Mustafa previously worked as a Research Consultant for scholars and Diplomats in Egypt and the UK, with focus on Islamic jurisprudence and theology, as well as Egyptian history and religious education. Mustafa also worked as a research assistant for a number of PhD candidates conducting research on various fields related to Islamic Studies. He is a native Arabic speaker, and reads Persian.

Mustafa holds a BA in Islamic Theology and Philosophy from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt and a Masters Degree in Muslim Cultures from Aga Khan University, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations in London.