Ruqayyah Waris Maqsood Biography

Ruqayyah Waris Maqsood is a British Muslim author, religious educator, and convert to Islam best known for her prolific output of accessible introductory and intermediate works on Islamic belief, practice, history, and family life. Born Rosalyn Rushbrook in London in 1942, she earned an honours degree in Christian Theology from the University of Hull in 1963 and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education in 1964 with distinction in both theory and practice.

Brought up as a devout Christian, she taught religious studies in British secondary schools for over thirty years, eventually serving as Head of Religious Studies at William Gee High School in Hull until her retirement in 1996. She converted to Islam in 1986 and has since written more than forty books on Islam aimed at English-speaking audiences. Her most widely read works include Islam: Beliefs and Teachings — a standard textbook on the GCSE Islamic Studies syllabus in the UK — The Muslim Marriage Guide, A Basic Dictionary of Islam, and a substantial body of children's and educational literature published with mainstream presses including HarperCollins, Quilliam Press, and the Goodword Books imprint.

Maqsood received the Muhammad Iqbal Award for Creativity in Islamic Thought at the 2001 Muslim News Awards for Excellence and has been particularly active in interfaith dialogue, education on Islam in non-Muslim contexts, and advocacy against forced marriage, child marriage, and so-called honour-based violence. She has lectured widely across schools, churches, and Islamic institutions, and her works remain among the most accessible English-language introductions to Islamic faith and practice for converts, students, and curious general readers.