Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese Style with Haji Noor Deen Hoca
This is a semester-long course that fully immerses the student in the styles and traditions of writing Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese style, as practiced for hundreds of years.
General Info
- Subject: Arabic Calligraphy
- Course Format: Online
- Dates:
- Time:
- Instructor: Haji Noor Deen Hoca
- Scholarship Application Form [click to access]
Arabic Calligraphy In The Chinese Style
Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese Style (ACCS), also called Sini Calligraphy, combines traditional Chinese and Arabic calligraphic tools and techniques that uniquely fuse the Chinese and Arabic visual arts. Access to feedback and corrections by a master calligrapher is crucial for this class. This ensures that the teacher corrects and refines your practice in real-time.
Our teacher, Haji Noor Deen Hoca, is a renowned master of Arabic calligraphy and is responsible for the formal codification of the ancient Arabic writing system in the Chinese tradition. The Islamic arts are transmitted through the Ijaza (certificates of mastery) system, and this methodology has preserved calligraphy for over 1000 years. For the first time in China, Haji Noor Deen honored 30 students with an Ijaza of Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese style in 2019.
The Divinely inspired purpose of calligraphy is to learn the mechanics of writing the letters, which are based on philosophical and spiritual understandings, and aims at disciplining the nafs. “Patience is Beautiful” is a message Haji Noor Deen Hoca often repeats to his students. Arabic Calligraphy is considered an Islamic science (akin to fiqh and Tafseer) because it preserves the written Word of Allah, and it is a means of purification of the nafs. There are many texts on the subject written by present and past scholars. Understanding the intentions of the scholars who developed and preserved this Islamic science helps refine one’s intention before embarking on the calligraphic path—May Allah Grant Tawfiq to all of your endeavors.
Estimated Time Commitment
Students are expected to allocate a minimum of 10 hours per week to attend live online classes, practice, and prepare their lessons for submission.
Required Materials
North American students can buy their supplies from the Islamic Art Supplies (click to view) store.
- Chinese wooden qalam no more than 1.5cm in width
- Felt or leather pad for under your paper
- Arabic calligraphy paper (glossy laser printer paper if not available)
- Ink, lika, and inkwell
Upon registration, you will receive an “Introduction to ACCS” video in which Haji Noor Hoca will discuss the materials and supplies needed, including how to make your calligraphy pen and prepare your inkwell.
Arabic Calligraphy In The Chinese Style Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship is defined as “the method or process of gaining knowledge of a trade, art, or profession from the instruction of a master.” In this case, calligraphy is the trade, art, profession, and devotional act, and the master is Haji Noor Hoca. Students will travel together on this path, supporting and learning from one another, creating community and camaraderie, and moving from semester to semester to master the skills according to their Hoca’s instruction.
Apprenticeships will continue until Ijaza (certificates of mastery) are granted by the master to the apprentice.
Classes will be conducted online using Zoom, and Whatsapp will be used for communication, sharing, and homework. The materials needed will be discussed in a video you will receive once you register.
We have two different class times (option 1, option 2) to accommodate the various time zones as Haji Noor Hoca has students worldwide.
Option 1: Group “Al Ilm Quwwah العلم قوة”
- Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese Style (ACCS)
- Saturday 12:00 pm GMT
Option 2: Group “Al Ilm Noor العلم نور”
- Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese Style (ACCS)
- Sunday 02:00 am GMT
Due to limited seating, we request that you cancel by August 15, 2022, to receive a full refund.
Our Instructor
Haji Noor Deen is a renowned master of Arabic calligraphy. He was born in Yucheng, in the Shandong Province of China, in 1963. In 1997, he became the first individual from China to be awarded the Certificate of Arabic Calligrapher in Egypt after studying the calligraphic arts there for over ten years.
In 2017, after a period of study in Istanbul with Ottoman calligraphic master Hasan Celebi, Haji Noor Deen was honored with an Ijazah in the Ottoman Arabic Thuluth and Nasikh scripts, again becoming the first-ever Chinese person to do so.
Your Order
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