Ilm for Kids
Worksheet Corner โ€บ Islamic Art
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What Is Islamic Art?

Read, then fill in the gaps.

๐Ÿ“ GeometryPatterns made from circles, stars and shapes that repeat again and again, often without end.
๐ŸŒฟ ArabesqueCurling plants, leaves and flowers that weave together into beautiful designs.
โœ’๏ธ CalligraphyBeautiful Arabic writing, often of the Qur'an or the names of Allah, on walls, domes and books.
๐Ÿ•Œ ArchitectureDomes, arches, minarets and courtyards, decorated with tiles, carved wood and stone.
Muslim artists mostly decorated mosques and books with patterns, plants and beautiful writing. Their repeating patterns remind us of the order and beauty that Allah placed in His creation.
โ€œAllah is beautiful and loves beauty.โ€Sahih Muslim 91
  1. Beautiful Arabic writing is called ____________.
  2. Curling leaves and flowers are called ____________.
  3. Stars and shapes that repeat make a ____________ pattern.
calligraphyarabesquegeometric
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Famous Places of Islamic Art

Match each building to where it is and what it is famous for.

The Alhambra
Agra, India: white marble, calligraphy and inlaid flowers
The Blue Mosque
Jerusalem: a golden dome over the Rock, with shining mosaics
The Taj Mahal
Granada, Spain: walls covered in tile patterns and carved plaster
The Dome of the Rock
Isfahan, Iran: domes covered in blue and gold tiles
The Shah Mosque
Istanbul, Turkey: thousands of blue Iznik tiles inside

If you could visit one, which would you choose and why?

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Draw an 8-Pointed Star

Follow the steps, using a ruler. This star is found all over the Muslim world!

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  1. Draw a circle (use a compass or trace round a cup).
  2. Draw a square that just fits inside the circle.
  3. Draw another square, turned like a diamond, on top of the first.
  4. Go over the outside edge of the star, and add a small circle in the middle. Now colour it!

Your turn

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Mirror Symmetry

Islamic patterns are often symmetrical. Complete the right side so it mirrors the left. The red line is the mirror.

Tip: count the dots! If a line on the left is 2 dots from the mirror, draw it 2 dots from the mirror on the right.
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Colour the Tile Pattern

Colour this repeating pattern. Can you use the same colour for all the stars, and another for the diamonds?

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Calligraphy: Beautiful Writing

Trace the grey words, then try writing them yourself.

Bismillah: In the name of Allah
ุจูุณู’ู…ู ุงู„ู„ู‘ูฐู‡ู
Alhamdulillah: All praise is for Allah
ุงู„ู’ุญูŽู…ู’ุฏู ู„ูู„ู‘ูฐู‡ู
SubhanAllah: Glory be to Allah
ุณูุจู’ุญูŽุงู†ูŽ ุงู„ู„ู‘ูฐู‡ู

Match the script to its description

Kufic
Round and clear, used in most copies of the Qur'an
Naskh
Big and flowing, often on mosque walls and domes
Thuluth
Square and angular, one of the oldest styles
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Arabesque Rosette

Colour the flowers, leaves and star. Then design your own tile in the square below.

Answer Key โ€” Islamic Art

What is Islamic art?

calligraphy ยท arabesque ยท geometric

Famous places

Alhambra โ†’ Granada, Spain ยท Blue Mosque โ†’ Istanbul, Turkey ยท Taj Mahal โ†’ Agra, India ยท Dome of the Rock โ†’ Jerusalem ยท Shah Mosque โ†’ Isfahan, Iran

Calligraphy scripts

Kufic โ†’ square and angular, one of the oldest ยท Naskh โ†’ round and clear, used in most copies of the Qur'an ยท Thuluth โ†’ big and flowing, on mosque walls and domes

Mirror symmetry