By Shafi’u Yahaya
In an age when the Qur’an is readily available in printed books and on digital devices, the traditional practice of writing the Holy Qur’an by hand remains a demanding undertaking requiring patience, concentration and sustained commitment.
For Gwani Aminu Gangaran, handwritten Qur’anic manuscripts have become one of the most significant parts of his years of traditional Qur’anic education.
Gangaran, who has spent years studying within the traditional Tsangaya system, began his first major handwritten Qur’an project in 2015.
He completed the first copy in approximately seven months, marking the beginning of a practice that would later become a recurring part of his Qur’anic journey.
A second handwritten Qur’an
Four years later, in 2019, Gangaran began another complete handwritten copy of the Qur’an.
He completed the second copy in approximately six months.
The work required him to dedicate significant time to writing and maintaining consistency throughout the manuscript.
According to Gangaran, the experience also prepared him for a more demanding traditional practice involving the writing of two copies of the Qur’an concurrently.
The practice known as Tsagwaye
One of the distinctive aspects of Gangaran’s Qur’anic writing experience is what he refers to as “Tsagwaye.”
In this practice, two copies of the Qur’an are written during the same period rather than completing one manuscript before beginning another.
The writer may work on one copy during one part of the day and subsequently continue with the second copy at another time.
The process requires the writer to keep track of both manuscripts while maintaining accuracy and continuity in each.
For Gangaran, undertaking the practice became a significant achievement within his traditional Qur’anic education.
His work in writing two copies concurrently was recognised by Gwani Adamu Kumsa, under whom he studied in Gombe, who presented him with an award in recognition of the accomplishment.
Recognition for Qur’anic writing
Gangaran’s achievements in Qur’anic writing have received recognition from Islamic educational circles.
In 2020, he received an award from Higher Islamic Gombe associated with his achievement in writing the Qur’an.
The recognition came as part of a series of achievements connected with his traditional Qur’anic education.
His earlier educational accomplishments also include being recognised in 2015 as the Most Outstanding Student of the Year at Malam Abdullahi Usman School in Borno State.
Hundreds of pages written by hand
A complete handwritten copy of the Qur’an produced through his work is estimated to contain approximately 786 pages.
The figure is an estimate because the number of pages can depend on the manuscript’s formatting and arrangement.
Nevertheless, writing hundreds of pages of Qur’anic text by hand represents a substantial commitment of time and concentration.
For Gangaran, the exercise is not simply about producing a physical manuscript. It is connected to the traditional educational process through which Qur’anic students develop discipline, memorisation and familiarity with the written text.
Continuing the tradition
Despite having already completed multiple handwritten Qur’anic projects, Gangaran has continued the practice.
He is currently working on another handwritten Qur’an, which he identifies as his fourth Qur’an-writing project.
The ongoing work means that handwritten Qur’anic transcription remains part of his present activities rather than being something he completed only during his earlier years of education.
His continued commitment also comes at a time when digital Qur’anic resources have become increasingly accessible.
From handwritten manuscripts to digital recitation
While handwritten Qur’anic manuscripts remain an important part of his work, Gangaran has also embraced modern technology to share Qur’anic recitation.
Beginning in 2024, he started deliberately publishing his Qur’anic recitations online, building on his earlier presence on social-media platforms.
He later developed the Aminu Gangaran mobile application, currently available on the Google Play Store, which features his full Qur’anic recitation.
The application provides a digital counterpart to his handwritten Qur’anic work: while the manuscripts preserve his engagement with the Qur’an through writing, the application allows audiences to access his recitation through modern technology.
Keeping a traditional practice alive
Gangaran’s experience highlights a continuing connection between traditional Qur’anic education and contemporary technology.
The physical writing of the Qur’an requires a different kind of commitment from simply reading or listening to a digital copy. It involves repeated writing, attention to detail and the ability to sustain the practice over an extended period.
For Gangaran, the practice has become part of his personal Qur’anic journey, beginning with his first manuscript in 2015 and continuing with the handwritten project he is undertaking today.
His story also demonstrates how traditional Qur’anic practices can coexist with modern forms of communication, allowing knowledge acquired through the Tsangaya system to reach audiences through both handwritten manuscripts and digital platforms.
