Kulsoom Raza | Sirat Al-Mustaqim

My name is Kulsoom Raza – founder of Taswiir– with a lifelong passion for visual storytelling rooted in Islamic values. I began this pursuit at 15 – painting murals, designing a textbook cover for my high school, and soon creating thematic profiles for auctions in Toronto. These opportunities allowed me to connect my art with audiences who share a reverence for history, culture, and traditional beauty. My work is inspired by Islamic history, with visual influence drawn from ancient Persian manuscripts and Mughal paintings. I carefully weave together details of Sa’di’s poetry, the intellectual legacy of Sheikh Tusi, and reinterpret the magnificence of Mughal emperors who commissioned some of the world’s most intricate miniature art. Through this blend of scripture and philosophy, my paintings seek to revive a lineage of devotion within the Persian miniature tradition– one that has gradually faded with modernization and the disappearance of ancient craftsmanship.

 

Surah Al-Fatiha Verses 1-7
{1:1-7}

ْسِم
ِ
ِن ٱهَّلل ب ِ
ٱل َّر ِحيِم ٱل َّر ْح َمٰـ
َح ْمُد
ْ
ٱل ِ
َعٰـلَ هَّلِل َر ِّب ِمي َن هَّلِل
ْ
ٱل
ِن
ٱل َّر ِحيِم ٱل َّر ْح َمٰـ
ِن يَ ْوم َم ِ ٰـلِ ِك
ٱل ِّدي
ِإ نَ ْعبُ ُد يَّا َك ِإيَّا َك
ِعي ُن َوِإ
نَ ْستَ

ٱ ْه ِدنَا
ٱل ِّص َر ٰ طَ
ُم ْستَقِيمَ
ْ
ٱل
ِص َر ِذي َن ٰ طَ
ٱل َعْم َت َّ
نْ
ِر َعلَ ْي ِه َأ ْم َأ
َمْغ ُضو ِب َغْي
ي َن َواَل َعلَ ْي ِه ٱل ْم ْ
ٱل َّضآلِّ

In the Name of Allah– the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
All praise is for Allah– Lord of all worlds,
the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Master of the Day of Judgment.
You 'alone' we worship and You 'alone' we ask for help.
Guide us along the Straight Path, the Path of those You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or who are astray.                                     

Drawing inspiration from 18th-century Mughal miniature traditions, this painting uses detailed
imagery to explore the importance of seeking guidance through supplication. At its core, Surah Al-Fatiha is a plea for direction and clarity, reminding us of our ongoing need for a greater purpose. The elements within this work underscore the connection between our belief system and our everyday lives, inviting us to reflect critically on how they shape one another. Through the use of natural symbolism, this painting showcases how creation itself serves as a source of guidance. Faith not only provides strength, but also offers a framework for comfort and balance in the face of life’s complexities. Islamic principles, for this reason, are relevant in all facets of life. Seeking direction through these principles becomes essential in navigating our
challenges, ultimately grounding us in something far greater than ourselves.those who are astray