GENERAL INFORMATION

This is a 35 weeks-long course that immerses the student in the Thuluth and Naskh scripts of Arabic calligraphy, as has been taught in the Ottoman tradition for over five hundred years, with regular feedback provided on one’s work by our master calligrapher Haji Noor Deen.

Subject: INTRODUCTION TO THULUTH & NASKH SCRIPTS
Course Format: Online
Course schedule: 

Option 1: Sunday, 12 p.m. UTC (click to convert to local time zone)
Sep 14 – Dec 14, 2025
[Break]
Jan 4 – Feb 8, 2026
[Break]
March 29 – May 10, 2026
[Break]
June 7 – July 26, 2026

Option 2: Thursday, 12 a.m. UTC (click to convert to local time zone)
Sep 18 – Dec 18, 2025
[Break]
Jan 8 – Feb 12, 2026
[Break]
April 2 – May 14, 2026
[Break]
June 11 – July 30, 2026

Instructor: Haji Noor Deen Hoca

Course fee:

• Early bird: 899 (until June 7)
• Regular: 957  (June 7 to July 30)

If you would like to register for the fall term only, please use the code ONLYFALL at check out. You will be charged 50% of the full term and your classes will end on either January 18 (Option 1) or January 22 (Option 2). 

DISCLAIMER:

Due to Haji Noor Deen’s extensive travel schedule, classes may be taught by his master students or corrections will be done in an offline setting.

Option 1: Sunday, 12 p.m. UTC (click to convert to local time zone)

Sep 14 – Dec 14, 2025
[Break]
Jan 4 – Feb 8, 2026
[Break]
March 29 – May 10, 2026
[Break]
June 7 – July 26, 2026

Option 2: Thursday, 12 a.m. UTC (click to convert to local time zone)

Sep 18 – Dec 18, 2025
[Break]
Jan 8 – Feb 12, 2026
[Break]
April 2 – May 14, 2026
[Break]
June 11 – July 30, 2026

ABOUT THE COURSE

This is a semester-long course that immerses the student in the classical way of learning Arabic calligraphy (Thuluth and Naskh scripts), taught in the Osmanli (Ottoman) tradition for over five hundred years. Our teacher Haji Noor Deen Hoca is a master calligrapher of the Thuluth and Naskh scripts. Therefore, access to feedback and corrections by a master calligrapher is a crucial aspect of this class. This ensures that your practice is corrected and refined in real time by the teacher.

The Thuluth script is a beautiful, cursive script often used in Islamic architecture. The Naskh script is one of the first scripts in Islamic calligraphy and is often used in copies of the Qur’an.

The Divinely inspired purpose of calligraphy is to learn the mechanics of writing the letters, which are based on philosophical and spiritual understandings and are also a means of 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.

Students can buy their supplies from the Islamic Art Supplies (click to view) store.

• Bamboo/reed qalam in sizes: 2mm and 3mm.
• Felt or leather pad for under your paper
• Arabic calligraphy paper ( alternative: glossy laser printer paper)
• Ink, lika, and inkwell
• Leather hand rest (other materials are also acceptable)
• Knife for sharpening the qalam (kalem terash, Olfa cutters, or Olfa heavy-duty cutters)
• Maqta’: for cutting the nib of the qalam. Scissors can be used as well.
• Fine sandpaper (1200-2000 grade)

In your first class with Haji Noor Hoca, he will discuss the history of Islamic calligraphy, materials, and how to prepare your homework.

Students are expected to allocate a minimum of 10 hours per week to attend live online classes, practice, and prepare their lessons for submission.

Once you have joined the class, you will be initiated into the Şeyh Hamdulllah Calligraphy 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 communication, sharing, and homework assignments will be managed through WhatsApp. The required materials will be discussed in a video you will receive upon registration.

Due to limited seating, we request that you cancel by July 15, 2025, to receive a full refund.

To apply for financial aid, fill out this form by June 1, 2025. Applications after this date will be considered case by case while funds last.

For inquiries, contact students@deenartsfoundation.org.

ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTOR

Haji Noor Deen

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.

His work focuses on writing Arabic using a combination of traditional Chinese calligraphic tools and techniques to fuse the Chinese and Arabic visual arts uniquely. Haji Noor Deen is also responsible for the formal codification of the ancient Arabic writing system in the Chinese tradition.

In 2019 for the first time in China, he honored 30 students with an Ijaza in Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese style.

His work has been displayed in galleries and museums worldwide, including the British Museum, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, the National Museum of Scotland, and the Center for Government and International Studies (CGIS) at Harvard University.

He was also awarded the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Center 2016 Islamic Economy Award in the category of Islamic Arts.