On a sunny day in September 2023, Al Huda Masjid in Dunedin was abuzz with excitement. It was the open day event, organized by the MUSA (University of Otago Muslim University Students’ Association) and the Otago Muslim Association. The highlight of the day was an Islamic art exhibition and workshop that would bring people together, inspire creativity, and celebrate our faith. Waqas also wrote names of the people in bespoke Arabic calligraphy who attended the open day.

The star of the show was the “illumination collection.” These artworks were special because they were inspired by Dhikar – a way to remember Allah SWT. Dhikar is like a comforting, peaceful feeling deep in our hearts. It makes us happy and content. At the heart of Dhikar are the “Tasbihaat,” special words that Muslims learn from a young age. These words are a part of our daily lives, and they’re so important that some say they should be written in gold.

But the day wasn’t just about looking at art; it was about making art too. In the art workshop, people from all backgrounds joined in. Some had never painted before, but they were excited to give it a try. With the help of Waqas and Sameera, everyone learned how to create beautiful backgrounds for their art.

The best part was when they added bespoke Arabic calligraphy to their paintings. This special writing made their art even more meaningful and unique. As the day went on, you could see joy on everyone’s faces. People of all ages left the workshop with their own artworks, and you could tell these paintings meant a lot to them.

But what made this event even more special was the sense of community. People from the local community came together. They wanted to do more art workshops like this, to learn and grow together.

This day wasn’t just about art; it was about bringing our community closer together. It showed us the power of coming together and celebrating our faith and culture.