An Online Course on Islamic Calligraphy or Hüsn-i Hat Course (Thuluth Script) in Turkish Tradition by Dr. Qudsiyyah Bhayat.

Toronto Yunus Emre Institute proudly presents a short course on the classical art of "hüsn-i hat" (calligraphy) in the Turkish tradition. In this course participants will learn and practice the thuluth script. The course will run from September 6th to December 6th, 2026.

Join us for an online course and in-person workshop led by esteemed calligrapher Qudsiyyah Bhayat, who holds her ijaza from Türkiye.

Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a certified master, preserving a traditional art form practiced in modern Türkiye and the Ottoman Empire for centuries.

COURSE SPECIFICATIONS AND REGISTRATION

Online Classes:

🗓️ Dates: September 6, 2026 – December 6, 2026

*Classes will take place from September 6 to October 11, followed by a short break, and will resume from November 1 to December 6, 2026.

⏰ Time: Sundays, 10:30 AM -12:30 PM EST

Course Hours: 2 hours of class per week, 24 hours in total

In-Person Workshop

Date: November 28, 2026

Time: Saturday, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm EST

Toronto Yunus Emre Institute, 2 Berkeley St., Suite 210, Toronto

*Please note that course dates may be adjusted in some weeks according to the instructor’s schedule.

Instructor: Dr. Hattat Qudsiyyah Bhayat. Please refer to her short resume below.

Venue: Classes will take place on online . You will be provided with the class link before the classes begin.

Course Materials: You will be responsible for acquiring the necessary course materials. However, the instructor will provide guidance and assistance throughout the process.

Course Fee: The fee for the total course is CA$ 80, but does not cover the Eventbrite processing fee.

Age: Participants must be of high school age or older.

Registration: You must register for the course on Eventbrite. Candidates will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis. To avoid missing this opportunity, we advise you to register promptly.

Course Cancellation: Course is subject to cancellation if the minimum quota (5 in this case) is not met.

Withdrawal / Refunding Policy: It is possible to withdraw any applications before the start of the course. In this case, the processing fees charged by Eventbrite might not be refundable. If a participant wishes to withdraw their application within the first week, Eventbrite fees and an additional 20% admin fee will be deducted from the registration fee paid. After the first week, no refund of the registration fee will be provided. All refunds will be made to the participant's bank account.

Registration Documents: When the course commences, Toronto Yunus Emre Institute might request you to complete additional registration forms and submit documents. The Institute will handle all documents and information confidentially in accordance with provincial and federal regulations.

Hüsn-i Hat: Islamic Calligraphy in Turkish Tradition:Islamic calligraphy, known as "hat" in Turkish, transcends mere words, transforming the Arabic script into a visual tapestry of elegance and meaning. Recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2021, "Hüsn-i hat" is the centuries-old practice of writing Arabic letters with measured precision. The Hüsn-i hat is the centuries-old practice of writing letters of Arabic origin in a measured and proportional manner while taking into consideration certain aesthetic values. Traditional tools include a specific type of paper glazed with organic substances, a reed pen, pen knives, a special slab for trimming the reed pen, an inkwell, soot ink and a pen case. Many calligraphers, or hattats, make their own tools, and they play an important role in the transmission of the Hüsn-i hat tradition, passing on their knowledge, craft skills and values through apprenticeships. The Hüsn-i hat can be written on paper or leather. It may also be applied on stone, marble, glass and wood, among others. There are many different styles of Hüsn-i hat, and the practice was traditionally used to write the Koran, hadiths (statements of the Prophet Muhammad) and poetry, as well as for State correspondence, such as imperial edicts and warrants, and on religious and public buildings. In Islam, Hüsn-i hat is seen as a means not only of writing ideas, but of depicting them visually. To this day, Hüsn-i hat is still used in sacred and literary works and on mosques, Turkish baths and temples.

Dr. (Hattat) Qudsiyyah Bhayat was born in South Africa, and graduated medical school at the University of Natal, Durban. In 2018 she officially began her journey in traditional Islamic Calligraphy after a visit to Istanbul in the previous years sparked a passion to learn the art. In March 2018 Dr. Bhayat began lessons with Master Nuria Garcia Masip, a student of Master Davud Bektash, with whom she studied for two years over long distance lessons, as well as in person workshops at the Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London, England, and other workshops

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