All we wanted was to win!

If you told me three years ago that I would be here, with an amazing passion for Arabic calligraphy, I might have laughed and asked, “With that talent?”

You see, I have a knack for looking down on my potential. I sometimes overlook the possible greatness that could come out of my mind or my hands. I occasionally hear this bugging noise at the back of my head—almost like the buzzing of a mosquito—that pops up anytime I want to do something creative or profound.

However, this time was different. All we had was a dream (to win the Umrah Challenge) and Five Below canvases. And so, the journey began. My siblings and I stayed up late, copying designs line for line, curve for curve, from every Pinterest image we felt we could imitate. Although our finished products at the time were nothing compared to the originals we were copying, at least we had something palpable.

So we sold — and we sold out! We raised money, even more than we imagined.Now, did we win the challenge? Keep reading to find out.

What started as a moment of copying random art pieces from Pinterest became a daily ritual. I found myself constantly looking up different calligraphy pieces to recreate. If you ask me, I just wanted the thrill of proving to myself that I am talented.

As someone who always chose art electives in high school—ceramics, structure, etc.—I wanted to prove that I was truly creative, not just a fluke. I often compared my work with others in class and felt incomparable. And quite fairly, they were at an unbelievable level. But I am now learning that everyone’s talent and creativity is different.

So when I created these copies, and they looked good, I was thrilled. I felt... talented?

Fast forward to 2022, months after the Umrah Challenge — I’m in my bedroom, sketching and painting away on my five-dollar canvas. Creating original pieces, getting inspired by the materials and experiences around me. (Creativity can be stressful — a topic for another day!)

But the joy I felt holding the pencil as I outlined the letters, as I painted inside the lines, as I splattered paint in the background, as I varnished each piece — was indescribable.

Piece after piece, I was just happy to be talented at something.
Something that made me feel whole. Something that made me feel accomplished.

And no, we didnt win the challennge, but I guess I won at something else?

So here’s to the Umrah Challenge, Masjid Mumineen, the Five Below canvases, and my craving for creativity and talent. 

~ With love,
Huroof