2020 Audience Award Winners - Global Muslim Impact Awards
In the first year of the Global Muslim Social & Spiritual Impact Awards and Forum, we put together a small jury to research the diverse categories where Muslims are making both social and spiritual impact around the world. For the Center for Global Muslim Life, our goal is to build ecosystems across these diverse categories so each of the nominees are our best of the year award winners. In total, we gave out 307 awards across 36 award categories, with awards given to 39 community organizations, 70 businesses, and 130 Muslim community leaders and creatives from around the world. While these awards had clear shortcomings in terms of being truly global, and beyond the English language, we were amazed to see the global response.
In total, for our audience awards, we had over 4000 votes cast from 90 countries. A total of 44% of the votes were cast by people in the United States and a high percentage of votes came from the United Kingdom, Canada, Malaysia, Lebanon, Indonesia, Turkey, Singapore, Pakistan, and India rounding out the top ten countries. 36 award categories turned this into a very long form, so on average people filled out about half the form. The categories with the highest percentage of votes were - Best Spiritual Impact Muslim Organizations of the Year, Social Impact Awards 2020, The Best Muslim Companies of the Year, Spiritual Impact Awards 2020, Best Social Impact Muslim Organizations of the Year, The Best Faith Leader Content Production Award, The Best Muslim Educational Institutions of the Year, and Best Muslim Athletes of the Year. Of these categories, Imam Omar Suleiman and his organization, Yaqeen institute won seven awards in total showing their true global popularity.
The Global Muslim Social & Spiritual Impact Forum is Sponsored by LaunchGood, Gould Studio, and Bayan Islamic Graduate School
Global Muslim Spiritual Impact Awards - 2020
There are Muslim leaders around the world who created a profound spiritual impact in their communities, these awards are focused primarily on the spiritual impact created through digital production in the English language.
Imam Muhammad Adeyinka Mendes
Dr. Tamara Gray
Habib Umar Bin Hafiz
Shaykha Ieasha Prime
Imam Zaid Shakir
Imam Omar Suleiman
Dr. Bilal Ware
Audience Award Winner - Imam Omar Suleiman
Runner Up - Dr. Tamara Gray
Social Impact Awards 2020
Halima Aden
Adnane Addioui
Linda Amrou
Marya Bangee
Dr. Hatem Bazian
Houria Bouteldja
Nana Firman
Angelica Lindsey-Ali (Village Auntie)
Nahela Morales
Ilhan Omar
Rashida Tlaib
Linda Sarsour
Najeeba Syeed
Imam Omar Sulieman
Nury Turkel
Audience Award Winner - Imam Omar Suleiman
Runner Up - Halima Aden
Global Muslim Artists of the Year
Awarded to artists, who have been exemplars of artistic excellence across multiple disciplines
Riz Ahmed
Mahershala Ali
Yassin Bey
Narcy
El Seed
Amir Sulaiman
Tariq Touré
G. Willow Wilson
Audience Award Winner - Riz Ahmed
Runner Up - Tariq Touré
Muslim Humanitarians of the Year Awards
Dian Alyan of the Give Light Foundation (US / Indonesia)
Dr. Ahmed Bangura of the Ihsan Foundation
Abubacarr Tambadou (Gambia)
Audience Award Winner - Dr. Ahmed Bangura of the Ihsan Foundation
Runner Up - Dian Alyan of the Give Light Foundation (US / Indonesia)
The Best Muslim Companies of the Year
Fashion Valet (Malaysia)
Haute Hijab
LaunchGood
Noor Kids
Wahed Invest
Wardah Books (Singapore)
Yaqeen Institute
Audience Award Winner - Yaqeen Institute
Runner Up - LaunchGood
Best Spiritual Impact Muslim Organizations of the Year
Embara Nusantara (Malaysia/ Singapore)
Islah LA
Islamic Center of NYU
The Majlis
Al Makan (Lebanon)
Al Maqasid
Mukha Cafe & Peace Meal (Malaysia)
Mizan Institute
Rabata
Wasat
Yaqeen Institute
Audience Award Winner - Yaqeen Institute
Runner Up - Rabata
Best Social Impact Muslim Organizations of the Year
Believers Bailout
CAGE (UK)
GiveLight Foundation
Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN)
Islamophobia Studies Center
Muhsen
Muslim ARC
Muslim Wellness Foundation
Parti des indigenes (France)
The Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA)
Pillars Fund
Uyghur Human Rights Project
Who is Hussain.
Audience Award Winner - Who is Hussain
Runner Up - Uyghur Human Rights Project
The Best Muslim Startups of the Year
The Black Muslim COVID Coalition
Dream of Detroit
Quranic
Raise Karma
Tarjimly
Zoya Finance
Audience Award Winner - Quranic
Runner Up - The Black Muslim COVID Coalition
The Best Muslim Educational Institutions of the Year
This category is generously sponsored by Bayan Islamic Graduate School
Azzawia Institute (South Africa)
Cambridge Muslim College (UK)
Dar Al Mustafa (Yemen)
Imam Ghazali Institue
Qalam Institute
Sanad Trust
Tayba Foundation
Rabata
Raja Zarith Sofiah Centre for Advanced Studies on Islam, Science and Civilisation (RZS-CASIS Malaysia)
Yaqeen Institute
Zaytuna College
Audience Award Winner - Yaqeen Institute
Runner Up - Rabata
The Best Faith Leader - Content Production Award
Al Madina Institute
Cambridge Muslim College
Celebrate Mercy
Dr. Tamara Grey (Rabata)
The Dowra - Dar al Mustafa Yemen
The Sufi Meditation Center
Imam Omar Suleiman (Yaqeen Institute)
Dr. Bilal Ware
Audience Award Winner - Imam Omar Suleiman (Yaqeen Institute)
Runner Up - Dr. Tamara Grey (Rabata)
Best Global Muslim Event of the Year
American Muslim Futures Art Exhibit
#BlackMuslimGirlFly 2020 Virtual Film Festival
The 3rd Annual Black American Muslim Conference
The Global Muslim Film Festival 2020
Halal Restaurant Week - Bay Area
Listening While Muslim - Abdul-Rehman Malik & Asad Ali Jafri
Modest Fitness Week
Audience Award Winner - Halal Restaurant Week - Bay Area
Runner Up - Modest Fitness Week
Global Muslim Apps of the Year
Athan Helper
Guidance
Prayer Watch
Quranic
Quran
Sabr
Sakeenah
Tarteel
Zoya
Audience Award Winner - Quranic
Runner Up - Quran
Best Islamic FinTech Companies
Ethis (Singapore)
Insha (Germany)
Niyah (UK)
Qardus (UK)
Rizq (UK)
Yielders (UK)
Wahed Invest
Zoya Finance
Audience Award Winner - Wahed Invest
Runner Up - Zoya Finance
The Best Muslim Fashion / Beauty Companies
5ivepillars
Claudia Nour Cosmetics
Culture Hijab
Fashion Valet
Haute Hijab
Hijup
Louella by Ibtihaj
Modanisa
Audience Award Winner - Modanisa
Runner Up - Haute Hijab
The Best Halal Food for 2020
Beard Brothers BBQ & Meats (Malaysia)
chaiiwalla (UK)
Daves Hot Chicken (US-SF Bay Area)
El Halal Amigos (US-SF Bay Area)
Falafel Inc. (US-Washington D.C.)
Honest Chops (US-New York)
Nora Haron (US-SF Bay Area)
Pop Meals ( Formerly Dah Makan - Malaysia)
Port of Mokha Coffee (US/ Yemen)
Qahwa House (US - Michigan)
Shepherd Meats (US)
Tahini Street Food (US-San Diego)
Audience Award Winner - El Halal Amigos
Runner Up - chaiiwalla
Best Muslim Athletes of the Year
Mesut Ozil (Germany)
Khabib Nurmagomedov (Dagestan)
Paul Pogba (France)
Bilqis Abdul Qaadir (US)
Mahmoud Abdur Rauf (US)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)
Audience Award Winner - Khabib Nurmagomedov
Runner Up - Bilqis Abdul Qaadir
Best Muslim Best Visual Artists
Mohammad Ali Aerosol Art
Mohamed Hafez
Nabi Haider Ali
El Seed
Azzah Sultan
Audience Award Winner - El Seed
Runner Up - Mohamed Hafez
Global Muslim Design Studios of the Year
This panel discussion is generously sponsored by Gould Studios
Al Madina Studios
Illm Studios - Qasim Arif
Maece Seirafi Design
Raise Karma
Ruh Al Alam
Audience Award Winner - Al Madina Studios
Runner Up - Illm Studios - Qasim Arif
Best Global Muslim Illustrators
Nabi H. Ali
Zainab Mughal
Christina Rountree
Golnar Servatian
Audience Award Winner - Zainab Mughal
Runner Up - Christina Rountree
Best Global Muslim Products & Online Stores
Basmala Beads
Crescent Moon Store
Ibraheem Toy House
My Salah Mat
Salam Sisters
Seven Sages
Sufi Meditation Center Merch
Takva
Wardah Books
Audience Award Winner - Wardah Books
Runner Up - Salam Sisters
Best Muslim Publications of the Year
Akar (Singapore)
Amaliah (UK)
Have Halal, Will Travel (Singapore)
Ilm Feed (UK)
Islamic Law Blog - Harvard University
Maydan
Muslim Girl
Muslim Matters
The Muslim Vibe (UK)
Renovatio
Sapelo Square
Yaqeen Institute
Audience Award Winner - Yaqeen Institute
Runner Up - The Muslim Vibe
Best Media Coverage of Muslims
AJ+
Huff Post
The Intercept
The Mehdi Hasan Show - Peacock TV
Religion News Services
TRT World
Audience Award Winner - AJ+
Runner Up - The Mehdi Hasan Show - Peacock TV
Best Feature Film, TV Series, or Web series with Muslim Characters
East of La Brea (US) Directed by Sam Bailey
Ethos (Turkey) Directed by Berkun Oya
Kurlus: Osman (Turkey) Creator / Writer - Mehmet Bozdag
Mogul Mowgli (US/ UK) Directed by Bassam Tariq
Nasir (India) Directed by Arun Karthick
Nur (Malaysia) Directed by Shahrulezad Mohameddin
One Night in Miami (US) Directed by Regina King
Audience Award Winner - Kurlus - Osman
Runner Up - Nur
Best Performance as a Muslim Character in Film or Television
Mahershala Ali in Ramy
Riz Ahmed in Mogul Mowgli
Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcolm X in One Night in Miami
Aamyra Rosli in Nur
Audience Award Winner - Mahershala Ali in Ramy
Runner Up - Riz Ahmed in Mogul Mowgli
Best Feature-Length Documentary with Muslim Subjects
Ali and Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes Directed by Robert S. Bader
Brooklyn Inshallah Directed by Ahmed Mansour
The Feeling of Being Watched Directed by Assia Boundaoui
For Sama Directed by Waad al-Kateab
Somos Musulmanes Directed by Unexpected Muslims
Two Gods Directed by Zeshawn Ali
We Are the Dream: The Kids of the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest Directed by Amy Schatz
Audience Award Winner - Brooklyn Inshallah Directed by Ahmed Mansour
Runner Up - The Feeling of Being Watched Directed by Assia Boundaoui
Best Short Film with Muslim Subjects
Arbaeen Walk - An Immersive Love Story Directed by Amy Claire Nelson
Dear Beloved (US) - Directed by Tariq Toure
Friday Friday (US) Directed by Aisha Amin
Hayat - Directed by Rendah Haj
Laying Flowers.:.Setting Fires (US) Directed by Amir Sulaiman
Malcolm X and the Sudanese (US) Directed by Sophie Schrago
On the Ropes (Turkey / United States) Directed by Muhammad Davis, Abdullah Davis, and Ibrahim Souadda
Riz Ahmed - The Long Goodbye Directed by Aneil Karia
Audience Award Winner - Arbaeen Walk - An Immersive Love Story Directed by Amy Claire Nelson
Runner Up - Malcolm X and the Sudanese (US) Directed by Sophie Schrago
Best Comedy Film or TV Special by Muslim Comedians
8:46 - Dave Chappelle
A Love Supreme - Preacher Moss
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction - David Letterman with Dave Chappelle
Patriot Acts - Hasan Minhaj
Audience Award Winner - Patriot Acts - Hasan Minhaj
Runner Up - 8:46 - Dave Chappelle
Best Global Muslim Podcast
The Aida Azlin Show
American Submitter - Imran Ali Malik
The Eclectic Inclusion Podcast - Amer Ahmed
Good Ancestors Podcast - Layla F. Saad
Identity Politics - Ikhlas Saleem & Makkah Ali
Iman Wire Podcast
The Muslim Vibe Podcast
Path & Present - Baraka Blue
Qur'an for All Seasons - Dr. Joseph Lumbard
See Something Say Something - Ahmed Ali Akbar
Reflections Podcast - Sami Yusuf
Resettled - Ahmed Badr
The Young & Muslim Podcast - Jibreel Salaam & Mohamed Hassan
Audience Award Winner - The Muslim Vibe
Runner Up - The Path & Present Podcast with Baraka Blue
Best Global Muslim Books - Devotional Text
Food Between Curse & Cure - Islam, Health, and the Good Life - Abu Munir Al-Sha''ar translated by Mirz Abdur Rahman Ashraf
The Openings in Makkah Vol. 2 - Ibn Arabi translated by Eric Winkel
With the Heart In Mind: The Moral and Emotional Intelligence of the Prophet ﷺ by Mikaeel Ahmed Smith
Arbaeen: A Lens into a Sacred Journey by by: Ayaz Ali & Saarah Bokhari
Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey Into the Heart of Islam by A. Helwa
Poetry in Praise of Prophetic Perfection: A Study of West African Arabic Madih Poetry and its Precedents by Oludamini Ogunnaike
The Repose of the Spirits - A Sufi Commentary on the Divine Names - Ahmad Sam'ani translated by William Chittick
Meetings with Mountains by Peter Sanders
Prayers Upon the Beloved - Habib Umar Bin Hafiz
Al Shama'il al Muhammadiya - Translated and Commentary by Abdul Aziz Suraqah and Mohammed Aslam
Audience Award Winner - Al Shama'il al Muhammadiya - Translated and Commentary by Abdul Aziz Suraqah and Mohammed Aslam
Runner Up - Prayers Upon the Beloved by Habib Umar Bin Hafiz
Best Global Muslim Books - Fiction
No True Believers by Rabiah York Lumbard
The Family Tree by Sairish Hussain
The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah
Once Upon an Eid - Editors Aisha Saeed, S.K. Ali
Daughters of Smoke and Fire by Ava Homa
Audience Award Winner - Once Upon an Eid - Editors Aisha Saeed, S.K. Ali
Runner Up - Daughters of Smoke and Fire by Ava Homa
Best Global Muslim Books - Comics/ Graphic Novels
Ms. Marvel by Saladin Ahmed and Minkyu Jun
A Muslim Mama Comics by Asbah Alaena
Muslim Manga
Planet Omar by Zanib Mian and Nasaya Mafaridik
That Can Be Arranged - A Muslim Love Story by Huda Fahmy
Audience Award Winner - Ms. Marvel by Saladin Ahmed and Minkyu Jun
Runner Up - That Can Be Arranged - A Muslim Love Story by Huda Fahmy
Best Global Muslim Children's Books
Shams by Sundus Abdul Shadi
Al Ghazali Children's Series by Fons Vitae
Qasim's Book of Adventures by Cheyaan H Jamal
The Arabic Quilt by Aya Khalil and Anait Semirdzhyan
Like the Moon Loves the Sky by Hena Khan and Saffa Khan
Planet Omar by Zanib Mian and Nasaya Mafaridik
The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Youth Study Book - Shamail of the Prophet Muhammad
David's Dollar by Tariq Toure
Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Ahmadu Bamba - Sage of Senegal by Rukayat Yakub
Audience Award Winner - The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Runner Up - Al Ghazali Children's Series by Fons Vitae
Best Global Muslim Books - Non-Fiction Featuring Muslim Leaders or Issues
Take Care of Your Self: The Art and Politics of Care and Liberation by Sundus Abdul Hadi
While the Earth Sleeps We Travel: Stories, Poetry, and Art from Young Refugees Around the World by Ahmed M. Badr
The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World by Vincent Bevins
Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America by Laila Lalami
Modesty: A Fashion Paradox: Uncovering The Causes, Controversies And Key Players Behind The Global Trend To Conceal Rather Than Reveal by Hafsa Lodi
Traveling Home: Essays on Islam in Europe by Abdel Hakim Murad
This Is What America Looks Like: My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman by Ilhan Omar
I Refuse to Condemn - Resisting racism in times of national security by Asim Qureshi
Buying Buddha, Selling Rumi: Orientalism and the Mystical by Sophia Rose Arjana
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad
Text Messages: or How I Found Myself Time Traveling by Yassin Al Salman
We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders: A Memoir of Love and Resistance by Linda Sarsour
Malcolm X - The Struggle for Human Rights by Recep Şentürk
What is Islamic Art? Between Religion and Perception by Wendy M. K. Shaw
Audience Award Winner - Malcolm X - The Struggle for Human Rights by Recep Şentürk
Runner Up - Traveling Home: Essays on Islam in Europe by Abdel Hakim Murad
Best Global Muslim Musical Artists
Ajam Band
Brother Ali
Ras Muhamad
Mumu Fresh
Narcy
Oddisee
Omar Offendum
One Be Lo
Yuna
Yusuf Islam
Audience Award Winner - Yusuf Islam
Runner Up - Yuna
Best Global Muslim Musical Artists - Devotional
Uthman Ames
Debu
Isam B
Alman Nusrat
Pearls of Islam
Sami Yusuf
Audience Award Winner - Sami Yusuf
Runner Up - Pearls of Islam
Best Global Muslim Albums of the Year
One Be Lo - Baby (Being a black youth)
Yusuf Islam - Tea for the Tillerman
Ras Muhamad - Satryo
Narcy - Love & Chaos
Pearls of Islam - Love is My Foundation
Sami Yusuf - The Sapiential Album Vol. 1
Yuna - Rogue
Audience Award Winner - Sami Yusuf - The Sapiential Album Vol. 1
Runner Up - Pearls of Islam - Love is My Foundation
Best Global Muslim Songs of the Year
"Hujan" - Altimet featuring Mimifly
"SØN AF EN IMAM" - Issam B
"Step It" - Ras Muhamad
"EmOGs" - Mumu Fresh
"Thoughts and Prayers" - Narcy
"The Story of Qahwah" - Omar Offendum
"Rumi's Song" - Pearls of Islam
"Lumumba" - The Reminders
"The Ballot or the Bullet" - Jamiel Suleman
"Stay Where You Are" - Yuna
"The 99 Names" - Sami Yusuf
Audience Award Winner - Sami Yusuf - the 99 Names
Runner Up - Pearls of Islam - Rumi’s Song
Global Muslim Music Video of the Year
Algiers - Dispossession - Directed by Sohail Daulatzai
Narcy - Thoughts & Prayers - Directed by Narcy in Collaboration with The Fakening
Drea d’Nur and Rami Nashashibi ft 1200 - Mama Please
The Reminders & Crl Crrll - Lumumba Directed by Brendan Young