Tanjung malim: A handwritten copy of the Quran by the late Nurly Shahirah Azman has been temporarily entrusted to the Tuanku Bainun Library at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) for digitalisation and public exhibition. UPSI vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff said the manuscript stands as a testament to the late Nurly Shahirah’s perseverance and dedication in meticulously copying the holy verses of the Quran during her years of study at Sekolah Menengah Imtiaz Yayasan Terengganu, Besut, from Form One to Form Five.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the digitalisation process is intended to ensure that the manuscript is preserved properly for the long term, while also producing a complete, high-quality digital copy to serve as a reference collection and research resource at the library. ‘In addition, the digitalisation process will allow the public, students, and researchers to access and study the manuscript without compromising the authenticity of the original copy,’ he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, UPSI chief librarian Noriha Muhammad, in the same statement, said the digitisation work was carried out entirely by staff of the UPSI Digital Library (UDL) using high-resolution imaging to ensure each page was documented with accuracy and clarity. Noriha said the digitalisation of the manuscript was carried out with several key objectives, primarily to ensure its long-term preservation and to minimise the risk of damage caused by age, environmental factors, or repeated handling.

‘This effort also supports the preservation of the intellectual and spiritual heritage of Muslims, while serving as a lasting act of ‘amal jariah’ (charity) for the late Nurly Shahirah,’ she said. She added that to provide campus residents and the general public with an opportunity to better appreciate this priceless treasure, Nurly Shahirah’s handwritten Quran manuscript is being exhibited exclusively at Level 1 of the Tuanku Bainun Library from today (Aug 25) to Sept 2, 2025.

According to Noriha, the exhibition offers the public – particularly those who previously faced difficulties viewing the manuscript in Besut, Terengganu – the chance to personally witness the remarkable work of a young individual who devotedly transcribed the entire Quran by hand. ‘This exhibition not only seeks to showcase the beauty of the handwritten Quran, but also serves as a tribute to the perseverance of the late Nurly Shahirah. At the same time, it is hoped to inspire the younger generation to cherish the Quran and draw motivation from it in their studies and daily lives,’ she said.

In the early hours of June 9, Nurly Shahirah and 14 other UPSI students lost their lives when a chartered bus transporting them from Jertih, Terengganu, to the Tanjung Malim campus in Perak overturned at KM53 of the East-West Highway (JRTB), near Tasik Banding, Gerik.