❀ Teaching and Preservation of the Qur’an During the Prophetic Era
In the Prophetic era, great efforts were made for the teaching and preservation of the Qur’an. The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) acquired the Qur’an from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ through memorization and writing. The Qur’an was revealed over twenty-three years, continuing until the last moments of the Prophet’s ﷺ blessed life. Consequently, it was not possible at that time to compile the Qur’an in its current book form. Whenever any differences arose regarding a verse, the Companions would refer directly to the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ The Qur’an was revealed in response to needs and circumstances, sometimes as a single verse, and sometimes multiple verses.
✔ The order of revelation was different from the current order of the Mus'haf.
✔ If the Qur’an had been compiled into a single book during the Prophet’s ﷺ time, the frequent changes in order due to ongoing revelation would have made this impractical.
After the Battle of Yamamah and other conflicts, when many Qur’an memorizers were martyred, senior Companions feared that if this continued, parts of the Qur’an might be lost. Therefore, Hazrat Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) initiated the compilation of the Qur’an.
✔ Nature of the work:
The Qur’an was fully written during the Prophet’s ﷺ lifetime, but the verses and Surahs were in separate pieces.
✔ The Qur’an was compiled in the order prescribed by the Prophet ﷺ.
✔ Hazrat Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) supervised this project with the help of memorizers and scribes among the Companions.
✔ There was unanimous consensus of the Companions on the compiled Qur’an.
By the time of Hazrat Uthman (رضي الله عنه), Islam had spread widely, and people were reciting the Qur’an in their tribal dialects and pronunciations, leading to differences in recitation. This even escalated into some declaring each other’s recitation as incorrect.
✔ Hazrat Uthman’s Actions:
With the consultation of the Companions, it was decided to prepare standard Mushafs that accommodated the Seven Ahruf (modes of recitation).
✔ The new Mushafs were copied from the compiled sheets prepared during the era of Hazrat Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه).
✔ This work was carried out under the supervision of the trustworthy memorizers among the Muhajirun and Ansar—those who had learned the Qur’an directly from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
✔ One standard copy was sent to each region, and all other copies were destroyed to end disputes.
➍ Addition of Diacritical Marks (Nuqtas and Harakats)
As Islamic conquests expanded, non-Arabs became acquainted with the Qur’an. Since it was difficult for them to read the Qur’an without diacritical marks (dots and vowels), these marks were later added to facilitate correct recitation.
➎ Preservation of the Qur’an: A Divine Promise
The Qur’an was transmitted to us through continuous memorization and writing from the time of the Prophet ﷺ. It has been conveyed by millions without any change, and this process will continue until the Day of Judgment.
❝
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا ٱلذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ
❞
(Surah Al-Hijr, Ayah 9)
"Indeed, it is We who have sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will be its guardian."
➏ Admission by Orientalists
✔ Professor Sir G. Strasser collected 42,000 copies of different portions of the Qur’an and compared them.
✔ According to Dr. Muhammad Hamidullah, while there were minor errors in writing, no contradictions in the text itself were found.
(Khutbat Bahawalpur by Dr. Muhammad Hamidullah, pp. 15-16)
The Qur’an itself declares:
❝
وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُواْ فِيهِ ٱخْتِلَـٰفًۭا كَثِيرًۭا
❞
(Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 82)
"If it had been from other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction."
➐ Another Reference
❝لَا يَأْتِيهِ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ تَنزِيلٌۭ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ
❞
(Surah Fussilat, Ayah 42)
"Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; a revelation from a Wise and Praiseworthy One."
✔ The Qur’an has been preserved in its original form in accordance with the promise of Allah.
✔ It is the only book in the world on which humanity’s trust and reliance have endured.
✔ The miracle of the Qur’an’s preservation is a proof of divine truth and a beacon of guidance for all humanity.
