Objections of Orientalists Regarding the Compilation of the Qur'an

❀ Compilation of the Qur'an: Early Stages​

For Muslims, the compilation of the Qur'an is a proud heritage. The Companions of the Prophet (رضي الله عنهم) made great efforts to preserve the Qur'an. From the very beginning of revelation, the Qur'an was present before the eyes of the Companions, and they were fully aware of how it was revealed to the Prophet ﷺ over a period of twenty-three years.
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) swore that there was no verse in the Qur'an about which he did not know where and about whom it was revealed.
(Mabahith fi Ulum al-Qur'an, Dr. Subhi Salih, p. 132)

The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) preserved the Qur'an in their hearts after hearing it directly from the Prophet ﷺ and also preserved it in written form. Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) and other scribes of revelation carried out this duty. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would have the verses written down immediately after they were revealed and would instruct them about the order of the verses.
(Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 1)


In later times, when various tribulations arose, some weak and contradictory narrations found their way into the history of the Qur'an. Certain historians transmitted these narrations without criticism, and orientalists used these weak narrations to try to cast doubt on the Qur'an.


Orientalists claimed that the Qur'an was not completely compiled during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. They also argued that after the martyrdom of many Qur'an memorizers in the Battle of Yamamah, there was a risk that parts of the Qur'an would be lost. This, according to them, proved that the Qur'an did not exist in written form during the Prophet’s ﷺ life.
(Arthur Jeffery, Kitab al-Masahif)


Suyuti narrates in his book Al-Itqan that Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) said:
"At the time of the Prophet's ﷺ death, the Qur'an had not been compiled in any one manuscript."
(Al-Itqan, Suyuti, 1/57)


Ibn Abi Dawood narrated that due to the martyrdom of the Qur'an memorizers in the Battle of Yamamah, part of the Qur'an was lost.
(Al-Masahif, p. 23)


Islamic scholars analyzed these weak narrations and clarified that they are unreliable. For example:


✔ The statement of Zayd ibn Thabit (رضي الله عنه) actually means that until the completion of revelation, the Qur'an was not compiled in one place.
✔ Hazrat Umar (رضي الله عنه) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) decided to compile the Qur'an to ensure it would be preserved for all time, particularly because of the fear that it could be lost after the death of many memorizers.
(Al-Itqan, Suyuti)


Orientalists also objected that the Qur'an was written on stones, bones, and palm branches, which they claim were inadequate for the preservation of the entire Qur'an. However, the reality is that even during the Prophetic era, modern materials such as leather and parchment were used. The written treaties of the Quraysh, the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, and the letters of the Prophet ﷺ are all proof of this.
(An al-Qur'an, Muhammad Sabih, p. 86)


Orientalists also used the issue of different Qira'at (recitations) to create doubts. They claimed that differences in Qira'at indicated changes in the words and meanings of the Qur'an. However, the truth is that these differences were based on Arabic dialects or synonymous words, and many of these Qira'at have been abrogated.


Orientalists presented narrations where some Companions reportedly used synonymous words. For example, in the Qira'at of Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه):

• Instead of "فَوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ شَطْرَهُ", it was recited as "فَوَلُّوا أَوْجُهَكُمْ قِبَلَهُ"
  
  • "Turn your faces towards it" vs. "Turn your faces towards the qiblah"
    (Al-Bahr al-Muhit)

Islamic scholars have explained that these different Qira'at were in accordance with various Arabic dialects and did not change the core teachings or meanings of the Qur'an.


The concept of "Sab'ah Ahruf" (seven modes) was to facilitate the easy understanding of the Qur'an across different Arabic-speaking tribes.


The real aim of the orientalists was to cast doubt on the preservation of the Qur'an in order to weaken the foundations of Islam. However, Islamic scholars have successfully refuted these objections and proven that the Qur'an was fully preserved and compiled in written form during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ.