I wish we could bring the magic back to Muslim cities...

Above: Our miniature depictions of the Great Mosque of Damascus, which was liberated this week, alhamdulillah..

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I grew up listening to stories and watching movies about famous Western cities—Paris, London, New York City, and the like. I knew so much about them long before I ever visited. In contrast, I knew far less about Muslim capitals like Damascus, Lahore, or Medina. I wish we could change that for our children.

Famous Muslim mapmakers of the past, such as Matrakçı Nasuh, brought Muslim cities to life through their gorgeously illustrated miniature-style maps. Rather than focusing on precise geography, they captured the essence of each city—its architecture, flora, and topography. This genre is captivating because it serves as a visual guide, bringing distant places to life.

This week, my children and I explored the Great Mosque of Damascus through miniatures, after spending the week watching videos of it filled with happy and free Syrians. We were mesmerized by the gold and green mosaics on its front portico, and pray that it will be safe to visit one day. My 3 year old niece also joined in, hence the pink rainbow version :)

Above: In lieu of subway ads, this month they had miniatures of Istanbul in all the trains.

Living in Istanbul, I find myself surrounded by miniature depictions of the city, from subway stations to restaurants. These artworks beautifully highlight what makes Istanbul so magical—the majestic masjids, palaces, iconic towers, the waves of the Bosphorus, and even the birds and dolphins. To bring a little of this magic into our rental apartment and help my kids connect with the city they live in, I decided to create a miniature mural of Istanbul in their room.

I started by projecting images of Istanbul onto the wall and tracing them. Then, I filled in the details with vibrant colors, adding touches of gold paint to emphasize the tips of the masjids and other special features. While the mural isn’t perfect, it’s brought so much joy and charm to their room. If you’re looking to create something similar, I highly recommend experimenting with a projector!

In my book, A Children's Study of Islamic Art, I dedicated a chapter to miniatures and mapmaking. It includes a hands-on activity where children can create their own miniature map of Mecca, inspired by the many historical examples of this art form. I would definitely recommend trying it out with the kids, its such an accessible art form! We also have a beloved gold-embellished print of the Kaba available on our website.

As my kids grow, I hope to explore making more miniature maps with them and will share our creations on Silsila’s Instagram. Next time we're drawing Aleppo, inshAllah.

With blessings,
Nushmia