Islamic illumination - known as Tezhip in Turkish, is a decorative art using gold pigments to beautify the Qur’an & manuscripts. The fine detail takes dedication & patience
Today, the art of Tezhip continues
Here are 21 artists sharing artistic techniques in tezhip
A thread…
1/ Tezhip was first practiced by the Uyghur’s in the 9th century. The Seljuks brought it to Anatolia, & the art culminated during the Ottomans. Mameluke artists in the 15th century developed it & advances were seen in Central Asia
A process video by Turkish artist Berre Filoglu
2/ Turkish Artist Zuleyha Karaca specialises in the art of tezhip & Islamic illumination. Here, Zuleyha presents a great example of shading in gold & finely outlining details…
3/ Iranian artist Mina Kazemiyan is skilled in the delicate and detailed art of tezhip. Here, she demonstrates the delicate fine black outlines to provide definition to the work…
4/ Turkish artist Handan Gülserin is an expert in the art of tezhip. Here she shares her detailed skill of effortlessly painting details with gold pigments.
Bazen karanlıktır, göz gözü görmez,
Bazen karanlık değildir, öz özü görmez...
Beautiful details from Iranian traditional tezhip
شب تاریک و سنگستان و مو مست
قدح از دست مو افتاد و نشکست
نگهدارنده اش نیکو نگهداشت
و گرنه صد قدح نفتاده بشکست #باباطاهر
6/ Iranian artist Mina Kazemiyan is skilled in the delicate and detailed art of tezhip. Here, she demonstrates creating shadows using gold and metallic pigments to provide definition to the work.
7/ Turkish artist İlknur GÜÇLÜ specialises in Tezhip. Here is a work in progress showing details of the use of colour to create wonderful definition…
8/ Artist @EsraAlhamalArt is a specialist in Islamic illumination & biomorphic pattern. Here she shows us how to make real gold pigment shine by forming an indentation. This little trick makes the dots look like they are little jewels…
9/ Turkish artist K.Bayraktar is trained in the traditional art of Tezhip, here she shares delicate details of precision, painting bold colour to fill between the luminous gold…
10/ Turkish artist Gul Cerik is a specialist in Tezhip. Here we see precision details to add definition to the gold pigments and illumination…
Iranian artist Maryam Ghafari is inspired by poetry
«أحببتك وكأنك آخر أحبتي على وجه الأرض،
و عذبتني كأنني آخر أعدائك على وجه الأرض...»
تو را دوست داشتم،
چنانکه گویی تو آخرین عزیزانِ من بر روی زمینی؛
و تو رنجم دادی،
چنان که گویی من آخرین دشمنانِ تو
بر روی زمینم
12/ Artist Hatice Karaman is based in Istanbul, Turkey. Traditionally trained in the art of Tezhip, she is committed to continuing & preserving this artform for future generations.
See Hatice at work…
13/ Turkish artist Nurhan Barutcular is trained in the traditional art of Tezhip. Here is detailed work in progress…
14/ Iranian artist Maryama is not only trained in the art of tezhip, but also a psychologist. She uses this traditional artform as a tool for talking about issues connected to psychology, including trauma. Here she shares details of her exquisite work in progress…
15/ Turkish artist Perdah Sanat Atölyesi is an expert in the art of Tezhip. Here, we are able to see the fine lines and precision in pattern in this work in progress…
16/ Iranian artist T. Mousavi is an expert in the art of tezhip, Here is a work in progress, highlighting the precise work and patience required to outline details…
17/ Turkish artist Gul Cerik specialises in the art of tezhip. Here is a look at the technique of finely applying white as a highlighter to add further luminosity and depth the the illumination…
18/ Artist @NagihanSeymour is a specialist in tezhip. Here she shares her favourite step in the artistic process, burnishing the gold pigment…
19/ Iranian artist Nasim Khadevi shares tezhip work in progress, painting illumination for Islamic verses…
رنگگذاری بندهای اسلیمی
20/ Turkish artist Ayse Raziye Ozalp creates miniatures in the art of tezhip. Ayse is particularly interested in the natural world, here is a work in process video of a spider…
Hayvanları çok sevdiğim doğrudur.Örümcekleri bile😉🕷
21/ Turkish artist Fatma Özçay is a master of the art of tezhip. Here is an exquisite example of a work in progress, meticulously painting fine details…
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Arabic is one of the most romantic languages. It has at least 11 words for love and each of them conveys a different stage in the process of falling in love.
For Arabic Language Day, a thread on expressions of love in Arabic…
1/ Habibi or Habibti (حبيبي/حبيبتي)
In Arabic, habibi (masculine) and habibti (feminine) means “my love”. Arabs use this as the most common expression of love - for friends, family, and sometimes, even strangers.
#ArabicLanguageDay
2/ Rohi (روحي)
Rohi means “my soul mate”. So calling someone rohi means you’ll love them a lot longer than your life - for eternity
Khalil Gibran (1881-1931) is a Lebanese-American poet, writer, and philosopher, who bridged the soul’s longing for truth with the world’s eternal search for wisdom.
Born in what is now modern-day Lebanon, Gibran moved to the United States as a young man, where he became an influential voice in both Eastern and Western literary traditions. His most famous work, The Prophet (1923), is a collection of 26 poetic essays that explores timeless themes such as love, freedom, work, and spirituality. Written in a lyrical, mystical style, The Prophet has been translated into more than 100 languages and remains one of the most widely read and beloved books of the 20th century. Gibran’s blend of Eastern mysticism and Western romanticism appealed to readers seeking spiritual and philosophical guidance.
Gibran’s impact on global literature and philosophy is immense, as his works transcend cultural and religious boundaries. His ideas about the interconnectedness of all humanity, the pursuit of personal freedom, and the power of love resonated with readers from diverse backgrounds. Gibran’s writings have influenced spiritual movements, literary circles, and even political discourse, especially in the Arab world where he is considered one of the most influential writers of modern Arabic literature. His philosophy emphasizes the universality of human experience, bridging the gap between East and West, and his poetic vision continues to inspire generations of thinkers, artists, and spiritual seekers worldwide.
Mariam Astrulabi was a pioneering female Muslim scientist & astronomer, born in Syria during the 10th century. She is known for developing Astrolabes, an ancient astronomical computer for solving problems related to time & position of the sun & stars
A thread on Mariam Astrulabi
1/ Mariam al Astrulabi's remarkable contribution to the art of astrolabes has largely been ignored by the world. What she achieved in the 10th century consequently helped several generations of scientists to explore the concept of time and space.
Astrolabe @HSMOxford
@HSMOxford 2/ Astrolabes were beneficial in determining the position of the sun, moon, stars & the planets. They were used in astronomy, astrology & horoscopes. Muslims would specifically use it to find the Qibla, determine prayer times & the initial days of Ramadan and Eid
Did you know Mosque ceilings are designed to reflect the magnificence of the universe?
Here are spectacular details of 24 Mosque ceilings from around the world…
A thread…
1/ Jami Mosque, Andijan, Uzbekistan
The construction of the madrasah began in 1883 and lasted for 7 years. It has a gorgeous fretwork of wooden columns supporting a ceiling decorated with bright patterns made of a combination of geometrical ornaments & vegetal elements
Construction of the mosque started in 1603 and was finished in 1619. Built by the chief architect Mohammadreza Isfahani, during the reign of Shah Abbas I of Persia. Beautiful interior dome details
Ever wondered who paved the way for the age of algorithms?
It was a 9th-century Muslim genius, mathematician, geographer & astronomer, Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi - also known as the Father of Algebra
A thread on the incredible Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi…
1/ Even the term algorithm is Al-Khwarizmi translated into Latin!
The scientist and mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi lived from 780 to 850 AD in Persia and Iraq.
2/ Al-Khwarizmi's most significant contribution to mathematics was the development of algebra. His book, "Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" (The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing), introduced systematic methods for solving linear and quadratic equations.
Did you know that the Persian scholar of medicine, Ibn Sina (980-1037) suspected some diseases were spread by microorganisms.
To prevent human-to-human contamination, he came up with a method of isolating people for 40 days.
A thread on Ibn Sina & his impact on modern science…
1/ Ibn Sina, also known to the Latin West as Avicenna, was a Persian polymath and one of the most influential Islamic philosophers, physicians, and scientists of the medieval period. He was born in 980 CE in present-day Uzbekistan and passed away in 1037 CE in Iran.
2/ Ibn Sina's medical works had a profound impact on European medicine. His most renowned work in medicine is "The Canon of Medicine" (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb), considered one of the most influential medical texts in history. It consists of five books & covers a range of medical topics