World-Renowned Turkish Calligrapher Mehmet Özçay Donates Handwritten Mushaf
Calligrapher Mehmet Özçay, whose signature is found in the Kaaba, has donated his handwritten Mushaf-ı Mehmet Özçay, the product of meticulous work spanning many years, to the state.
World-renowned Turkish calligrapher Mehmet Özçay, whose script is featured in the Kaaba, has donated the original handwritten Mushaf-ı Mehmet Özçay, prepared through years of labor, to the Presidency of the Turkish Manuscripts Institution. This meaningful donation became the first manuscript work endowed to the relevant department.
Acceptance of the Work into the Institution
Master calligrapher Mehmet Özçay gifted his years of labor to his nation by delivering the original handwritten mushaf to the Department of Handwritten Mushafs under the Presidency of the Turkish Manuscripts Institution. This donation holds the distinction of being the first manuscript work endowed to the department.
Development of the Donation Process and Handover Ceremony
The artist had publicly announced that he would donate this precious work at the "Mushafs of the Sultans" exhibition, which opened on February 25, 2025. Following the completion of necessary preparations and a specially designed protective case for the work, the mushaf was officially handed over to Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Coşkun Yılmaz.
The Writing Journey Spanning Years
Mehmet Özçay's journey of penning the mushaf began with an offer from a publishing house in 1986. After four and a half years of intensive work, he successfully completed his first mushaf in the early months of 1991.
Meticulous Work and Page Details
Due to artistic evolution in his script, the artist rewrote the first six and a half juz' of the work that he had initially written. Since the mushaf was prepared to be printed, it was written on independent white matte coated paper measuring 35 by 50 centimeters.
Widespread Participation from the Cultural World
The handover ceremony was attended by the artist and science board member Mehmet Özçay, along with Mehmet Emin Maşalı, President of the TÜYEK Manuscript Mushafs Science Board; calligrapher Hüsrev Subaşı; and Ahmet Sait Açıkgözoğlu, Rector of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. In addition, Necmeddin Gökkır, Head of the TÜYEK Department of Manuscript Mushafs, and Necmeddin Azak, Head of the Translation and Publication Department, were also present.