Chances are that without knowing it, you have come across Hala AlAbbasi‘s illustrations over and over again in the past month, unaware that they were hers. 

Hala AlAbbasi is a young illustrator from Bahrain who usually uses her art, characterised by strong and bright colours, to represent aspects of the Arab world related to the female universe. On her Instagram profile, which she uses as her personal portfolio, the artist shares works such as the one she created for Vice Arabia for which, for example, she designed different ways of wearing the Hijab, the traditional veil that covers the head and shoulders. 

The most important collaboration, however, came about a month ago, when Instagram asked her to create some stickers that would allow people to share the joy and season of Ramadan even more fully. 
The initiative came about because this year was the second Ramadan experienced during the pandemic, and Instagram wanted to find a way to make its Muslim users feel even more united during such a holy time. 

In her own way, Hala AlAbbasi wanted to represent moments and symbols that characterise Ramadan, so the stickers depict a mosque at night lit by a crescent moon, the traditional date tea and a crescent moon surrounded by stars. 

But the story of the holy month did not end there. The artist continued to keep her followers company during the ṣawm, this time sharing three illustrations for which she was inspired by her favourite moments related to this holiday.
The drawings show a table laden with the traditional foods of Eid al-Fitr, the day that marks the end of the fast, as well as decorations in the shape of the moon and stars and, finally, Laylat al-Qadr, the night when, according to Muslims, Muhammad received the first revelation of the Koran.

Discover Hala AlAbbasi’s illustrations for Ramadan below and celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which falls today, by sharing them on Instagram!