Built by a writer, for writers.
AMWASA was born from a simple conviction — that Muslim women’s stories matter, and that the women who write them deserve a home built around their values, their craft, and their community.
OUR STORY
Where it all began
For years, Muslim women authors in South Africa wrote in relative isolation — talented, passionate, and often unsure of where to turn for guidance, community, or a readership that truly understood them.
AMWASA was founded to change that. Built from the ground up in Durban, we set out to create a structured, values-aligned space where Muslim women could develop their craft, connect with peers, and step confidently into authorship — without having to compromise on who they are or what they believe.
What began as a small network has grown into a layered membership community, a curated bookshop, an educational programme, and a content vetting initiative that gives both readers and authors a standard they can trust.
A voice behind the voices
Waheeda Joosab is a book distributor, community builder, and passionate advocate for Muslim women’s authorship in South Africa. She founded AMWASA after recognising a gap that no existing platform was filling — a space where Muslim women authors could grow, connect, and publish with both excellence and integrity.
Drawing on her experience in book distribution and her deep commitment to Islamic values, Waheeda built AMWASA not as a business first, but as a community — one that happens to run with the rigour and structure of a well-led organisation.
She continues to lead AMWASA as its director, developing the membership programme, overseeing the Stamp of Approval initiative, and building the anchor course series that walks members through the full authorship journey.
What We Stand For
Our values in practice
Six commitments that shape everything AMWASA does — from the way we welcome members to the way we vet manuscripts.
Everything we create, publish, and recommend is measured against Islamic principles. Faith is not an afterthought here — it is the foundation.
We take writing seriously. Our courses, check-ins, and guided reflections are designed to build writers who are not just published, but genuinely skilled.
Muslim women authors thrive together. We foster a generous, collaborative culture where members genuinely celebrate each other’s progress.
Your words are sacred. Every manuscript that passes through AMWASA — whether for review or vetting — is handled with full discretion and trust.
From Inklings to Quill Masters, our tiers create a clear, encouraging path — so no member feels lost, and every stage of the journey is supported.
Muslim women’s stories have been underrepresented for too long. Every book we distribute and every author we support is an act of changing that.
OUR JOURNEY
how amwasa has grown
THE BEGINNING
AMWASA is founded in Durban
Waheeda Joosab establishes AMWASA to fill a clear gap — a home for Muslim women authors in South Africa that takes both faith and craft seriously.
trust & standards
Stamp of Approval Launched
A formal content vetting initiative is introduced, giving readers a reliable signal of values-aligned literature and giving authors a mark of credibility.
Community
Membership tiers introduced
The three-tier structure launches: Inklings for new voices, The Collective for committed writers, and Quill Masters for those pursuing publication.
Education
Anchor Course series begins
The first Beginner Anchor Course launches, beginning a full educational journey from ideation to publication.
GROWTH
AMWASA is a registered NPC in South Africa.
THE STAMP OF APPROVAL
A standard you can read by
The AMWASA Stamp of Approval is our commitment to Muslim readers and authors alike — that the content we endorse has been thoughtfully reviewed, that it upholds Islamic values, and that it meets a standard of literary quality worth celebrating.
Whether you are a reader looking for literature you can trust, or an author seeking credibility in the marketplace, the Stamp of Approval is AMWASA’s word on your behalf.
WHAT THE STAMP CONSIDERS
JOIN US
Your story belongs
in our community.
Whether you have a half-formed idea or a manuscript ready to submit, there is a place for you at AMWASA. Start as an Inkling, grow into The Collective, and write your way to Quill Masters.
Our Structure
AMWASA is a registered Non-Profit Company (NPC) incorporated under the Companies Act 71 of 2008, with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission of South Africa. As an NPC, AMWASA does not exist to generate profit for its directors or members. Every rand earned through memberships, courses, and programmes is reinvested into the work: into resources for authors, into the integrity of the Stamp of Approval, and into building something this community can rely on for years to come.
Board of Directors
AMWASA is governed by a board of three directors, each bringing professional experience directly relevant to the organisation’s mission.
Waheeda Joosab Mahomed founded AMWASA in 2024 after recognising a significant gap in the South African publishing landscape: Muslim women who write had almost no dedicated infrastructure around them. With a professional background in Education and Psychology, and with hands-on experience in book publishing, she brought to AMWASA not just vision, but practical knowledge of how the publishing industry actually works — from manuscript to shelf.
She leads AMWASA’s strategy, programmes, and author relationships, and holds final authority over the Stamp of Approval process.
Khadija Joosab Moti is the founder and director of Wilman Fikker Publishing House, a South African publishing company which specialises in Muslim fiction and non-fiction works. Her experience across the full publishing lifecycle — from acquisitions and editorial through to production and distribution — gives AMWASA’s board direct insight into the realities of professional publishing.
She serves AMWASA in a governance capacity, providing strategic oversight and industry perspective as the organisation grows.
Muhammed Joosab is an optometrist and certified fitness trainer with a professional background rooted in precision, people, and accountability.
He serves on AMWASA’s board in a governance capacity, bringing an independent perspective and sound judgement to the organisation’s financial oversight.
What this means for you
Whether you are an author considering working with AMWASA, a funder evaluating a partnership, or a reader relying on our Stamp of Approval — you deserve to know that there is a formal, accountable structure behind the work. Our NPC status means that AMWASA’s mission is not dependent on any one person’s continued goodwill. It is written into our founding documents, governed by a board, and bound by South African law. We are still growing. But we are growing with intention — and with the structures in place to do it properly.