benefit not only American Muslims but all Americans.

Source: About Islam