
اسلام آباد
Islamabad.
“اندک اندک زين جهان هست و نيست
نيستان رفتند و هستان می رسنـــد”
Hast-o-Neest Institute of Traditional Studies & Arts - Islamabad
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Hast-o-Neest Karachi.
Hast-o-Neest’s objective is to create an environment of learning with teachers who can transmit traditional knowledge in its authentic form and spirit. Courses are developed by Hast-o-Neest in consultation with teachers, making each course or study-circle a creative exercise which more often than not leads to a continuous process of development for each course as well as further courses, and study-circles.
Hast o Neest aims to engage, research and explore tradition within specified disciplines, serving to invest intellectual, literary, artistic traditions - that tend to be forgotten or marginalized in the modern world.
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Hast-o-Neest is organized in five centres of knowledge - Arts, Architecture, Metaphysics & Philosophy, Languages, History & Cultural Studies - فنون - فن تعمیر- فلسفہ و عرفان - السنہ ء شرقیہ- تاریخ و ثقافت
Short Courses & Workshops - One-day workshops, and short courses of 3 months to one year - are held in the above mentioned subjects, online & in-person. The details of the study programs available in Islamabad are listed accordingly in this webpage, and are held at the space RKStudios or at Gallery 8b2 (See Locations)
Lectures, Sittings are regularly held at RK Studios (See Locations)
Note. Announcements of sittings, lectures & study circles are posted in the updates group, email list & social media platforms.
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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List of Lectures 2024/5
Defending Religion in Modernity - Dr. Syed Rizwan Zamir
Assoc. Prof. Davidson College (via Zoom link) - Host: Raza Kazim, June 2024
Development & Urbanism - Prof. Kamil Khan Mumtaz
- Host: Raza Kazim, September, 2024
Pivot of the Punjab: Historical Geography of Medieval Gujrat - Dr. James Jr. Wescoat & Dr. Abdul Rehman
- Host: Raza Kazim, November, 2024
𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐲 & 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢-𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 | 𝐷𝑟. 𝑄𝑎𝑖𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝑆ℎ𝑎ℎ𝑧𝑎𝑑 | ڈاکٹر قیصر شہزاد
- Host: Raza Kazim, November, 2024
An Introduction to the World of Chinese Brush Writing - Dr. Qaiser Shahzad (IIUI)
- Host: Raza Kazim, RKStudios - November 2024
- Host: Fatima Hamid, February 2025 at Gallery 8b2
Workshop: Geometry, Cosmology & Number - Ar. Taimoor Khan Mumtaz (Hast-o-Neest)
- Host: Raza Kazim, January 2025
In Search of the Timeless - Philosophy, Principles & Methods of Traditional Islamic Architecture - Ar. Taimoor Khan Mumtaz
- Host: Raza Kazim, April 2025
Riwayati Mussavari Introductory One-Day Workshop on Persian & Mughal Miniature Painting with Hezbar Ahmed (Hast-o-Neest)
- Host: Raza Kazim, April 2025
Syed Ali Naqvi Naqqan sahib's 'Quran Kay Andaz Guftagu.' Social Diversity & Ethics of Engagement - Mohsin Ali
(Economics and Political Science, University of Houston, TX.) - Host: Raza Kazim, May 2025
Calligraphy as Sacred Geometry - Master Calligrapher Ustad Rasheed Butt
- Host: Mohsin Ali & Raza Kazim, June 2025
Book Talk | The Extraordinary, Enchanted Lives of the Female Sufi Masters of the Afghan Empire (Harvard, 2026) | Dr. Waleed Ziad
YouTube Link
Host: Nuzhat Nobia Wazir & Muhammad Hadi, July 2025
Dr. Waleed Ziad is Associate Professor in History at Georgetown University (Qatar campus).
Short Courses on The Arts. (10 min) Teachers Presentations & Q&A.
Calligraphy - Ustad Syed al Hussaini, Chinese Brush Writing -Dr. Qaiser Shahzad (IIUI) & Miniature Painting - Sana Nizami (NCA-Hast-o-Neest)
Host: Raza Kazim
Friday 15th august, 6:00 pm
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If interested in receiving updates on Hast o Neest Islamabad activities, please message the following on hast.o.neest@gmail.com or on 0300 8493170 :
Full name, academic/professional background and preference for email &/or whatsapp group.
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Hast-o-Neest Institute of Traditional Studies & Arts Islamabad activites are held in two distinct locations, namely:
Short Courses, Workshops, Sittings, Lectures at RK Studios & Gallery 8b2
RK Studios | Office No.1, Basement Floor. Nasr Chambers, Street 70. E-11/3. Islamabad (On the corner- under Sindh bank)
Gallery 8b2 | Chak Shehzad Islamabad
Hast-o-Neest is grateful to RK Studios & Gallery 8b2 for providing their space for Islamabad activities.
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For any query:
Email: hast.o.neest@gmail.com
Mob: +92 0300 8493170 (Hast o Neest)
Mob: +92 334 545802 (RKStudios)
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To Apply for any Study Program: Send in Course Title (City), Applicant Name, Academic Background, Email Address & Whatsapp number on hast.o.neest@gmail.com or on 03008493170 with a short paragraph on the reason for applying.

Art Programs.
August/September 2025
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‘Naskh (like Sulus) is a cursive style with roundness in its characters. The script emerged in 310 AH and is still using for copying the Holy Quran. It basically crossed eleven centuries of its development which it took in several regions by different calligraphers.’
‘Sulus is an elegant, cursive script used historically in mosques. Various calligraphic styles evolved from Sulus through slight changes of form.’
TITLE & STRUCTURE:
The Traditional Calligraphy Program of the script (Quranic) Naskh* or the script Sulus (Select one Script) - based on the Urdu alphabet - with Ustad Syed al-Hussaini
*The Khat-e-Nashkh beginner program is a pre-cursor to starting Khat-e-Nastaliq Irani with Ustad Syed al-Hussaini. In other words, calligraphy students can opt to begin Khat-e-Nastaliq Irani after completing the beginner Naskh program or can choose to continue with Khat-e-Naskh at an advanced level.
Beginner - 6 months - Fridays, 5:30 to 7:30 pm; in-person only - Starting 29th August 2025; Contributing Fee: PKR 6000 per month.
OUTLINE:
The Beginner Program is for adults who have no/some background in calligraphy. The program covers the practice of mufridat, or single letter (anatomy & formation) of the alphabet.
خط کے بنیادی مفردات اور دستور
The beginner program includes aspects of calligraphy such as:
Using a Traditional Reed Qalam
Setting the Paper for Practice
Types of Ink & preparing the Dawat - Inkpot
Other Tools of Calligraphy
Philosophy & background of the Art of Calligraphy in the Islamic World
ABOUT CALLIGRAPHY:
‘From the 700s, the Koran had been copied only in the kufic, a formal, rectilinear script associated with the city of Kufa in southern Iraq. By the 900s, however, a series of flowing curvilinear scripts (including Naskh) evolved that came to surpass kufic in religious, government, and private use.’
ABOUT THE USTAD:
Ustad Syed al-Hussaini’s approach to teaching is a philosophical-intellectual based traditional method with a daily practice, mashq discipline.
Ustad Sajid Abbas Naqvi ‘Syed al-Hussaini’ has an Ijazah in Khat-e-Nastaliq from Ustad Irfan Ahmed Khan (President Calligraph-Artists’ Guild Pakistan). Sajid Abbas has also studied under Iranian master-calligrapher Ustad Nasir Jawaharpur a former office-bearer of the Anjman-e-Khushnawisan-e-Iran.
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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Introduction to Chinese Brush Writing - Level- 1 with Dr. Qaiser Shahzad (Assoc. Prof., IIUI)
Objectives:
I. To Understand:
1. essential primary facts and details about Chinese language
2. origin, history, underlying philosophical and spiritual principles and the cultural significance of Chinese Calligraphy
3. the Calligrapher-Calligraphy intimate connection
4. the characteristic feature of major scripts and styles of Chinese Calligraphy
5. the arts and crafts allied with calligraphy, like painting, seal-cutting and mounting
II. To Learn
1. The brush hold, brush movement techniques, and using inkstick and inkstone.
2. To write basic strokes constituting the Chinese Characters
3. to write Chinese characters of cultural and spiritual significance, primarily, in the Regular, Small Seal and Semi cursive scripts
4. to brush selected characters, shapes and figures in Zen style.
STRUCTURE:
3 hours; fortnightly; 3+3+3+3 Months; Offline/In Person; Saturdays, 4:00 to 6:00 pm; Contributing Fee is PKR 6000 per month.
Starting Saturday 30th August 2025
Materials:[1]
· Brush: Wolf Hair (1 medium; 1 large); Goat Hair (1 medium; 1 large)
· Paper: (News Print/Kite Paper/Old Newspapers+ Xuan Paper with Rice Grid Pattern)
· Ink: Liquid (Sumi-e/Chinese)- Inkstick + Inkstone
· Accessories: Ink-dish- Paperweights-Brush Rest-Felt Sheet/Old Newspapers-Water dropper/small container
· Practice Book (to be provided by H&N)
Pre-Requisites:
· Nothing special; commitment, resolve and time.
· Knowledge of Chinese language is NOT required.
Prospective Benefits
· Chinese calligraphy is the doorway for the understanding of Chinese (and East Asian) culture and thought. {The pictographic origin and philosophical significance of characters practiced shall be explained. Characters have been carefully selected in view of their gradual complexity, helpfulness in revision and intellectual significance}
· Can provide great motivation and groundwork for learning Chinese (and Japanese) language. {A bonus feature of this course would be learning how to construct more characters by adding strokes to those learnt here, thus facilitating vocabulary building.}
· Teaches mental and physical discipline, is helpful in rectifying the posture and is generally very calming and relaxing activity
· Opens up new vistas of artistic creativity for people interested in other forms of Art and Calligraphy
Week 1
Theory
Practice
Regular
Small Seal Shapes
Characters
1. Origin &History
2. Scripts &Styles
3. Materials
4. Getting Ready
1. Holding and loading the Brush
2. Basic Brush Movements
Tip Techniques: Side/Centre; Concealed/ Exposed; Pressing-Lifting
上 下
Above; Below;
川
River
[1] Suggestion: For the first month brushes, liquid ink and practice papers can be provided by me (if the student are between 5-10, meanwhile the learners can order/ purchase the materials for themselves.
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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TITLE & STRUCTURE:
Traditional Persian Mughal Painting - Riwayati Mussavari (Miniatures) Program with Sana Nizami
Beginner - 6 months - Once a week on Saturdays, 6::30 to 8:00 pm; in-person only - Starting 30th August 2025; Contributing Fee: PKR 6000 per month.
(Application is also open throughout the year).
OUTLINE:
The Beginner Program is for adults who have no/some background in traditional painting. The program covers the following:
Beginner | Pencil, Line, Tone, Texture with one complete composition in pencil; 3 Months
Beginner-2 | Two paintings on wasli, siah qalam & neem rung technique; 3 Months
ABOUT MUSSAVARI
‘In the royal House of Books (Ketabkhana), which housed the library as well as being the place where manuscripts were created, artists were directed by two Iranian masters formerly in the service of his father, to produce a new style of book painting. Many of the calligraphers, bookbinders and illuminators who worked with them were also Iranian.’
About the Teacher
Sana Nizami is a NCA Fine Arts Graduate. She learnt miniature painting from Fyza Noon at Hast-o-Neest Lahore.
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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To Apply for any Study Program: Send in Course Title (City), Applicant Name, Academic Background, Email Address & Whatsapp number on hast.o.neest@gmail.com or on 03008493170 with a short paragraph on the reason for applying.

Sittings, Lectures.
2025.

Social Diversity & Ethics of Engagement by Mohsin Ali

Number, Cosmology & Geometry by Taimoor Khan Mumtaz

Taimoor Khan Mumtaz, Raza Kazim, Bilal Ashraf & guests

Defending Religion in Modernity by Dr. Syed Rizwan Zamir


An Introduction to the World of Chinese Brush Writing by Dr. Qaiser Shahzad

Dr. Qaiser Shahzad

Gallery 8b2