Saadiyah Wazeer | Na’layn Series: Ittiba

Saadiyah Halima
Visual Artist | Islamic Calligraphy | Stained Glass Specialist
Saadiyah Halima is a Chennai-born visual artist with over 28 years of experience specializing in Islamic calligraphy and stained glass techniques. She holds both a Bachelor's and Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Stella Maris College, University of Madras, India.

Her artistic journey began during her high school years, driven by a deep appreciation for fine arts. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she found her calling in stained glass—an expressive medium that allowed her to explore the spiritual and visual depth of Islamic art in innovative ways. Deeply inspired by the beauty of Quranic verses and the sacred geometry embedded in Islamic design, her work reflects a unique synthesis of tradition and personal devotion.
Saadiyah’s stained glass pieces are notable for their meticulous craftsmanship and vibrant color palettes. Using colored glass of varying textures, she creates compositions that integrate Arabic calligraphy with contemporary aesthetics.

Her works have been exhibited in cultural centers and galleries across India (Chennai and Bangalore), Mauritius, and Toronto, Canada. She has held ten solo exhibitions in these locations, gaining recognition for her distinctive style and technique. Over the past two decades, her work has reached a global audience, with commissioned pieces collected by clients in Singapore, the United States, Australia, Dubai, Germany, London, and Toronto.

Ittiba, meaning "to follow" or "to emulate," is part of my ongoing Na'layn series, inspired by the symbolic form of the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) sandals. This stained glass work reflects the spiritual concept of following the Prophet's example while exploring the relationship between Islamic tradition and modern abstraction. Inspired by the visual language of Piet Mondrian, I have incorporated the word Ittiba in Thuluth calligraphy within a composition of primary colours and bold black lines. By combining the geometric simplicity of modern abstract art with the discipline of Islamic calligraphy, I seek to create a dialogue between contemporary artistic expression and a rich artistic heritage.

The use of primary colours also recalls my early fascination with stained glass and the love of art that began in my childhood. Through this work, I explore how faith, memory, and artistic tradition can coexist within a contemporary visual language.