The History of the Quran's Compilation and Its Relevance as a Guide for Modern Life
INTRODUCTION
The Quran is the holy book of Muslims, revealed by Allah (SWT) through the angel Jibril. In Islamic theology, the Quran is the word of Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), considered a miracle, delivered via the angel Jibril, and reciting it is an act of worship. The Quran itself states that its contents serve as guidance, sometimes containing historical narratives and emphasizing moral values. It is used alongside the Hadith to determine Sharia law and Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). During prayer, the Quran is recited exclusively in Arabic. Some Western scholars have praised the Quran as the finest work of Arabic literature.
DISCUSSION
A. History of the Quran’s Revelation and Compilation
- The Revelation of the Quran (Nuzul al-Quran)
Nuzul al-Quran is a monumental event in Islamic history, forming the cornerstone of religious and civilisational order for Muslims. The term refers to the Quran being revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as divine guidance for humanity. This event holds profound historical, spiritual, and theological significance. According to Al-Mawdudi, the revelation of the Quran was a divine intervention guiding humanity from darkness to light (Al-Mawdudi, 2011). Historically, the Quran was revealed gradually over 23 years, beginning on the Night of Qadr during Ramadan (Surah Al-Qadr: 1-5). The first revelation received by Prophet Muhammad was Surah Al-Alaq verses 1-5, which urged reading and the pursuit of knowledge. According to Quraish Shihab (2019), the revelation serves not only as a guide for worship but also as a foundation for moral, social, and legal aspects of human life.
- Compilation of the Quran (Jam’ al-Quran)
The compilation of the Quran, also known as Jam’ al-Quran, was a crucial step in its historical journey. This process safeguarded the Quran from distortion and disputes over its verses, unlike previous scriptures, and protected it from being lost. ‘Hifz’ (memorisation) is the term used in Jam’ al-Quran for ‘memorising the verses in one’s heart.’ This refers to the Prophet’s practice of reciting the Quran as it was revealed by Jibril to commit it to memory. The compilation of the Quran occurred in three main phases: the era of Prophet Muhammad (oral memorisation and scattered writings), the Caliphate of Abu Bakr (codification into a single manuscript upon Umar’s suggestion), and the Caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan (standardisation and duplication of the Uthmanic codex).
A. History of Quran compilation during the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
The compilation of the Quran during Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) time was done through two methods: memorisation (hifz) and written recording on various materials (kitab). During the Prophet’s (PBUH) time, the revealed Quranic verses were memorised by the Companions and written on materials such as palm leaves, stone tablets, leaves, bones, and animal skins. Allah (SWT) states in Surah Al-Jumuah, verse 2: ‘He it is Who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom, although before they were in clear error.’
The Prophet (PBUH) summoned several Companions to write down the revelations as they were received. Among them were the scribes of revelation (Kuttab al-Wahy), including Zaid bin Thabit, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan, Khalid ibn al-Walid, Thabit ibn Qais, and Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan (Subhan Abdullah, 2020). At that time, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) guided the scribes on arranging the verses and chapters to avoid errors during writing. Although the entire Quran was written during the Prophet’s lifetime, it was not compiled into a single volume and remained scattered. He instructed them to note where each verse belonged within a chapter, aiding memorisation. Additionally, some Companions recorded verses on their own initiative without the Prophet’s command (Hal et al., 2024), using materials such as stone tablets, palm leaves, date palm stalks, animal skins, saddles, and bone fragments.
B. Compilation of the Quran during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq
The compilation of the Quran during Caliph Abu Bakr al-Siddiq’s reign was a critical process in Islamic history. After Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) death, the Companions faced significant challenges in preserving the Quran’s authenticity. At that time, the Quran had not been compiled into a single codex; verses were scattered among memorised recitations and written records on materials like bones, date palm stalks, and animal skins. After compilation, the Quranic codex was kept by Abu Bakr, then passed to Umar ibn al-Khattab upon his caliphate, and subsequently…