Deen Arts Foundation South Africa is dedicated to the traditional pedagogy of the Ijaazah system, which has preserved the Islamic sciences for the past 1400 years through a master-student-apprentice relationship which ensures that the highest level of mastery is retained as knowledge passes to the next generation. The current and past master calligraphers, manuscript illumination artists, geometers, and munshids associated with Deen Arts Foundation South Africa have all learned through the Ijazah system.
Esra Aslan embarked on her journey in the field of traditional arts 6 years ago when she started taking Tezhip lessons at İsmek. Subsequently, she served as a curator for two separate exhibitions alongside her teacher and five of her classmates. These exhibitions were held in Sarajevo and Skopje. Continuing her education at Küçükçekmece Traditional Arts Center, she successfully completed the 2-year Design and Pattern course under the guidance of her esteemed teacher. During this time, she also completed a 7-month online course on Geometric Patterns in Islamic Architecture, facilitated by Dr. Serap Ekizler Sönmez and the Eyüp Municipality.
Following the completion of this course, Esra curated the first Geometric Patterns exhibition in Turkey, which showcased a total of 142 artworks by 35 individuals who had completed the course within the past 4 years, once again under the guidance of Dr. Serap Ekizler Sönmez. For the past 2 years, she has been studying Miniature. Her exceptional miniature design earned her the 1st prize in the 3rd Miniature Competition organized by Üsküdar Municipality.
Currently, she continues her studies in Geometry with Dr. Serap Ekizler Sönmez, while also furthering her knowledge and skills in Miniature painting under the mentorship of her esteemed teacher. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Esra Aslan is currently teaching Introduction to Islamic Geometric Patterns within our foundation, continuing her artistic projects, and pursuing a master’s degree in Islamic History and Arts.
Ustaadh Fouad Blili is a highly accomplished Moroccan Illumination artist renowned for his specialisation in the intricate Maghribi-Andalusian style.
With a distinguished educational background, he is currently the Professor of Maghribi Ornamental Art at Al-Qarawiyyin University in Fez, Morocco.
Ustaadh Fouad Blili has participated in numerous national and international calligraphy exhibitions and conferences and has received multiple awards for excellence in his field, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. In addition to his academic and exhibition endeavours, Ustaadh Fouad Blili is deeply involved in the meticulous design and illumination of the Holy Quran.
Shaykh Muhammad Hobe Hoca was born in Transkei in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. He later moved to Johannesburg and pursued Islamic studies at the Waterfall Islamic Institute, where he also completed his ḥifẓ (memorisation of the Holy Qur’an). It was during this time that he developed a deep interest in Arabic calligraphy. While teaching at the Waterfall Islamic Institute, he met renowned Turkish calligrapher Hilal Kazan. Recognising his talent and dedication, she encouraged and assisted him in travelling to Istanbul, Turkey, to study under the world-renowned master calligrapher, Hasan Çelebi.
Shaykh Muhammad Hoca began his apprenticeship with Master Hasan Çelebi in 2009. Upon completing his training, he was awarded the ijazah (diploma/license) in both the Thuluth and Naskh scripts in 2013. In recognition of his contributions to the Islamic arts, he was granted Turkish citizenship in March 2017. Since then, Shaykh Muhammad Hoca has continued his work as a professional calligrapher, participating in numerous exhibitions in Turkey and internationally. He also teaches students of his own, passing on the sacred tradition of Islamic calligraphy. He currently resides in Istanbul.
Ustaadh Badr Essaihi, from Morocco, graduated from the prestigious Academy of Traditional Arts in Casablanca and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in the Turkish Traditional Arts Department at the Fatih Sultan Mehmet University in Istanbul. Ustaadh Badr has also completed the six Ottoman scripts with Master teachers Haytham Salmo and Davut Bektaş. Along with researching the history and styles of Maghribî and Andalusî scripts, Ustaadh Badr participates in several national and international calligraphy exhibitions and conferences.
Ustaadah Zulfar Tofie Samodien, hailing from the city of Cape Town, South Africa, is a highly accomplished and qualified Islamic calligrapher. Her artistic journey has been nothing short of remarkable, marked by continuous dedication and unwavering passion. In a significant and momentous event in March 2023, Ustaadah Zulfar achieved a notable milestone in her calligraphic pursuits. She was honored to be granted a formal Ijaazah, an esteemed certification, a profound recognition of her dedication and skill, bestowed upon her by none other than the world-renowned Master Calligrapher, Haji Noor Deen, hailing from China. What makes Ustaadah Zulfar’s achievement even more exceptional is that she is among the select few non-Chinese students to be granted this prestigious permission. This coveted Ijaazah empowers her to share and teach the intricate art of Arabic Calligraphy in the unique and captivating Chinese Style Script. It’s a remarkable testament to her talent, commitment, and the universal appeal of her artistry.
Dr. Intisar Etbaigha, originally from Libya, is an expert in Arabic and English languages with a deep passion for language teaching and translation. She obtained her university degree in English from Al-Tahadi University and later earned a Master’s degree in Translation Studies (Arabic-English/English-Arabic) from the Libyan Academy in 2006. In 2013, she moved to South Africa to pursue her PhD at the University of the Western Cape, specialising in additional language teaching and learning. She successfully completed her doctorate (PhD) in 2018, further solidifying her expertise in language education.
Dr. Etbaigha believes that Islamic teachings and the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) should inform one’s teaching philosophy. She emphasises that studying Islam is not a one-time endeavor but a lifelong journey of bridging knowledge gaps through a deeper understanding of the Quran and Sunnah. At Deen Arts Foundation South Africa, she teaches and leads the development and implementation of Arabic language courses as well as provides Arabic translations where needed. Her work reflects her commitment to fostering meaningful language learning experiences and bridging cultures through education.