Preservation of the Qur'an

It is an indisputable fact that the Qur'an is being kept safe, free of corruption and interpolation for over 1,400 years. This is because Allah has promised to protect and safeguard it. (Q15:9)

Nothing will be added or subtracted from it because it is a revelation from God.​

​Preservation of the Qur'an

Open Ended

What type of preservation did you just read about?

Open Ended

In what other ways do you know the Qur'an was preserved?

Other ways through which Qur'an was preserved include:

• Memorization;

• ​Writing and recording;

• Compilation; and

• Standardization​

Subject | Islamic Studies

It must be kept in mind that in the early stage of Islam, Qur'an preservation was much more done through memory. The Prophet (SAW) not only committed the entire Qur'an into memory, he also encouraged his companions to memorize the Qur'an. As such, he was the first Hafiz.

The art of memorizing continues even till this present moment.

​Memorization

Open Ended

State 3 items on which the Qur'an was written during the time of the Prophet (SAW).

During the lifetime of the Prophet (SAW), the Qur'an was completely written down on available materials such as leather, leaves, bones, and stones under the direct supervision of the Prophet (SAW).

Zayd Ibn Thabit is quoted to have said: "We used to write the Qur'an ​on pieces of leather (Al-Riqa) in the presence of the Prophet (SAW)".

​Writing and Recording

Open Ended

In whose era was the Qur'an compiled?

​Compilation of the Qur'an

During the time of Abu Bakr as caliph, many memorizers of the Qur'an died in the battle of Yamamah. Umar then suggested that the Qur'an should be compiled. Abu Bakr assigned Zayd b. Thabit to compile the Qur'an.

The manuscript was kept with Abu Bakr then with Umar and later with Hafsah (the wife of the Prophet (SAW)). ​

​Standardization of the Qur'an

With the expansion of Islamic territory to non-Arab speaking regions, the difference in the recitation of the Qur'an was noticed by Hudhayfah al-Yaman in Azerbaijan and Armenia region. He urgently reported this to Caliph Uthman b. Affan.

Caliph Uthman retrieved the Mus-haf kept with Hafsah and commissioned a committee of 4 companions to make copies of the Mus-haf. The copies were later sent to major provinces.

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​The committee members are Zayd b. Thabit, Abdullah b. Zubayr, Sa'ad b. Al-Aas, and Abdul-Rahman b. Harith b. Hisham