Complete History of Quran Compilation: From Revelation to Standardization

The Noble Quran is the eloquent Arabic discourse that baffled the Arabs with its eloquence and fluency despite their mastery of the language. It contains precise legislation suitable for every place and time. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, challenged the Arabs to produce its equal, but they were unable to. Allah, the Almighty, said: “Say, ‘If mankind and the jinn gathered to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants.’” Thus, Allah revealed the Noble Quran to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel, and it was transmitted continuously.

Stages of the Compilation of the Noble Quran

Compilation during the Prophet’s Era:
During the Prophet’s lifetime, the Quran was revealed in parts and reviewed by Gabriel annually during Ramadan. The Prophet would receive and recite the Quran, ensuring its preservation. After the verse instructing not to hasten with its recitation, the Prophet listened to Gabriel’s recitation until completion. Then, scribes such as Ali ibn Abi Talib, Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, Zaid ibn Thabit, and Ubay ibn Ka’b wrote down the revelations. The companions meticulously preserved the Quran in various materials.
By the time of the Prophet’s passing, the Quran resided in the hearts of the companions, including the rightly guided caliphs, and individuals like Ali, Zaid, Sa’id, and Salim. While the Quran was written down, it hadn’t been compiled into a single manuscript. Surahs or groups of Surahs were inscribed on stones and kept in the houses of the scribes and the Prophet’s wives.

Compilation during Abu Bakr’s Era :
During Abu Bakr’s time, Umar ibn al-Khattab urged him to compile the Quran. Initially hesitant, Abu Bakr eventually recognized the necessity due to the loss of reciters in battles and incidents like the Battle of Yamama. Upon persuasion and divine guidance, Zaid ibn Thabit undertook the task despite its immense weight. The Quran was collected from the written copies and memories of the companions. A committee ensured authentication, arranging the verses and chapters systematically. The compiled manuscript was kept in Abu Bakr’s house, then in Umar’s, and later in Hafsah bint Umar’s house.

Compilation during Uthman’s Era:
In Uthman’s era, disputes arose due to different readings across regions, unaware that the Quran had been revealed in seven modes. Hudaifa bin al-Yaman alerted Uthman about potential discord in recitation. Uthman consulted the companions, agreeing on a standardized compilation. Zaid, Abdullah bin Zubair, Sa’id bin al-‘As, and Abdur Rahman bin Harith supervised making seven copies based on the Quran compiled during Abu Bakr’s time. These copies were sent to different Muslim centers, accompanied by proficient readers to instruct people in the Quran’s standardized reading. Other manuscripts were burnt to maintain uniformity in the Quran’s recitation.

This compilation ensured the preservation and dissemination of the Quran in its original form, laying the foundation for its universal recitation and understanding.

History of Quran

  • history of quran compilation pdf
  • history of compilation of the holy quran
  • first compilation of quran
  • how was quran written and compiled
  • history and compilation of quran
  • reasons for compilation of quran
  • history of quran compilation
  • quran compiled
  • tadweene quran تدوین قرآن
  • history of collection and compilation of holy quran
  • history of compilation of quran
  • when was the quran compiled into a book
  • significance of compilation of quran
  • importance of compilation of quran
  • uthman quran compilation
  • 2 versions of quran
  • how was the quran compiled into a book
  • how was quran compiled

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *