❀ Objection: Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) Opposed the Uthmani Mushaf
Atheists claim that Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) vehemently opposed the Uthmani Mushaf and insisted on his own manuscript. They present a narration stating that Ibn Mas'ud instructed people to conceal his manuscript and argued that he had memorized seventy Surahs directly from the blessed lips of the Prophet ﷺ, so why should he obey the order of Hazrat Uthman (رضي الله عنه)?
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 2, pp. 619-620, Hadith 3929, Maktabah Rahmaniyyah Lahore)
This claim is entirely misleading and is based on partial information only. The detailed answer to this objection is provided in the following points:
Hazrat Uthman Ghani (رضي الله عنه) compiled the Uthmani Mushaf after consultation with the Companions of the Prophet (رضي الله عنهم). To eliminate differences in recitation and pronunciation, he ordered the destruction of all non-standard manuscripts.
(Fath al-Bari 9/13)
This decision was made for the unity of the Ummah and to keep the Qur'an free from all sorts of discrepancies.
The non-standard manuscripts contained rare readings or interpretative notes that could have led to divisions in the Ummah.
Strategy of Hazrat Uthman (رضي الله عنه):
✔ Seven standardized copies were prepared and distributed to major Islamic cities.
✔ Only these copies were to be accepted as authoritative, uniting the Ummah on a single, agreed-upon text.
Initially, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) objected to the order of the Uthmani Mushaf. However, these objections were due to personal and circumstantial reasons, which are often misrepresented without proper context:
(1) Personal Attachment and Emotional Connection
Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) had a deep emotional attachment to his manuscript because he personally wrote it after hearing directly from the Prophet ﷺ.
This personal connection is mentioned in the narration, highlighting why he valued his manuscript so highly.
(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 2, pp. 619-620, Hadith 3929)
(2) Objection to the Scribe Selection
According to a narration in Tirmidhi, Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) objected to the fact that the task of compiling and arranging the Qur'an was given to Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) instead of himself.
He said that Zayd ibn Thabit had spent less time in the Prophet’s ﷺ company, while he (Ibn Mas'ud) had been close to the Prophet ﷺ for a long time.
(Al-Masahif, p. 16)
Resolution of the Misunderstanding
Later, when Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) learned that the Uthmani Mushaf was actually a copy of the Mushaf of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) and that the work involved other Companions as well, he retracted his objection and accepted the Uthmani Mushaf.
(Al-Masahif, p. 18)
Orientalists often object to the choice of Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) over Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه), claiming it was unjust. However, several facts refute this:
✔ Honor of Being the Prophet’s Scribe
Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) had the distinction of being the Prophet’s ﷺ personal scribe and was always present to write down the revelations.
✔ Prior Experience
He was the same person who had compiled and arranged the Qur'an during the caliphate of Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), with Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) present at the time.
✔ Expertise and Skill
Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) was a master of Qur’anic recitation, a brilliant memorizer, a scholar of Qur’anic vocabulary, and one of those who confirmed the final order of the Qur'an with Jibreel (عليه السلام). His skills made him the most suitable for this immense task.
✔ Practical Circumstances
Hazrat Uthman (رضي الله عنه) carried out this work in Madinah, while Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) was in Kufa at the time. Since it was a pressing matter, it had to be resolved in Madinah.
(Fath al-Bari 9/13)
Orientalists have tried to use Ibn Mas'ud’s initial objection to imply that there was no consensus on the Uthmani Mushaf. However, historical facts clearly show:
✔ Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) later expressed his acceptance of the Uthmani Mushaf.
✔ The disagreement was only based on personal sentiment and emotional attachment, not on the text or order of the Mushaf.
Atheists and orientalists often present narrations out of context to create the impression that the compilation of the Qur'an was doubtful. In reality, these narrations serve as proof of the unity and preservation of the Qur'an.
✔ Hazrat Uthman Ghani (رضي الله عنه), with the consultation of the Companions, prepared standardized copies of the Qur'an and removed differences.
✔ The initial objection of Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) was purely personal and was later resolved.
✔ Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) was chosen because of his expertise and prior experience, with the unanimous agreement of the Companions.
