Musharraf Hussain, pictured, won the gong in the latest honours list and will be invited to Buckingham Palace to receive it.

Dr Hussain, who was born and lived in Halifax until the age of 18, now lives in Nottingham, where he is a member of the Muslim Council of Britain, an iman and the principal of an Islamic school.

Dr Hussain was picked to be part of a team sent to Iraq to try to help when Liverpool man Ken Bigley was taken hostage in 2004.

He spent three days in Iraq with Dr Daud Abdullah talking to religious and political leaders in Baghdad, trying to pressure the kidnappers into releasing the civil engineer.

He was in constant contact with Mr Bigley's family during the 62-year-old's three-week ordeal, and travelled to them after his cold-blooded murder.

Dr Hussain is director of the Karimia Institute in Notting-ham – a centre for worship, education, training and self-development that works on projects ranging from community development to adult classes and interfaith work.

He has completed studies in Islamic education in the UK, Pakistan and Egypt and has been awarded a doctorate by Staff-ordshire University.

He has written numerous books and articles on Islam. His brother and sister, who live in Halifax, said they were very proud of his achievements.