Zaytuna's Alexander Russell Web Award

I was recently asked by Zaytuna Institute to update their Alexander Russell Web Award which was really an honor. I quickly brought in my good friend and brilliant designer Su Pittam to work on the project with me. We have collaborated on quite a few projects recently and it is always a complete joy.

We liked the overall design of the Award but decided we wanted to give it a more classical look as well as incorporate some Islamic design. The updated version has a silver beaded border with a damask pattern surrounding it. The silver is also picked up in the awards heading and the Islamic design behind the main text. Zaytuna's logo was etched and added to the matting below the award. I was really pleased by the way it turned out but as with every project I think about other ways it could have been done and ways it can be further refined.

Zaytuna Institute presents these awards annually to individuals in recognition of their service to the greater American society in helping it's citizens better understand Islam.

I have included below a brief outline of Alexander Russell Web which was gathered from Wikipedia. 

Mohammed Alexander Russell Webb Born is 1846-1916 in Hudson, New York.  His father, Alexander Nelson Webb, was a leading journalist of his day and perhaps influenced his son’s later journalistic exploits. Webb received his early education at the Home School in Glendale, Massachusetts and later attended Claverack College, an advanced high school near Hudson, New York. He became editor of the Unionville Republican,Unionville, Missouri. His prowess as a journalist was soon apparent, and he was offered the city editorship of the St. Joseph, Missouri Daily Gazette. Next he became associate editor of the Missouri Morning Journal. Later he became the Assistant City Editor of the Missouri Republican in St. Louis. This newspaper was the second oldest and largest daily newspaper at that time.

While working for the Missouri Republican, he was appointed (in September, 1887) by President Cleveland to be Consular Representative to the Philippines at the U.S. office at Manila. After much study In 1888, he formally became a Muslim.

At that time he had yet to meet a Muslim but was put in contact with several Muslims in India by a local Parsi businessman. A newspaper publisher, Budruddin Abdulla Kur of Bombay,published several of Webb's letters in his paper. A local businessman, Hajee Abdulla Arab, saw these letters and went to Manila to see Webb.

After the visit, Webb began plans to tour India and then to return to the U.S.  Hajee Abdulla returned to India and raised funds for Webb's tour. Webb visited Poona, Bombay, Calcutta, Hyderabad, and Madras and gave speeches in each town.

He resigned his post in 1892 and toured India then returned to the U.S. Settling in New York, he established the Oriental Publishing Company at 1122 Upper Broadway. This company published his writings (including his magnum opus- Islam in America).

For the rest of his life he was the main spokesman for Islam in America. Many of America’s most prominent thinkers heard him speak on the Islamic Faith, including Mark Twain.

From 1898 to the time of his death on October 1, 1916, aged 69, he lived in Rutherford, New Jersey. There he owned and edited the “Rutherford Times”. He was buried in Hillside Cemetery on the outskirts of Rutherford. 

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Comments

[Muhammed al-Ahari]

AsSalaam aliekum,
The biography of Webb quoted above is from Muhammed al-Ahari's "Islam in America and Other Writings" by Muhammad Alexander Russell Webb.

[Muhammed al-Ahari]

Assalam aliekum,
You should also check out Brent Singleton's The Yankee Mohammedan (which deals with Webb's diaries of his Indian travels) and Muhammed al-Ahari's Islam in America and Other Writings (a well edited collection of works from Webb's pen).

[Omar]

Asalam alaikum Sr. Khadija - You decorated for my walima a few years back, if you recall. I stumbled upon your website via Islamcrunch... It is great to see Barakah Life going strong. :)
Wasalaam alaikum,
Omar

[Habeeba O'Connell]

Wow mom you both did a really beautiful job it looks great!

[Mikael Pittam]

Wow! This is so cool to see Su's name on this prestigious blog. Aunty Khadija, we are honored to be in your presence and to work with you. May Allah s.w.t. elevate your status in this world and in the next.