Fall Seminar

Week 1: Geometries of Prayer: Duʿāʾ and Tile Design— October 2

· Theme: Petition, praise, and power in supplication

· Content: Qur’anic prayers and their rhetorical structures; the etymology and lineage of duʿāʾ in hadith literature; how language of need, gratitude, and praise is shaped in devotional life

· Activity: Join guest artist in creating simple geometric tile templates inspired by square Kufic design, exploring how text and pattern intersect in Islamic design practice

Week 2: The Living Line: Traditional Calligraphy with Nuria Garcia Masip — October 9

· Theme: The sacred line and proportionality

· Content: Basic principles of classical calligraphy; emphasis on the measured line, harmony of proportion, and the aesthetics of balance in text layout

· Activity: Participants will practice foundational strokes under the guidance of Nuria Garcia Masip, then compose a simple page that integrates balanced text with basic embellishments

Week 3: The Sound of the Line: Musicalligraphy with Bahman Panahi — October 16

· Theme: Translating sound into visual form

· Content: Exploration of musicality and rhythm in script; how auditory qualities inform visual design; Participants consider how sound can shape the movement of the pen and how script can embody musicality

· Activity: Guided by Bahman Panahi, participants practice simple brush lettering exercises, experimenting with rhythm and cadence to create visually musical lines

Week 4: Counting Presence: Dhikr and Taṣbīḥ with Alison Kysia — October 23

· Theme: Repetition, embodiment, and meditation

· Content: Exploration of practices of remembrance (dhikr) in Sunni and Sufi traditions, focusing on the concept of ḥuḍūr (presence) and how repetition shapes embodied and meditative experience

· Activity: Led by Alison Kysia, participants will begin crafting tasbīḥ beads, linking the physical act of stringing beads with the rhythm and focus of ritual practice

Week 5: Words as Shelter: Amulets and Protective Formulas with Zeinab Vessal — October 30

· Theme: Safeguarding through hallowed speech

· Content: Talismans, seals, and written amulets; Participants will consider cultural and theological contexts, including debates around bidʿa (innovation), and how protective objects functioned in daily life in the classical period

· Activity: Facilitated by Zeinab Vessal, participants create simple protective amulets using clay, metal, or parchment; experiment with traditional inscriptions or symbols; practice shaping, decorating, and assembling a tangible example of historical practice

Week 6: Gilded Words: The Art of Illumination with Dina Rehab — November 6

· Theme: Gilding the word

· Content: Introduces the principles of illumination in Islamic manuscript art, focusing on the integration of color and geometric or floral patterns with text; Participants see how decoration enhances meaning and draws attention to the text and its meaning

· Activity: Beginner-friendly illumination exercises, allowing participants to combine calligraphy and text from previous sessions into a small decorated piece

Week 7: Binding Devotion: The Book as Artifact with Marlis Saleh — November 13

· Theme: The liturgical book as artifact

· Content: Introduces historical Islamic manuscript traditions, focusing on structure, layout, and materiality, with examples from special collections; Participants consider how books were created, preserved, and used

· Activity: Demonstration of small-scale binding techniques; a tour of the University of Chicago’s Islamic manuscripts collection, providing participants a tactile and visual understanding of manuscript culture

Week 8: Reflection and Sharing — November 20

· Theme: Collective witnessing and continuity

· Content: Reflection on practices, learning, and personal engagement

· Activity: Presentation circle to share selections, reflections, or objects; discussion of how practices have shifted perception of devotional expression