Tayyaba Syed is a multiple award-winning author, journalist, keynote speaker, and performer, and thus far, has conducted 150+ literary and faith-based presentations for a variety of schools, communities, and organizations both online and in-person.

She has written 20+ book titles for kids including Encyclopedia Britannica and has had bylines in numerous publications such as NPR and Chicago Parent. Her most recently published works include The Blessed Bananas, a children’s picture book, which has won 3 gold literary awards, and her newest board book Hafsa’s Kisses, winner of the Daybreak Book Award.

She has been a student and volunteer with Rabata since its inception in 2012 and now serves on its Board of Directors and as a halaqah teacher. Tayyaba is part of the first graduating class to receive a teacher certification through the Ribaat Academic Institute in 2020 and is a teacher for its Dragonflies children’s program. For the last decade, Tayyaba has been leading a local women’s halaqah to bring traditional knowledge and a sense of belonging to over 100 moms just like her. In 2021, Tayyaba was elected with the most votes as a member of her local public school district’s Board of Education. She works as a curriculum writer for Monarch Academy and lives with her husband and three children in Illinois, where she enjoys being outdoors, exploring nature, and reading in her free time.