World's largest handwritten Quran: Self-educated Egyptian aims for record

Despite dropping out of school in fifth grade and going ahead to educate himself through reading, an Egyptian man is aiming for an enviable writing honour.

Sa’ad Mohammed is putting together what is on record to be the world’s largest handwritten Quran.

Always passionate about reading and writing, Mohammed said he spent year after year working on his craft – despite having no support from those around him. Over a three-year period, he has produces a 700 meters long copy of the Quran written on paper despite the challenges.

He identifies funds and space as his biggest challenges as he continues his quest to put together a perfect copy of the Holy book of the Muslim faith.

“This Koran is 700 meters long, and of course that’s a large amount in paper, and it’s very heavy, so of course it was very difficult for it to be produced in paper, but I was determined to have it be produced in paper, and no other material, so that it’s difficult for anyone else (to produce), and of course I self-funded this project for the past three years – and I’m a regular person. I don’t have assets or anything,” he said.

Now, he is hoping his masterpiece will make it into the history books — there is so far no record holder for the largest handwritten Koran.

Saad, who lives in the town of Belqina, north of the capital, Cairo; has hand-painted Islamic motifs on the walls and ceilings of his home. He displays the carefully decorated manuscript in a large wooden box with rollers at each end.