The Quran’s Preservation: History and Modern Relevance

The Quran is the holy scripture of Islam and is considered by Muslims to be the word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. Muslims believe that the Quran was not written by any human being, but rather was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel. The Prophet Muhammad, in turn, conveyed the message of the Quran to his companions, who memorized and wrote it down.

The process of collecting the Quran into a single

During the time of Prophet Muhammad, the Quran was not compiled into a single, written text as we know it today. Rather, the Quran was primarily transmitted orally, with the Prophet reciting the verses to his companions, who in turn memorized and recited them to others. However, there were written records of the Quran during the time of the Prophet. These records included portions of the Quran written on various materials such as leather, bone, and tree bark. Additionally, some of the companions of the Prophet who were literate wrote down portions of the Quran for their own personal use. However, these written records were not widely circulated and were not compiled into a single, authoritative text during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. It was only after the death of the Prophet that the process of compiling the Quran into a single, written text began. This task was undertaken by a group of the Prophet’s companions who were known for their knowledge of the Quran and its recitation, led by the first caliph of Islam, Abu Bakr. They collected various written and oral versions of the Quran and compiled them into a single text, which was then distributed throughout the Muslim community. So, while there were some written records of the Quran during the time of the Prophet, it was primarily transmitted orally and was not compiled into a single, written text until after his death.

1. Sahih al-Bukhari 4992 : This Hadith narrates the story of how the Prophet Muhammad used to receive the revelations of the Quran from Angel Gabriel and then recite them to his companions.
2. Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 5, Hadith 1283: This Hadith relates the story of how the Prophet Muhammad taught his companions the correct pronunciation and recitation of the Quran, and how they would recite it back to him to ensure their accuracy.

These Hadiths are just a few examples of the many that describe the Prophet Muhammad’s role in transmitting the Quran orally to his companions, who in turn memorized and transmitted it to others. They provide valuable insights into the historical context and the methods used to transmit and preserve the Quran.

Prophet’s Quranic Writing Instructions

1. Sunan Abi Dawud 3646 : In this Hadith narrated by Abdullah bin ‘Amr, he said: “I used to write everything I heard from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in order to memorize it. The Quraysh prohibited me from doing that, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Write it down, for by the One in Whose hand my soul is, nothing comes from me but the truth.
2. Sahih Muslim 3004 : in this Hadith Abu Sa’id Khudri reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Do not write anything from me except the Quran. Whoever has written something other than that should erase it.

Reciting Verse Differently

1. Sahih al-Bukhari 3476 : Ibn Mas`ud heard someone reciting a Quranic verse differently from how the Prophet (ﷺ) recited it. He took the matter to the Prophet (ﷺ), but the Prophet (ﷺ) showed disapproval and said that both ways of recitation were correct, and that disagreements among previous nations led to their destruction.

Memorization of the Quran during the Time of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

?Sahih al-Bukhari 5049, it is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad asked his companion, Abdullah, to recite the Quran to him. Abdullah was surprised and asked if he should recite the Quran to the Prophet, who had already received it. The Prophet replied that he wanted to hear it from someone else.

• This hadith shows the importance of reciting and listening to the Quran, even for those who have already memorized it. The Prophet (ﷺ) demonstrated the value of hearing the Quran from others, which emphasizes the importance of learning and teaching the Quran. The Prophet’s request also shows his humility and eagerness to seek knowledge and listen to the words of Allah, regardless of the source.

📖Sahih al-Bukhari 5037 Narrated Aisha:
The Prophet (ﷺ) heard a man reciting the Qur’an in the mosque and said, “May Allah bestow His Mercy on him, as he has reminded me of such-and-such Verses of such a Surah.

• The meaning of this hadith is that during the time of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), people had already learned how to recite the Quran and were using it in their prayers.

Here are some references to Hadith literature that discuss the oral transmission of the Quran during the time of the Prophet Muhammad:

1. Sahih al-Bukhari 4986 : This Hadith narrates the story of a group of companions who wrote down some verses of the Quran on a piece of parchment during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad.
2. Sahih al-Bukhari 4990 : This Hadith describes how the companions of the Prophet Muhammad used to write down the Quranic verses as they were being revealed to the Prophet.
3. Sahih al-Bukhari 4986 : This hadith narrates the story how the Quran was written down on a palm-leaf stalk.

• These Hadiths, along with others, provide evidence that some of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad did write down portions of the Quran on various materials. However, it is important to note that these written records were not the primary means of transmission, and the Quran was primarily transmitted orally and memorized by the companions. The process of compiling the Quran into a single, written text did not take place until after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.

Recommended Qur’an Teachers by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4999 : Narrated Masriq: `Abdullah bin `Amr mentioned `Abdullah bin Masud and said, “I shall ever love that man, for I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, ‘Take (learn) the Qur’an from four: `Abdullah bin Masud, Salim, Mu`adh and Ubai bin Ka`b.

The Quran was present during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad

📖Tirmidhi 3786
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah:
“I saw the Messenger of Allah during his Hajj, on the Day of ‘Arafah. He was upon his camel Al-Qaswa, giving a sermon, so he said: ‘O people! Indeed, I have left among you, that which if you hold fast to it, you shall not go astray: The Book of Allah and my family, the people of my house.

• The Book of Allah (referring to the Quran) was present during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, and it was highly regarded and emphasized by him as a source of guidance for Muslims. In the hadith you mentioned, the Prophet Muhammad is emphasizing the importance of holding fast to both the Quran and his family (the people of his household) as a means of staying on the right path and avoiding going astray.

Many Quran memorizers (Qurra) existed during the Prophet’s lifetime and beyond

This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 4679 describes how Abu Bakr and Umar asked Zaid bin Thabit to collect Quranic material from various sources and compile it into a manuscript. Zaid initially hesitated, but he eventually undertook the task and collected Quranic material from many sources, including his own memory and many memories of others who had memorized the Quran. The compiled manuscript was kept by Abu Bakr, Umar, and Hafsa.