Hüsn-i Hat Course (Islamic Calligraphy)

Toronto Yunus Emre Institute proudly presents a short course on the classical art of "hüsn-i hat" (calligraphy) in the Turkish tradition. In this course participants will learn and practice the thuluth script. The course will run during the spring term from April 20th to June 22nd, 2024, and will resume in October for the fall semester.

Join us for an online course and in-person workshops led by esteemed calligrapher Qudsiyyah Bhayat, who holds her ijaza from Türkiye.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a certified master, preserving a traditional art form practiced in modern Türkiye and the Ottoman Empire for centuries.

COURSE SPECIFICATIONS AND REGISTRATION

Course Dates: April 20, 2024 – June 22, 2024

In-Person Workshops

🗓️ Date: April 20 & June 22, 2024

Toronto Yunus Emre Institute

⏰ Time: 10:30 - 12:30 AM EST

Online Classes:

🗓️ Date: April 27, 2023 – June 15, 2023

⏰ Time: 10:30 am -12:30 pm EST

Course Hours: 2 hours of class per week, 16 hours in total

Instructor: Dr. Hattat Qudsiyyah Bhayat. Please refer to her short resume below.

Venue: Classes will take place on online platforms but two whole day workshops will take place in Toronto Yunus Emre Institute, 78 Berkeley St., Toronto, ON M5A 2W7

Zoom Link: You will be provided with zoom link before the classes begin.

Course Materials: You will be responsible for acquiring the necessary course materials. However, the instructor will provide guidance and assistance throughout the process.

Course Fee: The fee for the total course for the spring term is CA$ 65, which includes the in-person workshops but does not cover the Eventbrite processing fee.

Age: Participants must be at least of high school age.

Registration: You must register for the course on Eventbrite. Candidates will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis. To avoid missing this opportunity, we advise you to register promptly.

Cancellation of the Registration: Choir is subject to cancellation if the minimum quota (5 in this case) is not met.

Withdrawal / Refunding: It is possible to withdraw any applications before the start of the course. In this case, the processing fees charged by Eventbrite might not be refundable. If a participant wishes to withdraw their application within the first week, Eventbrite fees and an additional 20% admin fee will be deducted from the registration fee paid. After the first week, no refund of the registration fee will be provided. All refunds will be made to the participant's bank account.

Registration Documents: When the course commences, Toronto Yunus Emre Institute might request you to complete additional registration forms and submit documents. The Institute will handle all documents and information confidentially in accordance with provincial and federal regulations.

Hüsn-i Hat: Islamic Calligraphy in Turkish Tradition:
Islamic calligraphy, known as "hat" in Turkish, transcends mere words, transforming the Arabic script into a visual tapestry of elegance and meaning. Recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2021, "Hüsn-i hat" is the centuries-old practice of writing Arabic letters with measured precision. The Hüsn-i hat is the centuries-old practice of writing letters of Arabic origin in a measured and proportional manner while taking into consideration certain aesthetic values. Traditional tools include a specific type of paper glazed with organic substances, a reed pen, pen knives, a special slab for trimming the reed pen, an inkwell, soot ink and a pen case. Many calligraphers, or hattats, make their own tools, and they play an important role in the transmission of the Hüsn-i hat tradition, passing on their knowledge, craft skills and values through apprenticeships. The Hüsn-i hat can be written on paper or leather. It may also be applied on stone, marble, glass and wood, among others. There are many different styles of Hüsn-i hat, and the practice was traditionally used to write the Koran, hadiths (statements of the Prophet Muhammad) and poetry, as well as for State correspondence, such as imperial edicts and warrants, and on religious and public buildings. In Islam, Hüsn-i hat is seen as a means not only of writing ideas, but of depicting them visually. To this day, Hüsn-i hat is still used in sacred and literary works and on mosques, Turkish baths and temples.

Dr. Hattat Qudsiyyah Bhayat was born in South Africa, and graduated medical school at the University of Natal, Durban. In 2018 she officially began her journey in traditional Islamic Calligraphy after a visit to Istanbul in the previous years sparked a passion to learn the art. In March 2018 Dr. Bhayat began lessons with Master Nuria Garcia Masip, a student of Master Davud Bektash, with whom she studied for two years over long distance lessons, as well as in person workshops at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London, England, and other workshops. Following her time with Nuria, Qudsiyyah began lessons through IRCICA (Research Center for History, Art and Culture), her main teacher being Master Ferhat Kurlu for the Thuluth script and Master Mumtaz Seckin Durdu for Nesih. She has had regular visits to her teacher in Istanbul for the purposes of learning the art and has had regular weekly lessons for over three years through IRCICA. During that time she had attending University level Turkish Language courses through Fatih Sultan Mehmet University’s language division online and over the course of eighteen months received her C1 certification in the Turkish Language as well.

In October 2023 Qudsiyyah received Ijazet from her teachers for Husnuhat (Islamic Calligraphy) in the Thuluth and Nesih scripts signed by her teachers and Reis ul Hattatitin Grand Master Hasan Celebi.

Traditional Arabic Script Calligraphy has a history that spans over 700 years and Qudsiyyah is keen on preserving this tradition using original materials, traditionally sourced and treated papers, inks, kalems (reed pens) and other tools and instruments. Currently in Canada Qudsiyyah is the first person to be certified/licenced in Calligraphy by the Turkish school, which is the dominant school of calligraphy well known in the world of Islamic Calligraphy. Arabic Calligraphy has been designated by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Qudsiyyah hopes to spread the beauty of the art through her art, and workshops and exhibitions in Canada and abroad God willing.

For further inquiries, contact us at toronto@yee.org.tr

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