Akhbar Humraha is our weekly spotlight on good news from the Muslim community. A culture of good news, one story at a time.
Nusaiba Mohammad-Timol has been collecting firsts since she was 13. In 2006, she became the first female reciter to win the UK's National Qiraat Competition, and recordings of her recitation have since passed 3 million views on YouTube. Then came fashion school, features in BBC and British Vogue, and a magazine cover as the first Western influencer on Malaysia's top modest fashion publication.
In 2019, she and her husband Talha launched Waw Creative Arts, the world's first Muslim creative arts academy. The name stands for "Who Are We", and the answer keeps getting bigger: first Muslim woman to write and direct a non-Shakespearean production on the main stage of Shakespeare's Globe, co-founder of London's first Modest Fashion Week, and the Mayor of London's Creative Programme Partner for Eid on the Square.
Nusaiba Mohammad-Timol and her husband Talha, founders of Waw Creative Arts. Photo: wawcreativearts.com
This year, King Charles personally recognized her as one of fifteen women championing diversity in the UK. Her academy is now building real pathways for young Muslims into the creative industries, rooted in faith rather than in spite of it.
That last part matters. For a generation of Muslim kids in the West who love to draw, act, write, or design, the message has often been that creativity and deen live in separate rooms. Waw Creative Arts is proof they can share a house. Students learn theatre, fashion, and storytelling in an environment where their faith is the foundation, not a footnote.
Faith. Fashion. Education. Photo: iamnusaiba.com
As a husband-and-wife team ourselves, this one hit home. There's something special about a couple building a dream that makes the whole community stand a little taller.
Follow their story: wawcreativearts.com · @iamnusaiba · @wawcreativearts
Source: The Muslim News, Awards for Excellence 2026
We spotlight one story from our community every week, in this blog and in our Tuesday newsletter. Send us your tips and leads, big or small, from your own city or across the world: support@humraha.com
Speaking of art: Nusaiba's masterpiece is on stage, but yours can be in your closet. Our personalized Arabic name pieces turn any name into a one-of-one design.
- Humza & Amraha, founders of Humraha
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