MASHQ STUDIOستوديو مشق
العربية

Learn Naskh, step by step

This path has 43 lessons, from the pen and the dot to whole lines from a master’s sheet. You write on your screen with your finger, the mouse or an iPad pen, and each letter is measured in dots.

How a lesson goes

Each letter goes through four steps. You move on when your score reaches the pass mark of the step.

  1. 1Over the faint letterPass mark 80%
  2. 2Inside the hollow letterPass mark 70%
  3. 3Beside the modelPass mark 60%
  4. 4From memoryPass mark 55%

Writing beside the model is the calligraphers’ own way, the mashq. The faint and the hollow letter are aids of today. A lesson is passed, and kept on your device, when you write it from memory.

خط النسخ
The measure of Naskh: the alif stands five dots tall. A dot is the pen drawn its own width, and every letter is measured in dots.

Level 1 · The pen and the dot

The dot, and the alif that measures every letter.

2 lessonsFree

  1. 1Start hereاThe alif: the yardstick of every letter
  2. 2ب نThe dot: one pen-width, the measure of every letter

Level 1 is free: 2 lessons. The other 41 lessons of Naskh come with a plan, from AED 15 a month.

See the plansI have a plan

Level 2 · The single letters (mufradat)

Every letter on its own, family by family.

15 lessonsWith a plan

  1. 3ب ت ثBaa familywith a plan
  2. 4ن يNoon and yaa: the bowlswith a plan
  3. 5ج ح خJeem familywith a plan
  4. 6د ذDaal familywith a plan
  5. 7ر زRaa familywith a plan
  6. Check 1 of 3Six letters of lessons 3 to 7, from memory, in a new order.After lessons 3 to 7
  7. 8س شSeen familywith a plan
  8. 9ص ضSaad familywith a plan
  9. 10ط ظṬaa familywith a plan
  10. 11ع غAin familywith a plan
  11. 12ف قFaa and qaafwith a plan
  12. Check 2 of 3Six letters of lessons 8 to 12, from memory, in a new order.After lessons 8 to 12
  13. 13كKaafwith a plan
  14. 14لLaamwith a plan
  15. 15مMeemwith a plan
  16. 16ه وHaa and wawwith a plan
  17. 17ة ى ءTaa marbuta, alif maqsura, hamzawith a plan
  18. Check 3 of 3Six letters of lessons 13 to 17, from memory, in a new order.After lessons 13 to 17

Level 3 · Joins

How letters join, such as لا and لم.

11 lessonsWith a plan

Lessons 18 to 25 and 41 to 43
  1. 18لا لمLam-alif and lam-meemwith a plan
  2. 19بب بنTeeth joinswith a plan
  3. 20سم سنSeen joinswith a plan
  4. 21عن عمAin joinswith a plan
  5. 22فن قلFaa and qaaf joinswith a plan
  6. 23كل كمKaaf joinswith a plan
  7. 24مح لحJoins into the jeem familywith a plan
  8. 25هم بهHaa joinswith a plan
  9. 41جم حلJeem joinswith a plan
  10. 42صل ضمSaad joinswith a plan
  11. 43طل ظلṬaa joinswith a plan
  12. Level checkFour joins you have not practised, from memory.After lessons 18 to 25 and 41 to 43

Level 4 · Words (murakkabat)

Short words, such as قلم and سلام.

6 lessonsWith a plan

Lessons 26 to 31
  1. 26من فيTwo-letter wordswith a plan
  2. 27على قلمThe penwith a plan
  3. 28حبر خطInk and linewith a plan
  4. 29مشق كتبPractice and bookswith a plan
  5. 30نور سلامLight and peacewith a plan
  6. 31بيت عينHouse and eyewith a plan
  7. Level checkThree words you have not practised, from memory.After lessons 26 to 31

Level 5 · Lines from a master’s sheet

Whole lines from a master’s sheet, the basmala among them.

6 lessonsWith a plan

Most of these lines carry the name of God. Keep the sheets you write them on, or part with them respectfully: never with the rubbish.

Lessons 32 to 37
  1. 32الله ولي التوفيقGod grants successwith a plan
  2. 33أستغفر الله مما كانI seek God’s forgiveness for what has beenwith a plan
  3. 34إن البذاذة من الإيمانPlainness is part of faithwith a plan
  4. 35سبحانك اللهم وبحمدكGlory be to You, O God, and with Your praisewith a plan
  5. 36بسم الله الرحمن الرحيمIn the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Mercifulwith a plan
  6. 37أعوذ بالله السميع العليم من الشيطان الرجيمI seek refuge in God, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from Satan the outcastwith a plan
  7. Level checkOne line you see for the first time, laid out by you and written from memory.After lessons 32 to 37

Level 6 · Composition

Two of those lines, set together on one page.

3 lessonsWith a plan

These lines carry the name of God. Keep the sheets you write them on, or part with them respectfully: never with the rubbish.

Lessons 38 to 40
  1. 38سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك إن البذاذة من الإيمانTwo lines on one page: the tasbihwith a plan
  2. 39بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الله ولي التوفيقTwo lines on one page: the basmalawith a plan
  3. 40أعوذ بالله السميع العليم من الشيطان الرجيم أستغفر الله مما كانTwo lines on one page: seeking refugewith a plan
  4. The closing pieceThe closing piece of the path: one line, written from memory. Write it as often as you like; your best is kept.After lessons 38 to 40

Free to design anywhere · made in the UAE · delivered in the UAE for AED 25 (AED 50 for a paint) and worldwide for AED 250 per order