Celebrating the very best of British Muslim achievements

 

Manchester City captain Kolo Touré, who won the Faezeh Hashemi Sport Award, credited his faith for his success. “For me it is a great pleasure to be here as a football player. My religion has helped me a lot to be where I am. I am very happy to win this award. I hope it’ll be great example for all the young lads. Without my religion I would not be where I am now,” he said.

A decade after it was founded, The Muslim News Awards for Excellence once again celebrated and recognised the very best of Muslim participation to British Society.

Over 800 people attended the Tenth annual Awards ceremony held at London’s glitzy Grosvenor House.

The Guest of Honour, Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, paid tribute to “the enormous contribution” that Muslims have made in every aspect of British life, including politics, academia, law, sport, the arts, healthcare, humanitarian aid, the military, business and cuisine.
 

Johnson reminded the audience of the deeply entwined heritage and value system British Muslims share, referring to the mention of Islamic scholarship in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Johnson argued that our shared values – the right to life, the right to worship, freedom of expression, justice and tolerance – must be protected.
 

However, he stressed that tackling extremism does not define the relationship between the Government and Muslim communities. “Nor does it mean that the responsibility for tackling extremism lies only with the Muslim community. Like the threat from far right racists, it affects us all and it requires a united response,” he added.

The Editor of The Muslim News, and the main sponsor, Ahmed J Versi, said: “We began this event ten years ago because we wanted to acknowledge the noble accomplishments and displays of distinction within the British Muslim community and showcase the tremendous contributions British Muslims make to Britain. We wanted also to identify and highlight Muslim role models for the younger generation.”

Versi explored relations between the Muslim community and political parties over these years and asked the next Government to re-visit policies that will improve relations with the Muslim community and help rejuvenate community cohesion.
 

Versi expressed his desire to see questions like “are you a Muslim first or British first” or “are you from Pakistan” eradicated from future discourses.

He explained: “As devolution and further constitutional reform re-shapes our political landscape and institutions, Muslims and other minorities will in time, I believe, come to be considered as English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish, and not just as British.”
 

Nadia Durrani, founding Editor of the leading archeological magazine, Current World Archeology, was the winner of the Sankore University Award for Excellence in Education. Dr Durrani was thrilled to receive the award saying: “Archeology is a wonderful way to let people know about their culture. . . and communicate Islamic culture to the West.”

Other special guests included Communities Secretary, John Denham, Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Grayling and Baroness Emma Nicholson. They were joined by civic and religious leaders, as well as representatives from the worlds of politics, business, sport and the arts.
 

Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, in a message to the event, described The Muslim News Awards for Excellence as a “firmly established premier occasion for marking the achievements of both Muslims and non-Muslims working together for the common good - and for highlighting the important role Muslims play in our communities.”

Now in its tenth year, the ceremony has distinguished itself for pioneering an initiative that finds the very best in British Muslims.

In a message, Opposition Leader, David Cameron, said: “The Awards have established a great reputation over the last decade. The range of Award winners honoured – from the nationally recognised to the ‘unsung heroes’ – is a tribute both to the organisers and tot the depth of he contribution which British Muslim men and women make to our society today.”

Lib Dem Leader, Nick Clegg, said: “These prestigious awards are an opportunity to celebrate the excellence of the individual nominees in their respective fields – but they are also a chance for the whole of British society to reflect upon the enormous social, cultural and economic contribution made by Muslim community in the UK.”

All winners received a beautifully and intricately designed brass astrolabe (example pictured left), the iconic image of the decade old awards ceremony. The astrolabe was a highly developed tool used throughout the Muslim world to measure the altitude of stars and planets. By the eighth century, they were used to aid navigation, locate the qiblah (the direction towards the Ka’bah in Makkah Muslims face when praying), calculate the lunar calendar and to assess meteorological conditions.



The Muslim News

 Majority of Republicans: Obama is a Muslim

A new national Louis Harris poll finds that a majority of Republicans believe that President Obama is a Muslim, while 45 percent agree with the so-called "Birthers" that the president was "not born in the United States."

The poll of 2,230 Americans, taken during last weekend's health care showdown in the House of Representatives, shows how successful Obama's opponents have been in demonizing the 44th president.

According to the poll, 57 percent of Republicans, and 32 percent of Americans overall, believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim. The opinion comes despite Obama's description in his bestseller, "The Audacity of Hope", of his adoption of the Christian faith.

Seattle pi Blogs

 France to outlaw full Muslim veil

PARIS: France is to ban the full Muslim veil to protect the dignity of women, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced yesterday.
His decision followed months of wavering by politicians of Left and Right and ended a long silence by Mr Sarkozy on what to do about the niqab, burka and other face-covering garments.

"The full veil is contrary to the dignity of women," Mr Sarkozy said. "The response is to ban it. The government will table a draft law prohibiting it."

He gave no details but his announcement means he has come down on the side of members of parliament in his own camp and the opposition who advocate a ban on the full veil on French territory. An all-party parliamentary committee recommended lesser measures last month that would require women to expose their faces on public transport and on state-owned premises such as post offices, universities and hospitals.
 

The Australian
 

 Niqab for Muslim women banned in Canadian province
 

After France, Muslim women have been banned from wearing niqab in Canada's French-speaking Quebec province.

A bill tabled Wednesday will not allow government services to women wearing the niqab.

The bill comes after protests triggered by an Egyptian immigrant's refusal to remove her niqab in her French languages classes in Montreal, forcing the school and the provincial government to throw her out.

The college says the Muslim woman was given the front seat in the class so that all male students sat behind her. She was even allowed to make presentations from the rear of the classroom with her back to the class which had three male and 17 female students.

However, students and the college authorities were shocked when one day the woman asked male students to move away from her and refused to sit with them around a U-table to converse and learn French pronunciation.

Three weeks ago, the woman, a mother of three, moved the provincial human rights commission as the government toughed its stand on the niqab.

The government last week ordered that every niqab-clad woman must uncover her face to confirm her identity when applying for her medicare card. Wednesday's bill will be the first such step in North America to curtail any religious dress.

According to the bill, women seeking medical and auto insurance services will have to remove their veil, adding that face coverings will not be tolerated in people's dealings with government officials.

Speaking to the media, Quebec premier (equal to chief minister in India) Jean Charest said the step was needed for maintaining gender equality and secular character of public institutions.

'This (bill) is a symbol of affirmation and respect - first of all, for ourselves, and also for those to whom we open our arms. This is not about making our home less welcoming, but about stressing the values that unite us.

'An accommodation cannot be granted unless it respects the principle of equality between men and women, and the religious neutrality of the state,'' the premier said.

Canadian Muslim leaders called the bill a 'knee-jerk'' reaction. Canada has about one million Muslims in its population of 34 million, and their population is expected to triple in the next two decades.

Though a majority of Canadian Muslim women don't wear the hijab or niqab, the veil is now quite visible in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver where most Muslim immigrants live.  .
 

BigNews Network

 Conservatives to have first Muslim MP, says Cameron
 

In an exclusive wide ranging interview with the Editor of The Muslim News, Ahmed J Versi, Leader of the Opposition, David Cameron, MP, on March 18, at his offices in the House of Commons, says his vision of a multi-ethnic Britain in the next 25 years of being better at “fostering a sense of togetherness” and building a strong British identity.

The Muslim News

 Zohaib, youngest person in UK to pass A grade in A-Levels

UK: Seeing your child pass their exams with flying colours is a proud moment for any parent, but for Saadia Ahmed from Chandler’s Ford in Hampshire that feeling is made that extra bit special by the fact her sons have achieved A grades in A-Levels and Mathematics while still in primary school.

Wajih and Zohaib (pictured left) have already bagged A grades in both GCSE and A-Level Mathematics and Science.

At 10, Zohaib is the youngest person in the country to pass Further Mathematics A-Level with an A grade. Zohaib got an A* in GCSE Mathematics when he was just 9 last year beating the record held by Hong Kong prodigy March Boedihardjo when he sat exams to get an A in Mathematics in 2007.

Zohaib’s 12-year-old brother Wajih is also an incredible high achiever. He scored 96% in Further Mathematics A-Level exam and already has an A grade in Mathematics. Wajih also has an A* in GCSE Statistics and Further Mathematics.

“My friends at school were very surprised at first but they’re use to it,” said Wajih.

His advice to other children wanting to follow in his footstep is to “revise, work hard and keep practicing, if you want something just go for it.”

Zohaib, who goes to Knightwood Primary School with his brother, told The Muslim News he was really happy at breaking the record.

“I was sure to do well because of the hard work I put in. I’m very happy,” he said.

His brother Wajih also goes to Kinghtwood Primary School.

Mum Saadia, 38, said the boys have plenty of leisure time to play computer games and watch TV. “The boys do what other 12 and 10 year olds do. They play football, have fun with their friends. The difference is that they spend 2 to 3 hours daily during weekdays and up to 5 hours on weekends in a systemic and focused work,” she told The Muslim News.

After school hours the boys are tutored by their father Dr Usman Ahmed, 44, who has a PhD in Physics.

Both boys hope to amass enough A-Level qualifications to make it to university by the time they are 14 years-old where they both hope to graduate with Economics degree and work in the city as actuaries.

The Muslim News

GET MORE FROM YOUR TRAINING REGIME

 

As part of your training for the upcoming CresWalk, make sure you incorporate some core strengthening exercises.

Research shows that runners with strong core (abdominal) muscles tend to run faster than those who are not so strong through their core.

In order to increase or improve your speed / results from last year's race, add some extra core training - like the plank / hover, to your workout routine and take your fitness to the next level!