RabaTEENS is a nurturing space for deep and meaningful Islamic spiritual mentorship with compassionate and caring mentors. We design fun, creative, and positive educational experiences to help teens grow confidently and comfortably into their faith.


Class Description


This Foundations of Islamic Art class will introduce students to three important elements of Islamic art: calligraphy, ornaments/geometric patterns, and techniques of painting and coloring designs. The calligraphy and patterns practiced throughout the course will be inspired by the architecture and artistry of mosques around the world. 

The course begins with a focus on the anatomy of Arabic letters, where students will learn to write in the Naskh script using tools that are easily accessible, such as pencils and slanted markers, to emulate traditional calligraphy. From there, students will explore the beauty of Islamic patterns and ornaments, drawing designs influenced by historical mosques. They will also learn the basics of color theory and application in Islamic art, culminating in a final project that combines both calligraphy and patterns into a unique art piece. 

Arabic calligraphy is the most fundamental form of Islamic art, revered as the highest visual art in the Islamic world. It has served as the foundation for many other art forms, especially as it has been used to record the Quran and hadith. By engaging with calligraphy, patterns, and color, students will gain a holistic understanding of how these elements come together to form the essence of Islamic art. 



Class Outline


Week 1:  Calligraphy: Naskh Script

Students will be introduced to the anatomy of Arabic letters using the Naskh script. They will begin practicing with pencils or ballpoint pens and will be guided to write according to the strokes used in Naskh script, the style in which the Quran is commonly written in. Practice will be done on graph-lined paper, which will be provided online and can be printed for use. 


Week 2:  Calligraphy: Naskh Script (Continued) 

Students will continue learning the anatomy of letters in the Naskh script, this time using slanted markers. They will repeat the same exercises from the previous week but with a different tool, allowing them to experience the flow of traditional calligraphy writing as it would be done with a qalam, but in a simpler way with a marker. 


Week 3:  Islamic Patterns: Arabic Ornaments 

This week, the focus will shift from calligraphy to patterns. In this session, students will be introduced to Islamic ornaments and geometric patterns and will practice drawing a selection of designs step by step. 


Week 4:  Color Theory in Islamic Art  
 
Students will study the role of colors in Islamic art and learn about the meaning and symbolism behind certain colors. They will then practice applying colors to the geometric patterns they created in the previous session, bringing their designs to life through thoughtful use of color.


Week 5:  Final Project  
 
In this session, students will combine the calligraphy they have learned in the previous sessions with the Arabic ornaments they have drawn, bringing both together on a single sheet of paper. The calligraphy may feature any word, such as one of the names of Allah, written with the slanted marker provided. Students will then learn how to integrate the calligraphy and patterns to create a cohesive art piece. 


Class Activity Materials (Optional)

2B pencil

Ballpoint pen

Watercolor / Poster Color / Gouache paint

Small paintbrushes

Watercolor paper

Eraser

Ruler

A4 or A3 notebooks for practice (recommended: thick paper notebook, at least 150 gsm) 

Required Book

None

Class Day & Time

Sundays, 9:00 - 10:00 am CST 

Session dates: November 2 - 30 

Students must attend Zoom live sessions. Classes are NOT recorded.


*Enrollment into the RabaTEENS program is on a per-student basis. If two (or more) students are planning to attend a class together by sharing a screen, each student will need to enroll for class individually. 

**RabaTEENS programs are for girls aged 12-17 ONLY. Students are required to be 12 already in order to join any of RabaTEENS programs.

Certificate of Participation

A certificate of participation will be given to students who complete the class.

Refund Policy

No refunds are issued once the session begins. 

Foundations of Islamic Art

Meets once a week for one hour (5-week session)

Instructor

Anse Fathiah Abdussamad

Born and raised in Singapore, with a Muslim Indonesian heritage, Anse Fathiah Abdussamad takes pride in her work as a calligrapher. Half of her life has been spent dwelling with inks, reed pens and papers, all for her love of Arabic calligraphy. She has also trained more than 200 students over the course of 8 years serving the community in the field of Islamic Art. Graduating from Al Azhar University in Cairo in 2013, Anse Fathiah specialised in Arabic Literature and Calligraphy. While in Egypt she was granted Ijaza in Diwani, Jaliy Diwani, Riq’ah and Maghribi script under the tutelage of Ustadh Hasanain Mukhtar from Egypt and Ustadh Belaid Hamidi, a former calligrapher for the Moroccan royal family. The connection she has with her faith and the Islamic world has shaped her as an artist who aims to ensure that every stroke of her brush or pen is a manifestation of her deep relationship with the Divine. Anse Fathiah recently graduated with a Master of Art degree from The Kings Foundation school of Traditional Art in London doing the art of Batik and Calligraphy as her Final project.