Who Wrote the Quran: The Compilation of the Divine Text

The collection of the Quran refers to gathering the Quranic text, whether through memorization or writing. Compilation of the Qur’an refers to arranging it in the form of a book. The history of these various stages is both interesting and informative, and it is important for students of the Quran to understand it. This knowledge helps one remain aware of who wrote the Quran and how it has passed through different periods and reached us in its most preserved form.

Who Wrote the Quran and Who Compiled It

Imam Hakim mentions in his book Mustadrak, “The Quran was written and compiled in three stages

1. During the lifetime of the Prophet (PBUH)
2. During the caliphate of Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA)
3. During the caliphate of Uthman (RA).

First Stage: The Collection of the Quran during the Prophetic Era

The Prophet (PBUH) gave two instructions for the collection and preservation of the Quran:

1. It should be memorized.
2. It should be written down.

1. Memorizing of the Quran

From the very beginning of the revelation, the Prophet (PBUH) began memorizing the Quran. Every year, He (PBUH) would review the revealed portions of the Quran with Angel Jibreel in a systematic manner. The Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) also possessed an astonishing memory, through which they also memorized the Quran revealed over 23 years to their hearts.

 

2. Writing of the Quran

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also ensured the documentation of the Quran. After the revelation, the Prophet would instruct his companions, who wrote the Quran, according to the guidance of Angel Jibreel, to place and write the revealed verses at specific places within particular surahs. In this manner, the Prophet (PBUH) meticulously arranged and preserved every letter, verse, and surah of the Quran through written manuscripts. Regarding this writing, Sayyidna Zaid ibn Thabit (RA) says:

“Whenever new verses of the Quran were revealed, the Prophet (PBUH) would instruct me to write them down. After that, I would recite them to him, and if any corrections were needed, He would make them. Then I would present the written text to the people. Whatever was written was kept in the Prophet’s house. During that time, the Quran was not written on paper or in a formal manuscript but was recorded on various materials such as stone tablets, pieces of leather, tree bark, and flat bones”.

[Mawahib al-‘Irfan by Zarqani: 239]

Scribes of Revelation (Companions Who Wrote the Quran)

The task of writing down the revelation was also carried out by other Companions. Among the followers who wrote the Quran first time, the most famous are Abu Bakr, Umar Farooq, Uthman, Ali, Abdullah ibn Abi Sarh, Zubair ibn al-Awwam, Khalid ibn Sa’id ibn al-As, Aban ibn Sa’id ibn al-As, Khalid ibn al-Walid, Muawiya, Mughira ibn Shu’ba, Amr ibn al-As, Amir ibn Fuhaira, and Abdullah ibn Rawaha (may Allah be pleased with them). [Zad al-Ma’ad by Ibn al-Qayyim 1/30]

Preserving the Copies of the Quran

During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), there was one copy of the Quran that was with Him. In addition, the Companions also prepared their own copies. Among the Companions who wrote the Quran in their own written manuscripts and preserved it were Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, Ali, Aisha, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, Uthman ibn Affan, Tamim al-Dari, Abu al-Darda, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, Abdullah ibn Umar, Ubadah ibn al-Samit, and Zaid ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with them).

The Prophet (PBUH) instructed the Companions, who wrote the Quran, to avoid taking the Quran to enemy territories. Furthermore, He (PBUH) also prohibited writing anything other than the Quran on these manuscripts. [Sahih Bukhari 1/409]

Arrangement of Verses in Chapters

The arrangement of the verses in a specific chapter (surah) was according to a prescribed order. In His recitation during the congregational prayers, the Prophet (PBUH) typically adhered to this order. Even the writing of “Bismillah” before the surahs was done by the Prophet’s instruction. In this way Prophet (PBUH) was the first person who compiled the Quran.

Second Period: Compilation of the Qur’an during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr

The Quran was compiled into a single manuscript during the caliphate of Abu Bakr (RA). This compilation was limited to the writing aspect, in that each surah’s verses were arranged in one manuscript. These manuscripts were then compiled together, although the order of the surahs was not established at that time.

During the caliphate of Abu Bakr (RA), the compilation of the Quran was undertaken following the Battle of Yamamah. Zaid ibn Thabit (RA) recounts the details of this compilation:

After the Battle of Yamamah in 12 AH, Abu Bakr (RA) summoned Zaid ibn Thabit (RA) and asked him to meet with him and Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA). Abu Bakr (RA) shared his concern that, following the deaths of seventy Huffaz (memorizers) in the battle, the Quran might be lost if such losses continued. Therefore, he proposed compiling the Quran into a single collection.

Initially, Zaid ibn Thabit (RA) questioned the need to undertake a task that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had not done. However, Umar (RA) insisted that it was a necessary measure. Eventually, Zaid ibn Thabit (RA) agreed with their reasoning, and Abu Bakr (RA) instructed him to gather and compile the Quran.

Zaid ibn Thabit (RA) describes the difficulty of the task, stating that it would have been easier to move a mountain than to compile the Quran. Nevertheless, he complied with the directive and began to collect the Quranic verses from various sources, including date palm fronds, stone tablets, and the memories of people.

The compiled manuscript remained with Abu Bakr (RA) until his death. Afterward, it was preserved by Ummul Mu’mineen Hafsa bint Umar (RA). Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was the second person who compiled the Quran.

Third Period: Uniformity of Quranic Manuscript during the Caliphate of Uthman

In the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan (RA), the Quran was compiled for the third time. This compilation aimed to standardize the Quranic text into a single, uniform script. The objective was to consolidate the Quran into one complete manuscript, ensuring that all verses and surahs were correctly and consistently arranged.

During this period, numerous manuscripts were reviewed and collected to create a standardized version. This effort was focused on preserving the Quran’s integrity and facilitating its recitation and memorization across the growing Muslim community. The final compilation, known as the Uthmani script, became the authoritative text, eliminating discrepancies in the written form and ensuring a uniform reading experience for all Muslims.

Fourth Period: The Dots and Diacritical Marks

Early copies and writings of the Quran did not include dots and diacritics according to the old Arabic script. People could understand the pronunciation of words without these marks and thus recite the Quran. However, as non-Arabic speakers increasingly embraced Islam and found it difficult to read the Quran without diacritics and dots, the process of adding them began.

It was initially undertaken by Abu al-Aswad al-Du’ali, who introduced the use of dots and diacritics in the Quran. Later, under the command of Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, three scholars—Hassan al-Basri, Yahya ibn Ya’mar, and Nasr ibn Asim completed this important work. (Adapted from Uloom al-Quran” by Mufti Taqi Usmani)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Quran is a divine revelation from Allah, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over 23 years through the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel). While the Quran was written down during the Prophet’s lifetime by scribes under his supervision, it was later compiled into a single volume during the caliphates of Abu Bakr (RA) and Uthman (RA) to preserve its authenticity and ensure uniformity.

The careful preservation, memorization, and compilation of the Quran, first during the lifetime of the Prophet and later by his companions, reflects the meticulous efforts made to protect this sacred text for future generations.

Today, Muslims around the world continue to learn and recite the Quran, relying on this historical preservation to guide their faith and practice.