What are the Brass Crescent Awards? They are named for the Story of the City of Brass in the Thousand and One Nights. Today, the Islamsphere is forging a new synthesis of Islam and modernity, and is the intellectual heir to the traditions of philosophy and learning that was once the hallmark of Islamic civilization – a heritage scarcely recognizable today in the Islamic world after a century’s ravages of colonialism, tyrants, and religious fundamentalism. We believe that Islam transcends history, and we are forging history anew for tomorrow’s Islam. These awards are a means to honor ourselves and celebrate our nascent community, and promote its growth.

This year marks the 8th year of these annual Awards, and as before it is a joint project between myself here at City of Brass and altMuslim.com. The Nominations phase is open until September 6th, after which the finalists will be compiled, and then main round voting will open in late September. For exact details, and to register your nominations in each category, visit BrassCrescent.org – and if you’re a blogger, feel free to promote the Awards on your blog and ask your readers to recognize you with a nomination!

Here are this year’s categories:

BEST MUSLIM BLOG: This category honors the most indispensable, Muslim-authored blog there is. Period.

BEST WRITER: Who is the most stimulating, insightful, and philosophically wise among us? This category is intended to highlight a blogger who may not post daily, but when they do post, they really make an impact.

BEST NON-MUSLIM BLOGGER: Which blog writen by a non-Muslim is most respectful of Islam and seeks genuine dialogue with Muslims?

BEST BLOG DESIGN: Which blog has the most aesthetically pleasing site design, appealing to the eye, evoking Islamic themes, and/or facilitating debate and discussion?

BEST POST OR SERIES: Which single post or group of posts in the Islamsphere was the most original and important, above all the others?

BEST FEMALE BLOGGER: The woman’s voice in Islam is equal to the man’s, and in the Islamsphere we seek to make sure the female perspective is highlighted and given its rightful due. Which Muslim woman’s blog has done the most to explore the role that women play within Islam and society?

BEST NEW BLOG: Which blog is a true diamond in the rough, one that everyone should be reading but who most just haven’t heard of (yet)?

BEST MEDIA BLOG: What blog is a pioneer or leader in audio podcasting, photography, or video about Muslim issues?

BEST GROUP BLOG: Which multiple group blog in the Islamsphere has the best diversity of writers and the most interesting debate on Muslim issues?

FUNNIEST BLOGGER: Which blogger gets their point across by using humor in the most effective way?

BEST MIDDLE EAST/AFRICAN, EUROPEAN, SOUTH ASIAN, AND ASIAN BLOGGERS: The Islamsphere is truly a global phenomenon. These four regions of the world all have unique perspectives on faith and politics that should be recognized and celebrated. What blogs or bloggers are the best voice of their people and their cultures?

BEST ARAB SPRING BLOG: The year 1432H was marked by unprecedented, courageous public demands for freedom and accountability from the various autocratic regimes that dominate the Middle East. What blog, blogger, or blog post series was essential in covering and analyzing the Arab Spring?

BEST ARAB SPRING TWEETER: Who on Twitter provided the best real-time, aggregate coverage of the events of the Arab Spring, and is an essential must-follow for ongoing coverage?

BEST TWEETER: What Muslim voice on Twitter provides the most informative and entertaining retweets, links, and/or witticisms in 140 characters?

BEST NON-MUSLIM TWEETER: What non-muslim voice on twitter should we all be following, who tweets about issues relating to the muslim world and Islam?

BEST FACEBOOK PAGE: What Facebook page dedicated to muslim causes or events was the most informative, most interesting, and/or most valuable this year?

BEST RETIRED BLOG: What blog or blogger, now retired or on extended hiatus, do still remember fondly and most wish were still with us? This is a way to honor those blogs of yesteryear that remain part of our history, and our memories, whether their archives remain or not.