ABOUT THE AWARDS  |  CONTACT US

2008/1429  |  2009/1430  |  2010/1431  |  2011/1432
2004/1425  |  2005/1426  |  2006/1427  |  2007/1428



Presenting the winners of the
Ninth Annual Brass Crescent Awards

We'd like to thank the over 1,000 people who voted in the NInth Annual Brass Crescent Awards! Voting was very close in most categories, and we would like to be the first to congratulate our winners and Honorable Mentions, as well as extend our thanks to all the nominees and voters for helping make this celebration of the Islamsphere a success. We also would like to thank everyone (including the nominees) who linked and tweeted to help publicize the Brass Crescent Awards.

We'll keep a permanent list of winners of the Brass Crescent Awards available at brasscrescent.org, as they represent a dynamic, creative, and powerful cross-section of Muslim thought on the web. Inshallah, we'll run the Awards again next year, so start bookmarking posts, series, comments, feeds, and blogs now!

Winners and Honorable Mentions may contact us to receive a badge announcing their achievement if they desire.

Let's not keep you waiting any longer - listed below are this year's Winners and Honorable Mentions:
BEST BLOG:
This category honors the most indispensable, Muslim-authored blog there is. Period.
A Muslimah Writes (Sarah Farrukh)
This blog gives a refreshing insight into the experience of being a Generation Y Muslim, by way of Pakistan and Canada.

WINNER
One Chinese Muslimah (Khadijah)
A prolific blog by an 'ex-model party girl' who became a 'humbled Niqabi Muslimah' - honest, powerful, and heartfelt.

HONORABLE MENTION
Zaki's Corner (Zaki Hasan)
Zaki Hasan offers observational humor in the vein of Mark Twain: witty, incisive insight on all things pop culture, politics, and film.
Muslimah in Reverie (Vajiha)
A popular blog with a variety of topics ranging from daily looks for hijabis, to health & wellness, and deen/spirituality.
An Indian Muslim's Blog (indscribe)
A look into the world of Islam in India, with an honest balance of modernism with tradition and religion.

BEST FEMALE BLOGGER:
The woman's voice in Islam is equal to the man's, and in the Islamsphere we seek to make sure the female perspective is highlighted and given its rightful due. Which Muslim woman's blog has done the most to explore the role that women play within Islam and society?
Love InshaAllah (Ayesha Mattu & Nura Masnavi)
A space for Muslims to discuss sex, sexuality, caste/ethnicity/race/sect, gender, divorce and other issues that are impacting romantic and familial relationships.

WINNER
I Got it Covered
An inspirational blog that highlights the importance of hjijab without preaching or forcing it on the readers.

HONORABLE MENTION
The Wood Turtle
A Muslim feminist mom, writing from a place of love for her faith and her family, with poignant and thought-provoking articles.
Muslimah in Reverie (Vajiha)
A blog that tries to be conscious of Islamic duties and womanly beauty.
Muslimah Media Watch (Multiple Writers)
Now published at Patheos, Muslimah Media Watch is a home for Muslim feminist perspectives on the media.

BEST GROUP BLOG:
Which multiple group blog in the Islamsphere has the best diversity of writers and the most interesting debate on Muslim issues?
Productive Muslim
Videos and articles that keep the reader connected to deen, along with practical tips on how make the best of dunya.

WINNER
Muslim Matters
MuslimMatters has consistently taken a turn for the better, the diversity of opinions and topics is at an all-time high - there's no where to go but up.

HONORABLE MENTION
altmuslimah
Cutting edge commentary on gender in Islam from a variety of diverse perspectives.
Habibi Halaqas
Helping women to be the best muslimah they can be while still balancing family and work.

FUNNIEST BLOGGER:
Which blog gets their point across by using humor in the most effective way?
Maniac Muslim (Hamzah Moin)
Jokes which do not make fun of Muslims or Islam, but ones which portray the funny side of certain situations which only Muslims can relate to.

WINNER
Muslim Medicine (Dr. O)
Hilarious satirical outlooks on issues facing Muslim Americans - where GIFs, Islam, and medical mumbo-jumbo collide!

HONORABLE MENTION
Cartoon Muhammad (Ahsan Khan)
No not cartoons of the Prophet (pbuh) - a cartoon about a boy named Muhammad living in America.
Mr. Moo
The 'Custodian of the Two Holey Socks'. Also the creator of 'muslim LOLcats' and 'Three Things' and a 'Vennsday' feature on Wednesdays.

BEST NEW BLOG:
Which blog is a true diamond in the rough, one that everyone should be reading but who most just haven't heard of (yet)?
Legilimens (Hammad Moses Khan)
Uniquely witty writing and uplifting messages by a Northern California-based graduate student.

WINNER
Stranded in Motherhood (Bariah Khan)
An advocate for autism awareness and homeschooling, Bariah Khan also shares her motherhood experiences.

HONORABLE MENTION
Verbal Muslim
What real, young American Muslims think on relevant topics, delivered with honesty and openness.
Khaleafa (Muaz Nasir)
One of the few sites devoted to environmental issues in Islam. 'A sacred trust'.
Farha Khaled
An emerging anti-Islamophobia activist whose writings have appeared in a variety of print and online publications.

BEST NON-MUSLIM BLOGGER:
Which blog writen by a non-Muslim is most respectful of Islam and seeks genuine dialogue with Muslims?
The New Methofesto (Rev. Dr. Wesley Magruder)
A Methodist pastor who fasted for 30 days in Ramadan this year.

WINNER
Glenn Greenwald
America's Conscience-in-Chief, Glenn has been the Obama Administration's first and foremost critic on civil rights; moved from Salon to the Guardian in 2012.

HONORABLE MENTION
Whatever (John Scalzi)
Acclaimed science fiction author and mentor to aspiring writers with his 'The Big Idea' series.
Balloon Juice (John Cole)
Irreverent and scathing, John and his blog crew pull no punches even at their own side - but the real magic is in the comment threads.

BEST POST OR SERIES:
Which single post or group of posts in the Islamsphere was the most original and important, above all the others?
Love InshAllah: I went down to the river to pray (Ayesha Mattu)
In this painfully honest and moving post, the author explores her complex relationship with a mother who disowns her, and her path to forgiving her mother.

WINNER
Islamic Learning Materials: 7 Things Your Muslim Husband Won't Tell You (Abu Ibrahim Ismail)
An essential post for women to pierce the veil of male mystery.

HONORABLE MENTION
Handbags and Hijabs: Project Hijab (Aisha Karim)
A series of posts from girls of all backgrounds on how they started to wear the hijab. This series is very inspiring for girls of all ages if they are thinking of starting to wear the hijab.

BEST REGIONAL BLOG:
Another Chinese Muallaf (Malaysia)
Ikhwan Ng is a Chinese Muslim living in Malaysia who converted to Islam in 2008. Writes about Malaysia's conflict among religions and cultural practices.

WINNER
Mehreen Kasana (Pakistan)
Cultural politics enthusiast with a penchant for disciplines of history, genocide studies, indigenous, colonial and postcolonial studies, and more.

HONORABLE MENTION
An Indian Muslim's Blog (India)
An portrayal of India as an honest balance of modernism with tradition and religion.
Islam in China (China)
If you're fascinated by Islamic culture outside the Middle East and South Asia, Wang Daiyu dose a great job educating people on Islam in China.
Al Miskeenah (Saudi Arabia)
Full of love and longing for the Prophet SAW, from Madinah al-Munawarrah.

BEST DESIGN:
I Got it Covered
The title and header image serve a symbolic purpose in conveying the blog's overall voice.

WINNER
Muslim Youth Musings
The custom magazine look on each article makes this website very unique.

HONORABLE MENTION
Sweetheart Diary (Amna Afzaal)
Noted for its beautiful looks, great posts and pictures.

BEST WRITER:
Who is the most stimulating, insightful, and philosophically wise among us? This category is intended to highlight a blogger who may not post daily, but when they do post, they really make an impact.
A Muslimah Writes (Sarah Farrukh)
In Sarah's blog, captioned 'faith and books, in strange, strange times', there can be found many an 'A-ha' moment.

WINNER
Gareth Bryant's Writing Page
Gareth Bryant writes what's relevant, and, what's on his mind & heart, without fear of criticism or backlash.

HONORABLE MENTION
Aristiotle's Lackey (Sana Saeed)
Tackles topics both controversial and mundane with sharp wit.
Zaki's Corner (Zaki Hasan)
Award-winning blogger Zaki Hasan writes on politics, current affairs, religion, and more. Readers find him 'artful', 'knowledgable', and 'thought-provoking'.
Avari (Haroon Moghul)
One of the earliest Brass Crescent winners, Haroon is still thinking and opining, critiquing and proposing.

BEST TWEETER:
Who in the Islamsphere is a "must-follow" on Twitter, who provides the best retweets, links, and/or witticisms in 140 characters?
@ibnpercy
A self-proclaimed 'zealot' on muslim civil rights, indefatigable linker to articles on Islamophobia and various Islamic resources.

WINNER
@keithellison
Our most prominent Muslim member of Congress and a tireless leader in the Progressive Caucus.

HONORABLE MENTION
@ghazalairshad
A journalist and student in Cairo, providing a Tahrir-Square-eye view of the Egyptian struggle for democracy.
@deanofcomedy
Comedian/opinion writer that is often a first-responder to events from an Arab and/or Muslim perspective.
@monaeltahawy
Columnist and public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues; an irrepressible Muslim feminist and civil rights advocate.

BEST NON-MUSLIM TWEETER:
Who in the Islamsphere is a "must-follow" on Twitter, who provides the best retweets, links, and/or witticisms in 140 characters?
@acarvin
This NPR journalist has his finger on the pulse of the Arab Spring.

WINNER
@MJayRosenberg
A political liberal and true patriot of Israel who speaks out against settlers and the Occupation.

HONORABLE MENTION
@davidfrum
One of the few conservatives willing to buck the Party trend and speak harsh truths to his own side.
@abumuqawama
An essential analyst on foreign policy and military issues.
@daveweigel
A snarky political commentator who skewers left and right.

The Brass Crescent Awards were created in 2004
by Aziz Poonawalla and Shahed Amanullah