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‘Calligraphy is not just about writing beautifully; it is about connecting with the divine through the discipline of the hand and the heart.’ – Master calligrapher Hasan Çelebi
By WIDAD SIRKHOTTE
Hasan Çelebi was a world-renowned master of Islamic calligraphy, celebrated not only for his extraordinary skill but also for his dedication to preserving and teaching this sacred art to students across the globe.
After decades of service in preserving the Quran in visual form and mentoring students – many of whom have become revered master calligraphers and teachers – he passed away on 24 February 2025 at the age of 88.
The only South African student to have learnt under the great master was Shaikh Muhammad Hobe from the Eastern Cape who moved to Turkey in 2011. Hobe describes Çelebi as ‘loving, very gentle in the way he taught and spoke, always trying never to hurt anyone. He was very patient with his students.
In a YouTube documentary Shaikh Muhammad Hobe, the only South African to study under master calligrapher, Hasan Çelebi, speaks about his teacher (@ 3 min 30 sec). Watch here
Another internationally distinguished student is the renowned Chinese Islamic calligrapher Haji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang, who established the Deen Arts Foundation South Africa in 2023 in response to the growing demand for traditionally taught Islamic calligraphy education as taught by master calligraphers who hold ijazah (certification of mastery).
Through the traditional Islamic method, the knowledge, culture and values continue to be passed on from generation to generation.
Çelebi once stated: ‘The tradition of Islamic calligraphy is a chain that connects us to the past. As calligraphers, we are not just artists; we are links in this chain, preserving and passing on this sacred art.”’
A personal encounter
Alhamdulillah, I had the privilege of meeting this great master during a trip to Turkey in 2022. As a novice student of traditional Islamic calligraphy, I was encouraged to visit my teacher’s teacher, Hasan Çelebi.
We met on a Friday after Jumuah prayers at the Büyük Çamlıca Mosque, where he made himself available in the mosque’s gallery to greet students and guests who had come far near and far.
I recall gifting a book about Cape Town and a box of rooibos tea, to which he became very shy, asking me why I had gone through the trouble of bringing gifts, and then on top of it asking why I had brought two!
He took the time to ask about myself, to see my work, and inquired about the Muslim community in South Africa.
Although our meeting was brief, I felt inspired just sitting in his company. His voice was gentle and calm, his words encouraging, and he showed a sincere interest in everyone who interacted with him – including the young children who accompanied their parents.
Background and early Life
Çelebi was born in 1937 in the small village of İnci, in the Oltu district of Erzurum, Turkey. From a young age, he was deeply fascinated by the beauty of Arabic script and memorised the Quran during his primary schooling. This passion led him to pursue Islamic calligraphy, an art form that had flourished under the Ottomans but was at risk of fading in the modern era.
In 1954, he moved to Istanbul for religious education, attending Üçbaş and Çinili madrassas for Arabic and religious studies. By 1956, he was appointed as a muezzin at the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Üsküdar. After completing his military service between 1957 and 1958, Çelebi began serving as an imam at the Nasuhi Mehmed Efendi Mosque in Üsküdar.
In 1961, at the age of 24, he embarked on his journey in Islamic calligraphy, training under the era’s most prominent calligraphers. He was particularly influenced by Hamid Aytaç, one of the most esteemed Ottoman calligraphers of the 20th century. Under Aytaç’s guidance, Çelebi mastered the Thuluth and Naskh scripts, earning his ijazah in 1971. Under Kemal Batanay he mastered the Ta’liq and Riq’a scripts and received ijazah in 1981.
Islamic calligraphy in Çelebi’s life
For Çelebi, Islamic calligraphy was more than an art form – it was a spiritual journey. He often spoke of the profound connection between the beauty of Arabic script and the divine message of the Quran. He believed calligraphy was a way to honour and preserve the sacred text, transforming it into a visual expression of faith.
He once expressed: ‘Calligraphy is not just about writing beautifully; it is about connecting with the divine through the discipline of the hand and the heart.’
He also remarked, ‘When you write the words of the Quran, you are not just forming letters; you are engaging in an act of worship.’
A calligraphy master teacher
Çelebi was not only a master calligrapher but also a beloved teacher who dedicated his life to passing on his knowledge. He mentored hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds, many of whom became accomplished calligraphers themselves.
His notable international students include Mohamed Zakariyra from America, Gulnaz Mahboob from the United Kingdom, Yushaa Abdullah from Nigeria, Nuria Garcia Masip from Spain, Haji Noor Deen from China, Shahanshah Sirajuddin from Indonesia, and Muhammed Hobe from South Africa.
His teaching style was marked by patience, humility, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Students often described him as a gentle yet firm teacher, emphasising the importance of discipline, repetition, and spiritual devotion in mastering calligraphy.
Legacy and global impact
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Çelebi’s calligraphy has been exhibited worldwide, adorning mosques, public buildings, and private collections.
Among his significant works are the restored dome inscriptions of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the dome inscription of the Hırka-i Şerif Mosque, and contributions to the Quba Mosque, Masjid al-Qiblatayn, and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah.
His artistry also graces the Islamic Medical Centre in Kuwait, a mosque in the Netherlands, the Pforzheim Fatih Mosque in Germany, the Juma Mosque in South Africa, and the Almaty Central Mosque in Kazakhstan.
Beyond his artistic achievements, his greatest legacy lies in the hundreds of students he trained since 1976, ensuring that the art of traditional Islamic calligraphy continues to thrive.
Çelebi was a custodian of cultural heritage and a beacon of artistic and spiritual excellence. His life reminds us of the enduring power of art to connect us to our Islamic heritage, history, faith, and to one another.
Çelebi was honoured with the Necip Fazıl Respect Award and the Presidential Grand Award in Culture and Arts, as well as globally recognised as ‘Reis-ül Hattatin’ (Chief of Calligraphers). On receiving this title in 2019, he humbly said: ‘I am grateful for the public’s appreciation. However, I do not view myself as someone who has attained a special status because of this title. If I have served this nation and its culture, it was my duty as a citizen. Serving this nation is every citizen’s responsibility. It seems I had the capability to do so. I do not see this as a distinction.”
Çelebi’s passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy lives on in the countless students he nurtured and the masterpieces he created. His dedication to the sacred art of Islamic calligraphy ensured its continuity, bridging generations and cultures. As his students continue to uphold and transmit this noble tradition, Çelebi’s influence will remain imprinted not only in ink but also in the hearts of those who were touched by his wisdom, humility, and devotion to this timeless craft.
Widad Sirkhotte is a PhD student at Stellenbosch University, and is researching Islamic calligraphy education in South Africa.
