The Historical Compilation of the Quran: From Revelation to Preservation

Quran is not merely the last revealed book of the Islam religion but also the most well preserved religious book in the history of man. 

The history of its compilation to a single book until it was disclosed to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the history of divine preservation, extreme caution, and communal dedication. 

The revelation of Quran took place in stages during the period of 23 years and contained verses relevant to the real time situations, and was a guide to the Muslims and ensured the Islamic civilization. But how did this revelation, as it came in bits and pieces grow into the bound and memorized Book we read to-day?

Appreciation of the compilation of Quran in the history contributes to greater admiration of the authenticity of the Quran. 

It is not a piece-meal collection; it has every word, every verse, every chapter that was saved by divine promise as well as human duty. 

In the current day and age where most people tend to go online to find answers to related questions about the Book at an online Quran academy, it is important to learn about the history of the Book in order to be impressed by its truth and authenticity.

The Revelation of Quran During the Prophets Life

Quran is not a revelation which occurred in one moment. It came down in parts, beginning in the Cave of Hira with the command “Read” (Surah Al-‘Alaq). Allah would continue to reveal to the Prophet ﷺ versus over the following 23 years, as he did so to offer guidance, warnings, comforting, and teachings.

The Prophet and his companions memorized these verses right away. On bones, parchment, leather and bark, scribes also put them on paper. The Prophet himself arranged each revelation in a certain order being led by Angel Jibreel. Accordingly, the Quran already during its own life was preserved already in writing and orally.

Scribes and Memorization The Role of Scribes and Memorization

Some of the friends of the Prophet ﷻ were given the responsibility to be scribes. One of the most popular was Zaid ibn Thabit. When revelation came, the Prophet ﷺ used to dictate and the scribes would write it down on the spot. The Prophet and his colleagues preserved these written works.

Meanwhile, hundreds of companions learnt the Quran by heart. They have been called Huffaz and taught it to one generation after another. Through these two ways of preserving the Quran which are writing and memorizing, it was safe to say that by the time the Prophet died, any change in the Quran or any loss was avoided.

Compilation Under Abu Bakr (R.A)

After the death of the Prophet ﷺ, the first caliph, Abu Bakr (R.A), faced a serious challenge. During the military excursion of Yamamah, there were a number of Quran memorizers who were martyred in the process. Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A) urged him to compile the Quran into a single written manuscript to prevent any part from being forgotten.

This sensitive procedure was entrusted to Zaid ibn Thabit by Abu Bakr and each step taken was taken carefully by him. He used to crosscheck every verse by two reliable sources, written and memorized. This resulted in the first complete written Mushaf (book of the Quran), which was kept safely with Abu Bakr, then passed to Umar, and later to his daughter Hafsah (R.A).

Uthman and Standardization Standardization During Uthman Caliphate

As the Islamic faith expanded out of Arabia, the problems of dialect and pronunciation started to occur between the new Muslims. To prevent confusion and preserve unity, the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan (R.A), took action. He had made it a requirement that copies of Quran be officially transcribed in the Qurayshi dialect the version that the Prophet ﷺ had utilized.

Once again, Zaid ibn Thabit was the head of the task, and other companions were involved there. After it was complete, Uthman dispatched these official Mushafs to other major Islamic destinations such as Makkah, Kufa, Basra and Damascus. He also commands that unofficial discrepant copies should be destroyed. This radical move ensured that the Quran remained unchanged all over the Muslim world.

Significant Events in the Preservation of the Quran

The following are critical moments in the compilation of Quran:

• In the life of the Prophet: Revelations, memorized and written verses.
• Under Abu Bakr (R.A): First complete written Mushaf after the Prophet’s death.
• Under Uthman: Version distributed throughout the Muslim world.
• Memorization tradition: Traditionally transferred from the generation to the generation with an exactness.
• Today: Many millions of people have the text by heart; not a single element of the text has varied in 1400+ years.

These landmarks indicate a special preservation mechanism that knows no rival in the whole history of humanity.

The Ummah in the Process of Preservation

The saving of the Quran was not left in the hands of a single individual, instead, it took the entire community of people. Memorization, writing, and verification of the Quran was participated by thousands of companions. The fact that the Ummah loved the Quran so much was that in case of any mistake it would have become immediately known and the error would be rectified soon.

All this was a shared responsibility which persists to this day. In madrasahs around the world, young children recite the whole Quran by heart. Today, with the help of technology, including digital recording systems, printed editions, and online platforms, Muslims can preserve and share the identical words revealed 1400 years ago with greater accessibility and accuracy than ever before.

Difficulties Encountered in the Building of the Compilation

The process of compiling the Quran was not that easy. Its preservation could have been affected by the death of memorizers, the dialectical diversion and the threat of quarrels. However, with Allah’s promise—“Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will guard it.” (Surah Al-Hijr: 9)—every challenge was overcome with divine help and wise leadership.

The rigorous Muslim process of the companions guaranteed that not one single verse was either added or removed. They did not depend on the memory only, each verse was checked by various sources and only then it could find its way into the Mushaf.

The Quran Today Again, The Same Words Again, The Same Message

Even after several centuries of spreading throughout the whole world, political and cultural change this Quran today remains identical to what it was in the epoch of the Prophet. There is not one word used that I have altered. This is not the mere assertion but a scientifically proved fact.

Printed Qurans of today, online apps even recitals of the oral tradition are today word per word the same as the manuscripts of Uthman. This is a miracle of preservation, which makes people more confident and confirms the divine character of the Quran.

Conclusion

The assembly of the Quran is a strong book of protection, commitment and Godly security. 

Since the oral transfer in the time of Prophet to the writing of the Mushafs in the time of Abu Bakr and Uthman, care and devotion have been taken in every step. It ensured that the latter message to humanity would not be changed by the companions.

This history helps to appreciate the Book more and increases the trust in its veracity. It also arouses Muslim faithful to give reverence to it, reading it, and living by its precepts. Access to Quran has never been more possible, especially in the present world. 

Online services of Quran academy based on platforms give people an opportunity to easily learn more about its message, history and carry the legacy of how it was miraculously preserved.