Sylla's Art Studio

Reflecting on the beauty of The Quran through contemporary oil painting techniques

Current Series

Explore SyLLA's current series, the Quran through Art

The Dawn of Mercy

وَالضُّحَىٰ وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ — "

By the morning brightness — your Lord has not forsaken you, nor does He hate you." — Surah Ad-Dhuha 93:1–3

This painting was born from one of the darkest times in my life.

I was failing the standard I had set for myself. I felt extremely lonely. In that despair I turned to Tahajjud — and to Surah Ad-Dhuha.

وَالضُّحَىٰ وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ "By the morning brightness, and by the night when it grows still — your Lord has not forsaken you, nor does He hate you." — Surah Ad-Dhuha 93:1–3

These words were revealed to the Prophet ﷺ during a period of silence — when the revelation had paused and his enemies were saying Allah had abandoned him. And then the dawn broke. And Allah said: I have not left you.

Mosquée de la divinité

This painting is a pursuit of a feeling I experienced during an evening in Dakar, Senegal. While heading toward a mosque for Maghrib prayer, the sight of the sun setting behind its silhouette was an unexpected treasure—a fleeting moment of profound peace that no photograph could ever capture.

The effort to translate this spiritual awe onto canvas was long and meticulous, but the result was that much sweeter. This work is a visual testament to the guiding principle found in Surah An-Najm (53:39): "that man will only have what he has worked towards." It is a reminder that the greatest rewards, both spiritual and artistic, are born from earnest effort and dedication.

Masjid An Nabawi

I painted this piece as an anchor for my own soul. It began in a moment of overwhelming longing, a sincere yearning to be back in that blessed city where the Prophet (ﷺ) lived and built. The oil, brush, and canvas became my way of holding onto the unmatched peace of Madinah, helping me remember what it feels like to be there—the emotions, the stillness, the clear devotion. When the world outside gets loud, this canvas is the gem I pull out of the ocean of memory to remind me of where my heart truly rests.

This painting is intended to be a piece of that very peace brought into your home. It’s for the Muslim who knows the feeling of that sacred city and desires a constant, sincere reminder to center their focus.

Older works

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