This is a 35 weeks-long course that fully immerses the student in the styles and traditions of writing Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese style with regular feedback provided on one’s work by our master calligrapher Haji Noor Deen.

GENERAL INFO:

Subject: Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese Style
Course Format: Online
Course schedule:
Option 1: Saturday, 12 p.m. UTC (click to convert to local time zone)
Sep 20 – Dec 20, 2025
[Break]
Jan 10 – Feb 14, 2026
[Break]
March 28- May 9, 2026
[Break]
June 6 – July 25, 2026
Option 2: Monday, 2 a.m. UTC (click to convert to local time zone)
Sep 15 – Dec 15, 2025
[Break]
Jan 5 – Feb 9, 2026
[Break]
March 30 – May 11, 2026
[Break]
June 8 – July 27, 2026 

Instructor: Haji Noor Deen Hoca

Course fee:
Early bird: 899 (until June 7)
Regular: 957  (June 7 to July 30)

If you would like to register for the fall term only, please use the code ONLYFALL at check out. You will be charged 50% of the full term and your classes will end on either January 24 (Option 1) or January 19 (Option 2).

ARABIC CALLIGRAPHY IN THE CHINESE STYLE

Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese Style (ACCS), also called Sini Calligraphy, combines traditional Chinese and Arabic calligraphic tools and techniques that uniquely fuse the Chinese and Arabic visual arts. Access to feedback and corrections by a master calligrapher is crucial for this class. This ensures that the teacher corrects and refines your practice in real-time.

Our teacher, Haji Noor Deen Hoca, is a renowned master of Arabic calligraphy and is responsible for the formal codification of the ancient Arabic writing system in the Chinese tradition. The Islamic arts are transmitted through the Ijaza (certificates of mastery) system, and this methodology has preserved calligraphy for over 1000 years. For the first time in China, Haji Noor Deen honored 30 students with an Ijaza of Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese style in 2019.

The Divinely inspired purpose of calligraphy is to learn the mechanics of writing the letters, which are based on philosophical and spiritual understandings, and aims at disciplining the nafs. “Patience is Beautiful” is a message Haji Noor Deen Hoca often repeats to his students. Arabic Calligraphy is considered an Islamic science (akin to fiqh and Tafseer) because it preserves the written Word of Allah, and it is a means of purification of the nafs.

There are many texts on the subject written by present and past scholars. Understanding the intentions of the scholars who developed and preserved this Islamic science helps refine one’s intention before embarking on the calligraphic path—May Allah Grant Tawfiq to all of your endeavors.

North American students can buy their supplies from the Islamic Art Supplies (click to view) store.

• Chinese wooden qalam 1cm-1.5cm width
• Felt pad to place under your writing paper
• Regular printer paper for beginners.
  A different type of paper (Xuan) is commonly used for Chinese calligraphy which Haji Noor will expand on in class and acquiring it varies depending on your location. 
• Chinese Calligraphy ink. 
• Glass Jar – recommended dimensions

Upon registration, you will receive an “Introduction to ACCS” video in which Haji Noor Hoca will discuss the materials and supplies needed, including how to make your calligraphy pen and prepare your inkwell.

Students are expected to allocate a minimum of 10 hours per week to attend live online classes, practice, and prepare their lessons for submission.

Apprenticeship is defined as “the method or process of gaining knowledge of a trade, art, or profession from the instruction of a master.” In this case, calligraphy is the trade, art, profession, and devotional act, and the master is Haji Noor Hoca. Students will travel together on this path, supporting and learning from one another, creating community and camaraderie, and moving from semester to semester to master the skills according to their Hoca’s instruction.

Apprenticeships will continue until Ijaza (certificates of mastery) are granted by the master to the apprentice.

Classes will be conducted online using Zoom, and Whatsapp will be used for communication, sharing, and homework. The materials needed will be discussed in a video you will receive once you register.

We have two different class times (option 1, option 2)  to accommodate the various time zones as Haji Noor Hoca has students worldwide. 

Due to limited seating, we request that you cancel by July 15, 2025, to receive a full refund.

To apply for financial aid, fill out this form by June 1, 2025. Applications after this date will be considered case by case while funds last.

For inquiries, contact students@ummugulsumozaraz.click.

Due to Haji Noor Deen’s extensive travel schedule, classes may be taught by his master students or corrections will be done in an offline setting.

ABOUT OUR INSTRUCTOR

Haji Noor Deen

Haji Noor Deen is a renowned master of Arabic calligraphy. He was born in Yucheng, in the Shandong Province of China, in 1963. In 1997, he became the first individual from China to be awarded the Certificate of Arabic Calligrapher in Egypt after studying the calligraphic arts there for over ten years.

In 2017, after a period of study in Istanbul with Ottoman calligraphic master Hasan Celebi, Haji Noor Deen was honored with an Ijazah in the Ottoman Arabic Thuluth and Nasikh scripts, again becoming the first-ever Chinese person to do so.

His work focuses on writing Arabic using a combination of traditional Chinese calligraphic tools and techniques to fuse the Chinese and Arabic visual arts uniquely. Haji Noor Deen is also responsible for the formal codification of the ancient Arabic writing system in the Chinese tradition.

In 2019 for the first time in China, he honored 30 students with an Ijaza in Arabic Calligraphy in the Chinese style.

His work has been displayed in galleries and museums worldwide, including the British Museum, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, the National Museum of Scotland, and the Center for Government and International Studies (CGIS) at Harvard University.

He was also awarded the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Center 2016 Islamic Economy Award in the category of Islamic Arts.