Year 8 Students Explore Classical Islamic Calligraphy in Naskh Workshop
Year 8 students from Islamia Girls School (IGS) and Brondesbury College (BCB) took part in a Naskh script calligraphy workshop, led by acclaimed calligrapher Gulnaz Mahboob.
As part of the school’s enrichment programme, at the end of term, the session deepened students’ appreciation for Islamic heritage while fostering creativity, concentration, and artistic skill.
In this workshop, students got a hands-on introduction to one of the most revered forms of Islamic art. They learned about traditional tools, techniques, and the importance of proportion and structure.
Their teacher for the day, Gulnaz Mehboob, was trained by the late Master Hasan Çelebi—widely respected as the Chief Master of Calligraphy (Reis ‘ul Hattatin). She guided students through the essential tools and techniques used in this ancient tradition.
The lesson began with students learning how to cut and use the traditional reed pen (qalam). They were then introduced to the concept of nuqta, the dot, crucial for maintaining accurate letter proportions in the Ottoman school style.
Separate two-hour sessions were delivered to Year 8 girls and boys. Both groups showed strong engagement and enthusiasm, with students immersing themselves in the process from the very beginning. A memorable moment came during the boys’ session, when many were surprised to learn that calligraphy involved a high degree of mathematical precision—challenging their initial perception of it as purely an artistic activity.
The final part of the session allowed students to express their creativity by producing an art piece using coloured inks, which proved especially popular. Some boys asked to practice further before starting their final pieces and, due to time constraints, even requested to take their work home. Teachers supervising the sessions noted how excited students were to handle the traditional wooden qalam and write “like in the olden days.”
This workshop was part of our Enrichment Week at Islamia School, which took place at the end of the school year. Enrichment It was designed to expose students to the rich heritage of traditional Islamic arts and promote creativity, focus, and wellbeing.
You can see more of Gulnaz Mahboob’s work, by visiting her Instagram.
