(Photo: Abdul Datoo/Muslim News)

The Muslim News has been inundated with positive feedback from guests of this year’s The News Awards for Excellence, we present some of the many words of encouragement and gratitude sent to us

As always the awards are professionally delivered. Stories of some of the winners were very touching. The table service was impeccable; we were looked after like special people. We also enjoy meeting people and have bonded with new friends each year. Well done once again in the commitment and hard work you all put into this event.
Mukesh Popat, Gayashima Properties, & Dharmista Popat, Accountants Assistant, Alliotts Chartered Accountant, Harrow

I enjoyed the whole concept of celebrating such good works. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening. Liz Hizli, Community Engagement Officer, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre

I wanted to say a big well done on a brilliant evening, like always so inspiring. The awards create a sense of pride for Muslim people in these turbulent times. Alhamdulillah timing was spot on. Hattie Al-Kabi, Laboratory Manager, Cellular Pathology Services, London

It was a pleasure be invited to this great event. The gala dinner was very nice. I enjoyed meeting celebrities, inventors and other invitees.
Sirine Koubaa, Legal Advisor, Sa’at Makkah Company, Paris, France

Congratulations on organising another wonderful programme to celebrate the contribution of Muslim community. Recognising our stars is an important work to keep up in this difficult time for Muslims and the whole community. Please keep up the good work.
Irfan Mustafa, General Secretary, Indian Muslim Federation (UK)

My gratitude for the wonderful event. As you said in your speech awards became part of the yearly British Muslim calendar. We all look forward to attending this yearly feast of talents and fun and of what Muslims in Britain are capable of doing and they are doing right now. Congratulations for yet another successful event. Keep on this noble mission to introduce our talents to the wider society.
Dr Ibrahim Darwish, Journalist

L-R Nahid Rasool Rasool, CEO, Shantona Women’s Centre, Adeela Shabazz, Director, African Muslim Welfare Trust and Mariam Faruqi, Senior Assistant Editor, The Lancet (Photo: Abdul Datoo/Muslim News)

I am incredibly impressed at how awards, under the leadership of Ahmed Versi, has created, sustained and delivered this hugely successful event, not just once, but for so many years. It speaks to the contribution of Muslims in British society in a way that is real, uplifting and reflects the aspiration of Muslims in so many fields, validating individuals, organisations and the work that has been done. I find it particularly pertinent that at this time when all discourses around Muslims seem to be focused on how we are not terrorists that this event demonstrates that Muslims have a fighting spirit that transcends the polarising debates within so much of society and the media.
Sabnum Dharamsi, Partner, Islamic Counselling

The beautifully organised event. The volunteers were so helpful and delightful to talk with. The venue, food and guests were all so impressive. My congratulations to the entire team at The Muslim News for another successful event!
Sara Saleem, Journalist, Wigan

I enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate with and get to know high achieving Muslims and to celebrate with them their contribution to the prosperity and success of the UK – our great and wonderful country. I also very much appreciated the consistent message delivered by so many award winners and speakers of their pride in their achievements and in our Country and their horror of the bad things done in the name of Islam. I also enjoyed meeting a number of people I intend to see again.
Sir Jonathan Portal, Member & Friend, Winchester Cathedral

Masha-Allah the venue and décor were amazing, it was a perfect opportunity for networking on behalf of the Cancer Centre. The awards are perfect for community cohesion, especially after the Westminster bridge attack. It is also a good way to show gratitude to achieving Muslims. It was an honour to be invited to such a prestigious event. It was a wonderful event. Keep up the good work.
Imam Rizwan Rawat, Chaplain, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre

The event was fantastic. Congratulations for organising a successful and popular event. It’s hard to single out something from a well organised and well-managed event. The timing was perfect, the speeches were excellent, clips shown were very appropriate and appealing and I will say simply the whole event. Both my daughter Sameena and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
Ameen Hussain, MBE, Manager, ARC Training, Education & Community Services

I had a wonderful evening at the awards. I felt that the timing worked very well – things moved at a good pace and the way that the awards were given before food was served gave greater respect to the winners. The food was, as last year, delicious. Thank you so much for including us.
Ruth Ruderham, Director of Development, Prince’s Trust International

The event was an opportunity to meet so many influential Muslims in one room. The event ran to time, and the timings were fine.
Mohammed Amin, Chair, Conservative Muslim Forum

It was a wonderful and memorable event as it was a pleasure to meet such inspiring and devoted people. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for bringing us together.
Dr Huseyin Seker, Director, Enterprise & Engagement, Dept of Computer Science, Northumbria University

Every year the standard for all nominees increases, it really is inspiring and humbling to hear of the excellent work so many do quietly in their communities – and a much needed and deserved recognition of their contributions and achievements. Without such events, we would be unaware of all the positive work that is being done, especially during another difficult time for British Muslims when we are in the spotlight again for all the wrong reasons.
Dr Fauzia Ahmad, Hon Research Fellow, Royal Holloway University

The event was inspirational and should itself be awarded. I pray for your excellent organisation to be always successful in helping the Muslim community across the UK. You are the beacon of light for all. Dr Sheikh Ramzy, Director, Oxford Islamic Information Centre

I enjoyed everything at the awards. I liked the quality of nominations and the range of guests in attendance.
Ali Khimji, Director, Al-Mizan Trust

Congratulations on your organisation, your guest list and your winners. We, the guests are proud to be the audience and applaud the winners. Recognition of the efforts of these winners is so important, thank you for doing it for us.
Bashan Rafique, Trustee, UK All Pakistan Women’s Association

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It was very well organised. Hospitality was really warm and excellent. Overall it was a great event.
Atul Pathak, Managing Director, APPT Corporation

The event was really well thought out and executed. The diversity of categories was really heart-warming especially as Muslims make a valuable contribution to all sectors.
Fozia Uddin, Partnerships Relations Manager, Off Campus Division, University of Bolton

It is a wonderful idea to have awards that celebrate excellence and give acknowledgement to many who sacrifice a great deal for others. It is good to remind politicians and media etc. of the successful contributions of those from the Muslim community to the UK. The timing and the transfer of one item to another worked very well. There was enough time to network. The Brochure was very good.
Robin Marsh, Secretary General, Universal Peace Federation – UK

In these difficult times for all Muslims, you have managed to highlight all that is positive about Muslim communities and I was proud to be part of that celebration. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the awards and speeches were succinct and all went to time.
Karim Sacoor, Independent Member, Cross Govt Dept Advisory Group on Anti-Muslim Hatred

The event was impressive and you should be proud of the awards event. The individual and community achievements were admirable. This prestigious ceremony encourages youngsters for betterment to the society in general. Thank you for bringing the communities together and letting the coming generations know what can be achieved.
Salahuddeen Haleem, Hon Treasurer, Indigent Moslems Burial Fund

My guest, a committed Christian who is sympathetic to Islam spent nine years studying Islamic mysticism, was very impressed by the event, particularly by the achievement of winners and the speeches they made. They came across as determined individuals who contributed positively to society in the different fields they excelled in. It also was a good night for the ladies who took a high percentage of the awards. The other impression left on my guest is the multi-faith contribution to the event, especially when the head of the judging committee was a female Rabbi. Thank you for bringing the Muslim’s contribution into focus and bridging the gap between the Muslim community and other communities in the UK.
Dr Abdul-Rahim Hassan, Journalist, Oxfordshire

I enjoyed the wide network and backgrounds of the people present at the prestigious event that was very professional, very thought out and ran smoothly. I found the service excellent. They were always on hand.

Yashmin Harun, Muslimah Sports Association

This event was certainly one to be remembered. Though I was expecting it to be more professional than most of such events but this turned out to be the best of them all. The presentation was excellent, the reception was just right and your selection process was unique. Quality was inbuilt in the whole process from nominations and selection to award giving ceremony.
Tariq Suleman, PhD Candidate, SOAS

Madame Seynabou Sarr Ndiaye and His Excellency Professor Cheikh Ahmadou Deing, Ambassador,  Embassy Republic of Senegal  (Photo: Abdul Datoo/Muslim News)