This October, in honour of Islamic History Month, Sakeenah Canada celebrated the beauty of Islamic art, creativity, and the voices of Muslim women throughout history and today.
Through this year’s theme, The Art and Legacy of Islamic Calligraphy, we invited artists, writers, and creatives to explore the rich tradition of Islamic expression and reflect on the ways faith, knowledge, and creativity continue to shape our communities. Each submission offered a unique perspective on the stories, values, and traditions we carry forward.
As Islamic History Month comes to a close, we’re proud to share the final submissions from this year’s collection. A reminder that preserving our history isn’t only about looking back; it’s also about continuing to create, contribute, and leave something meaningful for the generations that follow.
Ad-Dhuhaa
By: Naseeba Khader | @naseeba.khader
Turning Inward
By: Hina Aijaz | @_hina_aijaz
My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young. [Surat al-Isra 17:24]
By: Nida Afzal | @nikafbynida
Which of the favours of your Lord will you deny? [Surah Ar-Rahman, 55:14]
By: Jaweria Ramzan | @khattati_by_jaweria
Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.
By: Kanza Abrar Khan | @calligraphybykanza
Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion. In moments of grief or emotional turmoil, recognizing God as the “Turner of Hearts” brings healing by acknowledging that painful emotional seasons are temporary and entirely within divine care. It provides hope to those feeling lost or broken, offering reassurance that a scattered mind can be put back together and guided toward peace. Ultimately, it grants internal strength by allowing a person to surrender their anxieties and struggles, anchoring their fluctuating emotions to a steady foundation of faith and resilience when the weight of the world feels too heavy to bear.
Nuzul-e-Quran and Prophet Muhammad
By: Anonymous
The first artwork reflects the sacred rivers mentioned in the Holy Quran and portrays how the very first revelation (Iqra) descended, carrying a universal message of peace and knowledge for humanity.
Dawn – Light Returning After Darkness
By: Fatima Zia | @the._.colorist
Dawn explores the quite moment between darkness and renewal. It reflects the journey of healing- not as the erasure of pain, but as the gradual emergence of light from within it. The work speaks of resilience, transformation and healing. Like the first light of day, healing arrives softly, revealing that even after darkness something within us continues to grow.
Kalima Tayyibah
By: Nazrul Islam | @ncalligraphee
This artwork is created on a 24 × 48-inch canvas using acrylic paint. At its centre is the Kalima Tayyibah (كَلِمَة طَيِّبَة), beautifully rendered in Arabic calligraphy. The Kalima Tayyibah, “Lā ilāha illā Allāh, Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh”—“There is no deity but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”—is a profound expression of faith and devotion in Islam. The flowing form of the calligraphy is intended to evoke a sense of serenity, harmony, and spiritual reflection. The composition invites the viewer to pause, contemplate, and reconnect with the essence of faith, while the movement of the letters symbolizes the enduring presence of remembrance and devotion in a believer’s life.
Doors of the Kaaba
By: Tunzeela Amin | @tunzeelaamin
Its an arabic Calligraphy that gives me strength and source of satisfaction totally hand painted, which makes me feel blessed.
Noor-e-Kun Faya Kun
By: Zaira Butt | @Artbyzb7
“O you wrapped in garments.” [Surah Al-Muzzammil 71:1]
By: Irum Ateeq | @irum_ateeq
A Piece of Remembrance and Longing
By: Saarah Ahmedjee | @art_by_saarah
A piece of remembrance and longing – May we all be invited to the blessed lands.
Have patience and never lose hope.
By: Anonymous
The Architecture of Tawakkul
By: Wania Shamim | @khyaal_studio
Light is Coming
By: Rahiba Thasneem | @rahiba_rahi
Every brushstroke on this canvas came from a place of deep reflection. Lately, life has thrown its share of trials my way, but creating this piece reminded me of the powerful story of Prophet Yunus (AS). If a prayer can be heard from the belly of a whale at the bottom of the sea, no prayer of ours goes unheard. Tawakkul grounds us, Sabr holds us, and Hope (Raja’ / رجاء) keeps us moving forward. To anyone going through a hard season right now: keep holding on. Light is coming. ✨
“Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” [Surah Ra’d 13:28]
By: Qudsiyyah Bhayat | @qudsiyyah_bhayat
“Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” Surah Ra’d 13:28 Muhaqqaq Script, Japanese ink on Ahar paper with 24 k gold. Piece will be on display at Yunus Emre Inst
Ayatul Kursi — The Throne
By: Abeda Sultana | @studioabeda
Ayatul Kursi — The Throne Verse Ayatul Kursi is one of the most powerful and revered verses of the Quran, reflecting the greatness, knowledge, and infinite authority of Allah. Through this calligraphy piece, I have tried to express the majesty and depth of its meaning through my own artistic interpretation. The composition, colours, and layers of texture evoke a sense of strength, serenity, and divine presence, inviting the viewer to reflect on the vastness of Allah’s power and protection.
Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar. [Qur’an 108:1]
By: Rose of Zahra (SA) | @roses_for_zahra_sa
✨ Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar. ✨Qur’an 108:1 The calligraphy is the first ayah of surah Al-Kawthar and the illustration below is Sayyida Fatima Al-Zahra with a blue chador. The chador can also be depicted as a wave due to the blue colour resembling the sea and its vastness. The fact that the blue chador or wave has no end and continues to the edge of the page is something for the observer to ponder about. ✏️ A4
From Pain to Eternal Peace
By: Fatima Tarannum Ahmed | LeftyCraft by Fatima
From Pain to Eternal peace – The black and white side represents Dunya (This worldly life), showing chaos, hardship, and the absence of true freedom, in contrast the colorful side symbolizes Jannah(Paradise) where there will be eternal peace, freedom, and serenity for the martyrs in Palestine. To follow the Islamic guidelines, I avoid drawing living beings and instead included Palestine related themes and natural elements, including olive trees and Masjid al-Aqsa, date trees, pomegranate tree, rivers, garden etc. I included faceless black figures and green abstract forms subtly to suggest human presence in Dunya and Jannah. For this meaningful piece, I choose to do Arabic calligraphy of Verse 4 from Surah Ad-Duhaa (Chapter 93 of the Quran) to deepen the spiritual message of this piece as well as a hopeful reminder or Islamic invitation for Muslims and non-Muslims. 18×24-inch stretched canvas. I’ve used graphite sketch pencils, (acrylic, metallic, iridescent) color paints, metallic chrome markers, acrylic markers, permanent markers.
Allah is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. [Surah An-Nur 24:35]
By: Haram Arshad | @hrm.paints
Light of the Divine Names
By: Sumaiya Farhan | @sumaiya.curates
This artwork blends Arabic calligraphy with rich architectural imagery, creating a dialogue between spirituality, heritage, and artistic expression.
As Salam, Wellspring of Peace
By: Andrew Kosorok | @andrewkosorokdesign
Ash-Shafi
By: Waseema Khalid | @studiowaseema
“And He is the Forgiving, the Loving.” [Surah al-Burooj, 85:14]
By: Medea Rasheed | @CreatewithMedea
Door to Salvation, Livelihood, and Serenity
By: Maryam Khan | @Hausofvessels
“Ya Rahman , Ya Raheem”
By: Fatima Ansari | @fatimaansariart
Ya Rahman , Ya Raheem” : In His Mercy, Hope Never Fades. A heart that knows it is held in Allah’s mercy cannot be fully broken by hardship. When the world feels heavy, remeber that His mercy is greater, and in it, hope never fades.
Sakeenah Canada, a national charitable organization, was founded in 2018 in response to a gap in culturally and religiously sensitive services available for women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness. Since then, our services have expanded to include mental health therapy and counseling. Sakeenah has also started The People’s Market, a food program that helps combat food insecurity, and has become the first licensed foster care agency for Muslim children in all of North America. We currently operate 8 transitional homes across Canada: Toronto, Brampton, Milton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Regina, in addition to the first long-term housing program for Muslim women and children in Canada, in Windsor.
Every night, thousands of women and children in Canada face homelessness, poverty, and trauma. We are on a mission to change that.
While Sakeenah functions at a national level, our head office and The People’s Market operate out of land that is part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations.
Sakeenah believes that while a land acknowledgement is the first step, we also understand that land acknowledgements alone are not sufficient to redress the harm caused by centuries of land theft, forced displacement and ongoing acts of settler colonialism. We recognize that this work is ongoing and complex, and we are dedicated to doing our part to create a better future for all.
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