ڪراچي
کراچی
Karachi.
“اندک اندک زين جهان هست و نيست
نيستان رفتند و هستان می رسنـــد”
Hast-o-Neest Institute of Traditional Studies & Arts - Karachi
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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 - 3 month to one year - are held in the above mentioned subjects, online & in-person. The details of the study programs available in Karachi are listed accordingly in this webpage.
The details of sittings, lectures & study circles are posted/announced 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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Ibn Muqla Centre of the Arts list of Arts Study Programs/Courses for 2025 are:
Geometric Design of the Islamic World - Ustad Rizwanullah Khan
In-person only.
Calligraphy - Ustad Amir Asghar
In-person only
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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The Panini Centre of Languages list of offered short courses/study programs for 2025 are:
Urdu Poetics & Prosody - Ustad Hijaz Naqvi
In-Person & online
Passion-Centric Life through Wisdom of the Sub-Continent - Ustad Hijaz Naqvi
In-person & online
Farsi Through Urdu - Level 1 - Ustad Fazel Rizvi
Quranic Arabic - Fusha - Ustad Fazel Rizvi
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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Ibn Arabi Centre of Philosophy & Metaphysics list of offered courses/study programs for 2025 are:
عشقیہ نظریہ حیات برصغیر کی فکری روایت میں | A Love/Passion-Centric Life through Wisdom of the Subcontinent - Part 1 - Syed Hijaz Naqvi
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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If interested in receiving updates on Hast o Neest Karachi 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 Karachi activites are held in two distinct locations, namely:
Study Programs/Courses, Sittings, Lectures are held at Danish-o-Ramish | 6th Floor, 19/1A Shahrah-e-Faisal, Block 6 PECHS, Karachi, 75400
Lectures (only) are held at The Lyceum School - 78 Hatim Alvi Rd, Block 5 Defence V Clifton, Karachi, 75600
Hast-o-Neest is grateful to Danish-o-Ramish & The Lyceum for providing their space for Karachi activities.
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For any query:
Email: hast.o.neest@gmail.com
Mob: +92 0300 8493170 (Hast o Neest)
Mob: +92 331 3801071 (Danish-o-Ramish)
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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.
Arts.
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Geometric Designs of the Islamic World with Rizwanullah Khan (BFA USA · Founder Islamic Arts Program, Department of Visual Studies, University of Karachi)
This beginner course is aimed to introduce foundational principles of symmetrical geometric designs as being used particularly in different forms of art throughout The Islamic World and generally in other traditions.
Course Methodology/Structure/Contributing Fee: There will be one class in a week; three months; in-person & online; Saturdays, 11:30 pm to 1:30 pm; Starting 14th June 2025
Contributing Fee is PKR 6000 per month. Full fee is PKR 18,000/- The method of payment will be provided to enrolled applicants.
In class different designs will be introduced, and students would have to follow that in addition to assignments/mashq which are compulsory for the course.
No mathematics-background required. Applicants should be prepared to work with a compass and ruler.
Course Outline:
Introduction to Islamic arts, slideshow & video, how to recognize patterns and grids
Drawing horizontal and vertical lines, Circles, triangles and squares. Abul Wafa al Buzjani’s construction of a square. The Six petal and four petal grids
The Star of David used to subdivide circle into 12 parts. Four kinds of 12-pointed stars.. The famous ‘arrowhead’ 12 pointed star.
The Star of Solomon. The Nafs ur Rajhman pattern, and its variations. The subcontinental four-petal grid, & designs derived therefrom such as the Eight sandals and the Masjid Wazir Khan floor pattren, etc.
The five pointed and 10 pt. Stars, the Umm ul Girih [the mother of the knots]. The 3 best ways of constructing 5 geometry: Euclidean, Vesica Pisces and using Protractor. Famous patterns including those from Masjid Wazir Khan, Mamluk Qur’ans, and the al-Mustansaryah Madrasa Baghdad, Fatehpur Sikri etc.
.Drawing arches: Mughal arches, Roman and Arabic acrh. Persian arches no 7 & 17 from Hilli’s book. The Horseshoe arch.
.Various other geometric figures: 7 & 9 pt starsd. Ovals ellipses and spirals. Using graph paper and isometric grids to construct patterns, including Kufic geometric calligrams.
Required materials/tools
Pencil, Paper, Compasses, Protractor
Books:
سید اکبر حلی، گرہ ہا و قوس ہا در معماری اسلامی، ناشر سید اکبر حلی ، چھاپ خانہ مہر، قُم، ایران ۔ آن لائن دستیاب ہے۔
Topkapi Scrolls, by Prof. Gulru Naqipoglu .توپ کاپی قرطاس، پروفیسر گلرو نجیب اولو، ترکی۔ آن لائن دستیاب ہے۔
[further reading] دیگر مفید کتابیں [مجوّزہ]
اصطلاحاتِ پیشہ وراں، مولوی ظفر الرحمن دھلوی، ۵ جلد، انجمن ترقئ اردو ، کراچی
کتابچہ در ہندسی نقاشی تالیف کردہ استاد تیمور خان ممتاز معمار، انجمنِ معماراں
لاھور
مقالاتِ سلیمان، علامہ سید سلیمان ندوی، ۲ جلد، پاکستان قومی بک فاؤنڈیشن ، اسلام آباد ۱۹۸۹
Daud Sutton, Islamic Design, a genius for Geometry, Wooden Books, UK Reprint.
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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Traditional Calligraphy – Scripts Khat e Riqa, Khat e Naskh & Khat e Nastaleeq with Ustad Amir Asghar (With over 20 years experience, Ustad Amir teaches at TCF, IBA & Karachi University)
This program is an introduction to the world of calligraphy through three traditional scripts, namely, khat e riqa, khat e naskh & khat e nastaliq Irani.
Course Structure/Contributing Fee
It is a three month beginner program ; twice a week on Fridays & Saturdays 6:00 to 8:00 pm; in-person only; starting 14th June, 2025.
Those students of Ustad Amir who have completed the beginner program can also continue their advanced calligraphy journey at the same days & timings.
The contributing fee is PKR 6000/- per month. Full fee for three months is PKR 18,000/- The method of payment will be provided to enrolled applicants.
Enrolled applicants will be provided with the list of materials required.
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
Languages.
Read Classics in Original Language.
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Farsi through Urdu – Level 1, 2 & 3 – with Ustad Fazel Rizvi (With over 15 years of teaching experience, Ustad Fazel teaches at Habib University)
This language program is a comprehensive study of the Farsi language in three levels; the first two levels cover grammar and vocabulary while the third is a classical texts reading exercise. It is taught by Ustad Fazel by his unique method of teaching Farsi - grammar and vocabulary - through Urdu; In addition to teaching the Farsi language the program strengthens Urdu language foundations as well.
Course Methodology/Structure/Contributing Fee:
A course text book will be provided in pdf format.
The first two levels are four month programs, held bi-weekly.
Level 1 is on Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:00 to 7:00 pm. Online & In-person.
Contributing Fee: PKR 5000 per month; PKR 20,000/ Full Fee, Level 1. The method of payment will be provided to enrolled applicants.
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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Fusha Quranic Arabic – Level 1,2 & 3 – with Ustad Fazel Rizvi (With over 15 years of teaching experience, Ustad Fazel teaches at Habib University)
This language program is a comprehensive study of Classical Quranic Arabic - Fusha in three levels; the first two levels cover grammar and vocabulary while the third is a classical texts reading exercise.
Course Methodology/Structure/Contributing Fee:
A course text book will be provided in pdf format.
The first two levels are four month programs, held bi-weekly.
Level 1 is on Mondays & Wednesdays, 7:15 to 8:15 pm. Online & In-person.
Contributing Fee: PKR 5000 per month; PKR 20,000/ Full Fee, Level 1. The method of payment will be provided to enrolled applicants.
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
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Ilm e Uruz or Poetics/Prosody in Urdu Literature with Syed Hijaz Naqvi (Poet, Author)
The program is based on the book ‘Urdu Shairi ki Kitab’ by Syed Hijaz Mehdi.
Course Outline: The program covers Wazn, Radeef & Qafiya; the difference between Nazm & Ghazal; how to get your own thoughts in Urdu Poetry; how to recite an Urdu Verse; Classical and Contemporary Urdu Poets and their Poetry.
Course Structure/Contributing Fee.
Three Month Duration: Total Classes: 12; Once a week: Saturdays. 5:00 to 6:00 pm; in-person & online. Starting 14th June, 2025.
The contributing fee is PKR 6000/- per month; Full fee for three months is PKR 18,000/-. The method of payment will be provided to enrolled applicants.
A copy of the book is for PKR 850/-
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
Philosophy & Metaphysics.
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A Love/Passion-Centric Life through Wisdom of the Subcontinent - Part 1 - Hijaz Naqvi (Author, Poet)
Course Methodology/Structure/Contributing Fee:
The program is based on select classical poetry and folklore which will be discussed with the Ustad.
Sessions are once a week on Sundays, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Online & In-person. Starting 14th June, 2025
Contributing Fee: PKR 6000 per month; Full fee for three months is PKR 18,000/. The method of payment will be provided to enrolled applicants.
Important Note. The short course/study programs begin after a minimum of 5 committed applicants are enrolled.
In Search of Wisdom in the Modern Age.
Ustad Amir Asghar - Calligraphy
Taimoor K Mumtaz - Architecture
Ustad Rizwanullah Khan - Geometric Design
Ustad Hijaz Naqvi - Poetics