❀ The Two Meanings of “Jama‘ al-Qur’an”
✔ Memorization (Hifz):
✔ Writing and Compilation (Tadwin):
In the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, both forms of Qur’anic preservation were employed—through memorization and writing. Below is a detailed explanation of both aspects.
Example of the Prophet ﷺ:
The Prophet ﷺ himself preserved the Qur’an in his heart. Every word revealed to him was imprinted upon his heart.
The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) also memorized the Qur’an and, during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, a significant number of Huffaz were already present.
Importance of Memorization in Ancient Times:
In ancient times, memory was a crucial means of preserving knowledge. Among the Arabs, there was a tradition of memorizing poetry and genealogies, and this same tradition was applied to the Qur’an, ensuring its preservation through memorization across generations.
Significance of Memorization Today:
Even in this modern era, with writing and printing widely available, the real foundation of the Qur’an’s preservation remains memorization. In Islamic countries, printed copies of the Qur’an are only published after being verified by Qaris (reciters). In Pakistan, the Ministry of Religious Affairs does not allow any publisher to publish the Qur’an without the attestation of two Qaris.
Durability of Memorization:
Throughout history, religious scriptures have often been destroyed or altered due to various attacks and calamities. However, the Qur’an, owing to memorization, has never been at risk of loss or human error. This method of preservation is a fulfillment of Allah’s promise:
❝
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
❞
(Surah Al-Hijr: 9)
"Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will be its guardian."
Prophet ﷺ’s Careful Recitation of Revelation:
The Prophet ﷺ, out of concern, would try to repeat the verses rapidly during revelation to ensure nothing was left out. Allah instructed him:
❝
لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ
❞
"Do not move your tongue with it to hasten it. Indeed, upon Us is its collection and its recitation."
(Surah Al-Qiyamah: 16-17)
During the month of Ramadan, the Prophet ﷺ would review the Qur’an with Hazrat Jibreel (عليه السلام), and in the last Ramadan, he did so twice.
(Sahih Bukhari with Fath al-Bari, Vol. 9, p. 36)
During the time of the Prophet ﷺ, the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) took great care to memorize the Qur’an. The four rightly guided caliphs and other renowned memorizers include:
✔ Hazrat Talha ibn Ubaidullah
✔ Hazrat Ibn Mas'ud
✔ Hazrat Abu Hurairah
✔ Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit
✔ Hazrat Aisha Siddiqah
✔ Hazrat Hafsa
✔ Hazrat Mu’adh ibn Jabal
✔ Hazrat Ubayy ibn Ka’b (رضي الله عنهم)
Martyrdom of Huffaz:
At the incident of Bi’r Ma’unah, 70 Huffaz were martyred. In the Battle of Yamamah, around 700 Huffaz were martyred.
(Tafsir al-Qurtubi: 1/37, Umdat al-Qari: 13/533)
Writing Under Prophetic Supervision:
During the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, the Qur’an was also written down. The verses of the Qur’an were preserved on various materials, such as leather, bones, stones, and palm leaves.
Method of Writing:
Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) said that during the revelation, the Prophet ﷺ would endure great strain, but after revelation, he would dictate the verses and have them corrected.
(Al-Mu’jam al-Kabir of Tabarani: 5/142)
The Group of Scribes:
The number of scribes of revelation exceeded forty. Among the most famous were Hazrat Abu Bakr, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Uthman, Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit, and Hazrat Ubayy ibn Ka’b (رضي الله عنهم).
(Ulum al-Qur’an, Mufti Taqi Usmani, p. 179)
Writing Materials Used:
Because paper was not common at the time, the Qur’an was written on:
✔ Wide stone slabs
✔ Camel bones
✔ Leather parchments
✔ Palm branches
✔ Pieces of bamboo
✔ Gradual Revelation:
The Qur’an was revealed over twenty-three years, so compiling it in book form during this time was not possible.
✔ Abrogation (Naskh):
Some verses or rulings of the Qur’an were abrogated during this period, so the Prophet ﷺ did not order the Qur’an to be compiled in its complete form.
✔ Order of Revelation:
The current order of the Qur’an differs from its chronological order of revelation. If it had been compiled as a book during revelation, the order would have had to change repeatedly with each new revelation.
The primary means of preservation of the Qur’an during the Prophetic era was memorization, but writing was also meticulously employed to ensure that every word was protected. The Companions dedicated their lives to the Qur’an. These two methods—memorization and writing—are part of Allah’s promise for the preservation of the Qur’an. This is why the Qur’an remains today in its original form.
