Srinagar, Aug 20: Mustafa Ibn Jameel, a self-taught calligrapher from the remote Kilshey village in the Gurez valley of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, has achieved a monumental feat by completing an extensive handwritten scroll of Al-Muwatta, a foundational text of Islamic jurisprudence.
Recognized for its extraordinary length of 1.3 kilometers, his work is a rendition of Imam Malik’s Al-Muwatta according to the transmission (riwaya) of Ibn Qasim. A 108-meter segment has already been formally authenticated and laminated, with the full manuscript awaiting final preservation.
Crafted on a single, continuous 14.5-inch-wide scroll of 135 GSM art-grade paper, the presented section represents six months of intense labor. Mustafa reported dedicating up to 18 hours daily to the project, adhering to strict traditional calligraphic rules without any physical joins or cuts in the paper.
“This work is part of a lifelong commitment to preserving Islamic knowledge through traditional calligraphy,” Mustafa stated in an interview with Morning Kashmir.
He said “Al-Muwattaʾ, one of the earliest compilations of Hadith, holds a unique place in our scholarly heritage. I chose the transmission of Ibn Qasim for its structure and historical value.”
This is not Mustafa’s first foray into large-scale calligraphy. His previous achievement includes a 500-meter handwritten Quran, which earned him a place in the Lincoln Book of Records. The current Al-Muwatta project has also received formal verification from the same organization following a rigorous submission of documentation, video evidence, and witness testimonials.
Remarkably, Mustafa is entirely self-taught. He honed his craft not through formal courses or digital tutorials but through the meticulous study of calligraphy books, PDFs, and handwritten manuscripts.
“I began calligraphy just to improve my handwriting. But over time, it became a mission,” he explained. “I trained myself from books and notes—no YouTube, no courses, just pure focus on dissecting the structure of Arabic letters and mastering proportion.”
The Al-Muwatta scroll is merely the first installment in an ambitious fifteen-part Hadith series. Mustafa has already commenced work on subsequent texts, including Sunan Abu Dawood, Sunan al-Nasa’i, Sunan Ibn Majah, and Sunan al-Tirmidhi. He estimates that some of these future scrolls will extend up to 500 meters in length.
The entire undertaking has been self-funded, representing a significant financial commitment. Mustafa has invested nearly ₹1 lakh solely in the completed 108-meter segment, covering the cost of specialty paper sourced from Delhi in 2022, lamination, and material handling.
Emerging from a secluded region often disconnected from major cultural centers, Mustafa Ibn Jameel’s discipline and devotion have positioned him to create one of the most significant private collections of Hadith calligraphy.
“This is not for fame or exhibition,” he affirmed, “but a service to preserve and present our heritage in a way that can last for generations.”
