PRESERVATION OF THE QUR'AAN DURING THE KHILAAFAT (Islamic Leadership) OF HADHRAT ABU BAKR (Radhiallaahu Anhu)

The noble Qur’aan was preserved during the time of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), but it was not in a book form. That took place during the Islamic Khilafah of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu).

Hadhrat Zayd ibn Thaabit (Radhiallaahu Anhu) narrates, ‘After the battle of Yamamah, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) summoned me. When I reached there, Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was also present. Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) said to me, ‘Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) came to me and said that in the battle of Yamaama many Huffaaz have been martyred, and if on different occasions many other Huffaaz will be martyred, I fear that great portion of the Qur’aan will be lost. I, therefore, suggest that you go to the people and collect the Qur’aan from them and compile it in the form of a book.’ (Fathul Bari; Bukhari)

Hadhrat ibn Thaabit (Radhiallaahu Anhu) says, ‘By Allah, if Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) had asked me to shift a mountain from one place to another, it would not have been as difficult as compiling the Noble Qur’aan. I said, ‘How can you do that which was not done by the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)?’ They explained to me the wisdom of compiling the Qur’aan, until Allah Ta’ala made me understand the wisdom and I was convinced of the importance of compiling the noble Qur’aan.’

Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) said to me, ‘You are young and intelligent. Everybody considers you trustworthy. You were also the scribe of the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) during his lifetime. I, therefore, request you to go to the people and collect the Qur’aan from them and compile it in the form of a book.’ (Fathul Bari; Bukhari)

Procedure of Compiling the noble Qur’aan
Hadhrat Zayd (Radhiallaahu Anhu) himself was a Haafiz and he could have compiled the Qur’aan from his memory. Similarly, he could have compiled the Qur’aan based on the memory of many other Huffaaz. There were also many written versions of the noble Qur’aan by many Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum). He could have copied those versions of the Qur’aan. He was extremely cautious and did not choose any one way, instead, he exhausted every available avenue in compiling the Qur’aan and did not include any Aayat in his compilation until he had written and verbal witnesses as a proof for every verse being from the Qur’aan.

Hadhrat Zayd ibn Thaabit (Radhiallaahu Anhu) made an announcement that whoever possesses any verse of the Qur’aan should present it to him. He (Zayd) would accept any verse (for compilation purposes) after following the criteria was fulfilled:

1. Match his memorised version.

2. Match the memorised version of Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu). (Fathul Bari)

3. If any written Aayat was brought to him, it would not be accepted until two trustworthy persons bore testimony that the Aayat was written in front of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). (Itqaan)

4. Match with other written versions of the Sahaaba. (Itqaan)

It is clear from the abovementioned criteria that Hadhrat Zayd (Radhiallaahu Anhu) had taken great care in compiling the Qur’aan. He gathered it in pages in a book form, but every Surah was written in a separate book. This compilation had many books which was known as the ‘Umm’ (the mother) version. The specialty of this compilation was as follows:

The Aayat of the Qur’aan in this compilation was set out in the same sequence shown by Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). It included all seven dialects. The object of writing this compilation was that the Ummat may have one standard and complete compilation to refer to.

This compilation was kept by Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) in his lifetime. After his demise, it was passed on to Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) and after his martyrdom, it was passed on to Ummul-Mu’mineen Hadhrat Hafsa (Radhiallaahu Anha). After her demise, it was passed on to Marwaan ibn al-Hakam (RA) who destroyed as Hadhrat Uthmaan’s (Radhiallaahu Anhu) compilation was already prepared and the Ummat unanimously agreed upon the authenticity of his compilation. (Fathul Bari; Bukhari)

Qari Ismail Abdul-Aziz
Head and Senior Lecturer: Department of Qiraat, Madrasah In’aamiyyah
An expert in the seven and ten dialects of the noble Qur’aan

Last modified: July 19, 2007

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