Aamina Nizar Photography

05/09/2025

It’s Milad-un-Nabi in Sri Lanka. The holiday to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. These are pictures from his mosque in Medina. Built in 623 AD, the mosque today has some innovative features to keep the place shaded. Swipe to see! Designed by German architect Mahmoud Bodo Rasch. They give Medina a mix of history and modernity.

Growing up I didn’t usually celebrate Milad. Over the years, I’ve appreciated getting to know the life of the Prophet in better detail. There’s lessons to be learned about the gentleness, strength and patience of one who was close to God and the leader of his people.

‘Salla-llāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallama” (May the peace and blessings of God be upon him.

07/06/2025

My mum explained how the Hajj gives us a glimpse of what it is to be a refugee. To be away from home, with few possessions, among others strange to you, wearing the same clothes and sharing crowded spaces. Many refugees go through far worse ofcourse. However pilgrimages make us go outside our comfort zone, make us sacrifice, while teaching us humility and unity.

In this image are pilgrims circling the Ka’ba in a ritual called ‘Tawaf.’

As the Hajj ends, may its messages stay with us always.

Eid Mubarak everyone!

05/06/2025

Cats of Mecca and Medina.

Today is the last day of the hajj rituals in Mecca. In Islam, the day of Arafat is considered one of the blessed days of the year. These are few glimpses of my Umrah there in 2016. Continuing the posts from this set from a year back.

12/06/2024

Pilgrims, 2016

It’s the days leading up to Hajj this year. And I thought I’d share a few images from my Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in 2016. The Hajj is the pilgrimage every Muslim is bound to take if they can afford it. A pilgrim enters a purified state of ‘Ihram’ where dressed similar to ascetics, they abide by specific rules as they embark on the rituals. The Ihram brings a sense of equality and fraternity among everyone there.

Men are not allowed to cover their heads and wear two unstitched pieces of cloth, and keep one shoulder open. While women are allowed to wear simple stitched clothing. The rules of abstention from sexual relations, hunting, perfume, and carrying weapons is forbidden to both. They are also not allowed to cut their hair and nails.

I’ll post about some of the other rituals in the next few posts. Wishing those on the hajj this year a safe and blessed journey!

12/02/2024

Jananath, Saman Saloon

Sri Siddhartha Road, Havelock Town

15/01/2024

Getting back to street photography slowly. Thanks to I was able to use his Ricoh GR III to shoot last night in Pettah. Thanks so much Alfredo for the guidance. Pretty amazing point and shoot. Helped me revisit my panning technique.

24/12/2023

Tuan Noor Abdul Hameed a.k.a Dicky Uncle

Galle Fort, 2021

07/07/2022

Yellow Pallu

09/06/2020

06/06/2020

Portrait of Sri Lankan chef Darshan Munidasa for SilkWinds, the inflight magazine of Singapore Airlines. May 2018.