EGYPT, Oct 10, (Agencies): Saad Hashish, a celebrated Egyptian calligrapher famous for his remarkable achievement of penning the world's largest handwritten Quran, passed away at the age of 65 in his hometown of Balqina, located in the Egyptian district of Mahalla Center within the Gharbia Governorate.

On Monday, Hashish lost his battle with cancer, and his funeral took place at the village mosque following the evening prayers.

Despite leaving formal education after completing the 5th grade, Hashish was a self-taught and highly accomplished calligrapher, dedicating his life to mastering the intricate art of Arabic calligraphy. Throughout his lifetime, he diligently handwrote the Quran on five different occasions.

Hashish's most remarkable achievement remains the creation of the world's largest handwritten Quran, an astonishing manuscript that spans an impressive length of 1,100 meters. In addition to this monumental work, he also undertook the task of crafting a 700-meter-long version of the Quran. This project consumed more than three consecutive years of his life and incurred a personal expense of 25,000 Egyptian pounds.

As news of Hashish's passing spread, the local community expressed deep sorrow and grief. He was not only a significant contributor to the preservation and celebration of Islamic art and culture but also brought international recognition to his hometown. His legacy as a self-taught calligrapher and his extraordinary accomplishments in the world of calligraphy will be remembered with great admiration and respect.