This project started from three origins:
The Association of Muslim Researchers (AMR) launched a
distance learning scheme to enable any interested student to
gain the newly-created qualification of GCSE Islam (Edexcel
1478/9\ by postal tuition.

The UK Islamic Mission (UKIM) needed a book for use in their
madrasahs which would enable their students to gain a state
qualification as well as to continue their programme of Islamic
Studies.

The writer and teacher Ruqaiyyah Waris Maqsood retired from
classroom teaching after 33 years at the 'chalk face' but still had
the urge to teach, plus the burning ambition to enable any
interested Muslim to gain GCSE Islam, even if they were unable
to study at school.

As she had already written text books for GCSE, and been involved in
updating the UKIM course-books for youngsters at the madrasahs, and
had later agreed to be AMRs postal tutor, it seemed the obvious thing
to make the 'knowhow' available to the widest possible market.
For the first time in UK it is now possible for a student to do GCSE Islam
without any other world faith accompanying it; and for the first time it is
possible to qualify by examination alone, without course-work handed
in to a teacher over a two-year period. All you have to do is study the
syllabus, get the course-books, do the 'donkey-work'; then you can put
in your entry for GCSE Islam, walk in, and do it.

So the opportunity is now available to all - not only teenagers, of course,
but any other person who would like to have a go. Insha Allah, mature
students could include Muslims at work, married women at home,
senior citizens. The opportunity isyours. Go for it !

'O Lord, expand my knowledge, and make my task easy for me'. Amin.