CREATIVE EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Literary Division
Annual Recognition Program
Program Overview
The Creative Excellence Awards are Strange Inc.’s annual recognition program for Muslim literary work. Currently in its Literary Division, the Awards are designed to establish a standard — to say, clearly and publicly, that this work meets a threshold of quality that deserves institutional recognition.
Past Recipients
The Strange Inc. Creative Excellence Awards are proud to announce the winners of the past competitions. The winners represent a diverse range of voices and topics, showcasing the incredible talent within the literary world.
Creative Excellence Awards:
Literary Division
Poetry
Saira Anwar
for
Rising from Despair: A Journey to Hope.
Saira Anwar won the Poetry category for her book, Rising from Despair: A Journey to Hope. An educator, poet, author, and spoken word artist, Anwar writes about the beauty of life, with themes of marriage, divorce, healing, and self-love. Her work has been featured in a dozen anthologies and on BBC Radio Manchester. Rising from Despair is a follow-up to her first collection, The Death of a Beautiful Dream, which was featured on Amazon’s Top 20 Bestsellers list.
Non-Fiction
Sa’diyya Nesar
for
Strength from Within
Sa’diyya Nesar took home the Non-Fiction award for her book, Strength from Within. A TEDx speaker, poet, and author, Nesar was born with muscular myopathy and transforms personal adversity into advocacy, sparking conversations on resilience, faith, and inclusion. She is a Zubin Foundation diversity list candidate and a RESOLVE social justice fellow. Nesar is passionate about making her books accessible, including offering them in Braille.
Fiction
Tasneem Abdur-Rashid
for
Odd Girl Out
Tasneem Abdur-Rashid won the Fiction award for her young adult novel, Odd Girl Out. A British Bengali writer from London, Abdur-Rashid has a background in media, PR, and communications. She is also the co-host of the award-winning podcast Not Another Mum Pod. Odd Girl Out is her young adult debut, following her adult rom-coms Finding Mr Perfectly Fine and The Thirty Before Thirty List.
Children’s Book
Dr. Nusheen Ameenuddin
for
Are Cats Muslim?
Dr. Nusheen Ameenuddin was the winner of the Children’s Book category for her debut, Are Cats Muslim? A practicing pediatrician for over 20 years, Ameenuddin is the first hijab-wearing staff physician hired at the Mayo Clinic. She is passionate about cross-cultural vaccine education, health equity, and the effects of media on children. Her book aims to create and share stories that resonate with readers of all ages and nurture a love of Islam with authentic, joyful Muslim representation.
Poetry
I.M. Nameless
for
Dear Muslim
I.M. Nameless won the Poetry category for her exceptional work, Dear Muslim. Nameless is a certified medical writer based in Canada with a passion for Islamic studies. Her poetry collection explores themes of faith, identity, and the Muslim experience.
Non-Fiction
Zimarina Sarwar
for
Letters from a Prophet
Zimarina Sarwar won the Non-Fiction category for her book, Letters from a Prophet. Sarwar is a writer and editor based in London with a background in linguistics. Her book explores the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad through a series of letters written to his daughter, Fatimah.
Fiction
Waheeda Joosab
for
Kismet
Waheeda Joosab took home the Fiction award for her novel, Kismet. Joosab is a South African author and educator who writes Muslim Romance novels. Her work focuses on themes of marriage, parenting, and spirituality, and she is dedicated to creating a community of growth-inspired women.
Children’s Book
Husna Rahman & Anita Bagdi
for
Boy’s Don’t Cry
Husna Rahman and Anita Bagdi were the winners of the Children’s Book category for their collaboration, Boy’s Don’t Cry. Rahman is a qualified counsellor and psychotherapist who writes children’s books about mental health and grief.Bagdi is an illustrator who brought Rahman’s story to life with her vibrant and expressive artwork. Boy’s Don’t Cry is a story about a young boy who learns to express his emotions and seek help when he is feeling overwhelmed.
Non-Fiction
Nour Akhras
for
Just One
Nour Akhras captivated the judges and readers alike with Just One, a compelling work that delved into thought-provoking themes and meticulous research, earning well-deserved acclaim.
Fiction
Shahida Rahman
for
An Ayah’s Choice
Shahida Rahman emerged victorious in the fiction category with An Ayah’s Choice, a masterful narrative that skillfully wove together a captivating tapestry of characters and emotions, leaving an indelible mark on all who read it.
Children’s Book
Shabana Hussain
for
Speak Up Sami
In the realm of children’s literature, Shabana Hussain’s Speak Up Sami stood out as a heartwarming and engaging tale that not only entertained but also imparted valuable life lessons to young readers, making it a true gem in the genre.
Beautiful Seeds Awards
Dena Corbin
The Strange Inc. Creative Excellence Awards celebrate exceptional literary works and recognize the authors behind them. We congratulate all winners and look forward to seeing more incredible works in the future.
How We Think About This
Recognition is not celebration. It is a claim.
When Strange Inc. names a work as excellent, we are making a claim about quality — one that has been evaluated by a review committee operating from defined criteria grounded in our understanding of what literary work at its best can do. This is not a popularity contest. It is not a community vote. It is a judgment, made carefully, by people accountable for the standard they uphold.
We believe Muslim literary culture deserves that seriousness.