He studied Islamic theology, science and music and became an accomplished ney (reed-flute) player and had a delightful singing voice.
He sought the Sultan's permission to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, after which he decided not to return to the Imperial Palace.
When he heard a beautiful singing voice, the Sultan immediately recognised it as belonging to Mustafa Izzet Efendi.
In 1845, Sultan Abdülmecid heard Mustafa İzzet's sermon while visiting the mosque and made him the second imam.
[10] His major contribution to Ottoman calligraphy was to develop refined versions of sülüs and naskh scripts, based on the earlier work of Hâfiz Osman, Celaleddin and Râkim.
[15] His calligraphic inscriptions can be found inside many public buildings and mosques, including Hagia Sophia, Hırka-i Şerif, Buyuk Kasimpaya; Kucuk Mecidiye; Sinan Pasa, Yahya Effendi and the Washington Monument.