CV
for RUQAIYYAH WARIS MAQSOOD
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Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood Email: r**AT**ruqaiyyah.karoo.co.uk |
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Personal details:
Born 1942,
Educated at
GCE ‘O’ Level – 8 subjects
GCE ‘A’ Level – Religious Studies (with
distinction), English, Music (with distinction)
Married 1964 to poet George Morris Kendrick, divorced 1986.
Two children – Daniel George born 1968, and Frances Elisabeth Eva, born 1969.
Conversion
to Islam in 1986.
Second marriage, 1990, to Waris Ali Maqsood. No issue. Now divorced again.
Retired from chalkface in 1996 to concentrate on writing and wider teaching, and grandmother's duties!
Career:
Taught as Head of Religious Studies in various tough
inner city State Schools in
GCSE Promotion:
Sr Ruqaiyyah has worked on local education committees developing syllabi for Religious Studies. She personally developed a course of study enabling any student without the facilities or teachers at school or college to work for the Islamic Options for the GCSE examination in Religious Studies at home, at school, at madrassah, in prison, in short – anywhere. She has not only made her work and method available to the general public, but also tutors the distance-learning course for the Association of Muslim Researchers (AMR).
Publications: See list below. Sr Ruqaiyyah has had many publications, first as a Christian in her original name of Rosalyn Kendrick, a collection of poetry in her maiden name of Rosalyn Rushbrook, and many Islamic works under her Muslim name.
Advisory Pamphlets and Brochures:
For the Muslim Parliament of
For the IQRA Trust – a Guide for Visitors to Mosques, and for Mosques who receive schools visits, groups etc.
For ISNA (The Islamic Society of North America) – a Marriage Guidance booklet advising on various issues, legal issues, making a Mosque a place for the legal registration of marriages according to the laws of the land, and not just Muslim nikah.
For the Muslim Women’s Helpline, UK. Her book ‘The Muslim Marriage Guide’ is recommended and widely used by this organisation.
For Cruse, the bereavement counselling service. Her book ‘After Death, Life’ is recommended for use by counsellors working with bereaved Muslims.
Reviews and Magazine Articles:
Sr Ruqaiyyah has written numerous reviews and articles, and has written regularly for Reflect (the magazine of the Muslim Educational Trust), Islamic Horizons (the magazine of ISNA), and for the International Institute of Islamic Thought.
Lectures and Tutorships:
Sr Ruqaiyyah has lectured in many countries,
including the
She tutored at the Dar al-Islam summer school at
Online counselling - Sr Ruqaiyyah has served several times as a 'Cyber Counsellor' for such websites as Islamonline and Revival. She has also provided personal advice for private individuals with a stream of educational, marital, emotional and legal problems
Awards:
In 2001, the Muslim News began to sponsor special
Awards for Excellence to acknowledge the work and efforts of Muslims in the
In March 2004, when the Queen honoured a selection of Women of Achievement, Sr Ruqaiyyah was one of the 100 ‘unsung inspirational heroines’ chosen for the Daily Mail’s Real Women of Achievement, one of only 7 chosen in the category of Religion.
Major Islamic Interests:
inter-faith dialogue with the People of the Book; the life and times of the Prophet (pbuh), especially genealogical studies and issues, and the lives of the women Companions; travel, campaign against abuses of Islam on three fronts – (a) against extremism, particularly after the recent terrorist atrocities and suicide bombings carried out by Muslims; (b) against ignorance of Muslims of their own faith and cultural diversities; (c) against abuse of women by Muslim men who are misunderstanding the true nature of Islam as regards young women (virginity/honour killings, finding of suitable spouses, female genital mutilation), marriage issues (cruelty and abuse, avoidance or misuse of mahr, poor and unsupportive behaviour of men in the home, infidelity), divorce issues, education issues.
Publications:
Sr Ruqaiyyah published nine books under her
Christian name of Rosalyn Kendrick, two of which featured on the recommended
list for GCSE studies throughout the
Since her conversion to Islam, she has devoted her time to studying and writing on Islam; and since her retirement has travelled to many far-flung places, lecturing and teaching.
Ruqaiyyah @ WHSmith's Amazon IslamicBookstore Halalco Books Blackwell
‘Examining Religions: Islam’ - Heinemann Ltd,
1989 Textbook for GCSE in Religious
Studies. Recommended by several exam boards, widely used in many
‘GCSE Islam - The Do-It-Yourself Guide’ – IPCI, 2005. 258pp). The coursebook to go with the textbook above. Includes full syllabus, 76 work units, tafsir, high-flier information files, specimen exam papers, full advice on how to gain this GCSE without studying the subject in a classroom. Used by students keen to gain an extra GCSE subject, madrassahs, individuals, new converts, prisoners, study groups. Available through IPCI. Email: info@ipci-iv.co.uk
‘Islam: a Dictionary ’ – IPCI, 2006. A useful third book for those studying for GCSE in Islam. A good first dictionary of basic Islamic terms and teachings. (ISBN: 0 7487 2560 1. 84pp).
‘Teach Yourself: Islam’ – Hodder and
‘Need to Know? Islam’ – Collins, 2008. An introduction to Islam presenting an overview for everyone wishing to learn about Islam. Includes many of Peter Sanders’ colour photographs. (ISBN 978 0 00 727877 0. 192pp).
‘Mysteries
of Jesus’ (A Muslim examination of the origins of the Christian Church).
Sakina Books,
'A Muslim Examination of the Origins of the
Christian Church' -
‘What Every Christian Should Know About Islam’
- Islamic Foundation,
‘Sacred Texts: The Qur'an’ - Heinemann Ltd, 1993 (ISBN: 0 435 30352 X). A GCSE textbook
‘ Let's Find Out About - Islamic Mosques’ - Raintree Books, Harcourt Educational Ltd, 2005. (ISBN: 1 844 21142 8). A book for younger readers and junior libraries.
The Beloved Prophet – Able Publishing, 13,
Station Rd, Knebworth,
‘Thinking About God’ - Islamic Book Services,
1994, (also available in
‘The Muslim Marriage Guide’ - Quilliam Press Ltd, 1995. Widely used in marriage counseling, especially by the Muslim Women’s Helpline. (ISBN: 1 872038 11 5. 141pp).
‘Moral Issues in Six Religions’ - Heinemann Ltd, 1991.A GCSE textbook. (ISBN 0 435 30299 X. 242pp).
‘A Story at 'Id’ - Heinemann Ltd, 1995. (ISBN: paperback pack of four – 0 435 01069 7; hardback (library edition ISBN 0 431 07755 X).
‘Aishah’ - A study of her age at the time of her marriage - Islamic Vision, IPCI, 1996. (ISBN: Not available. 24pp).
‘The Sign of the Gnat’ – Adam Publishers,
‘The Problem of Evil’ – Adam Publishers,
‘The Separated Ones: Jesus, the Pharisees and Islam’ - SCM Press, 1991. (ISBN: 0 334 02498 6. 194pp. Now available only from the author).
‘
‘A Basic Dictionary of Islam’ - Goodword
Books,
‘Living Islam’ - Goodword Books,
‘The Muslim Prayer Encyclopaedia’ - Goodword
Books,
‘Fingerprints’ – Ta-Ha Publications Ltd, 1992. 26pp. A booklet outlining the author’s path from Christianity into Islam, based on discoveries about fingerprints and a discussion on Surah 75. Available now only from the author. (ISBN: 0 907461 95 6).
‘For Heaven's Sake’ - Ta-Ha Publications Ltd, 1994. Now revised and republished as 'Muslim Teenagers Coping' (ISBN: 1 897940 17 3. 118pp).
‘Living With Teenagers’ - Ta-Ha Publications Ltd, 1995.(ISBN: 1 897 940 28 9. 143pp).
‘After Death, Life’ - Goodword Books,
‘The Beautiful Commands of Allah’ - Goodword
Books,
‘The Beautiful Promises of Allah’ - Goodword
Books,
‘Readings in Cross-Cultural Dawah’, edited by Ridzuan Wu – Darul Arqam, Muslim Converts Association of Singapore, Singapore, 2001. (ISBN: 981 04 4169).
'Studies in Islam' - Parts One and Two -
Part One: ISBN 0 951 4697 X
Part Two: ISBN 0 951 5469 53
Sr Ruqaiyyah is at present completing a major sirah work on the Life of the Prophet which will be published by the Islamic Research Institute of Islamabad in 2008, insha'Allah.
Ruqaiyyah @ WHSmith's Amazon IslamicBookstore Halalco Books Blackwell
BOOKLIST IN NAME OF ROSALYN KENDRICK
'Examining Religions: Islam' – Heinemann Educational, 1989. A textbook for GCSE Religious Studies. Was on recommended list for GCSE. (ISBN: paperback 0435 30314 7, Hardback: 9 780435 303143).
'Setting the Foundations' – Amersham Hulton Educational, 1985. A textbook on the study of the Synoptic Gospels, for GCSE/O Level. Was on recommended list for GCE. (ISBN: 0 7175 1156 1).
'In the Steps of Jesus' – Amersham Hulton Educational, 1986. A textbook on the life of Jesus, for GCSE/O Level. (ISBN: 0 7175 1309 2).
‘Does God Have a Body?’ –
'Jesus of
'Jesus of
'The Trouble with God' – H.E.Walter, 1983. A textbook introduction to the philosophy of religion. (ISBN: 0 85479 068 3).
‘Bride of the
BOOKLIST IN NAME OF ROSALYN RUSHBROOK
‘Where did I go Wrong?’ –
One of Sr. Ruqaiyyah’s major interests is in inter-faith dialogue.
Introduction to her talk on presenting Islam to the Peoples of the Book:
Of the many books written by various authors to ‘explain’ Islam, few are specifically concerned with the problems that confront seekers coming towards the faith from a Christian background. Moreover, the author has noted a tendency among certain zealot Muslims to ignore the traditional appreciation of the common background of the Abrahamic faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – whose followers all worship the same God, and to label those worshippers as kuffar, non-believers. Societies that are not Muslim are being regarded by some as dar al-harb (‘house of war or confrontation’), as opposed to dar al-dawah (‘house of mission-work and potential converts’).
Sr Ruqaiyyah comes from a deeply religious Christian background, and has gone through all the arguments, trials and soul-searching that confront any Christian who grapples with Trinitarian theology and finally discards it, without in any way diminishing great love and respect for the person of Jesus.
Sr. Ruqaiyyah travelled this path in her own search for the truth and an intellectual honesty that was also compatible with the study of the Christian scriptures (both Old and New Testaments). She was converted to Islam originally by her background knowledge of those scriptures, her professional studies as a theologian, and most significantly, by the life and teachings of the Blessed Prophet Jesus himself (pbuh). Like many converts she regards herself as a ‘revert’, for she had been ‘muslim’ for many years before realising she was Muslim – this discovery resulting largely from disentangling what Jesus actually taught from what had been taught about him.
It is a well-known problem that religions are often judged unfairly by the limitations and transgressions of its lesser, most extreme, most ignorant or most bizarre members. This is true of all three of the Abrahamic faiths, but the western handicap of not having much good literature available on Islam is now rapidly being remedied, alhamdu lillah. Sr Ruqaiyyah hopes, through her lectures and writings, to help bring about the atmosphere in which all the Peoples of the Book can be brought closer to each other, in more charitable understanding – looking forward in hope to a time when all those who worship the One True God can co-operate with, respect, and find peace with each other. Amin.
Ruqaiyyah @ WHSmith's Amazon IslamicBookstore Halalco Books Blackwell
(C) Sokuto12 - 2008