Scribes of Divine Revelation

Question 1

Who were the scribes of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and what were their roles?

Answer 1

• The scribes were among the Prophet’s closest companions, including the four rightly guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman, and Ali.
• They recorded revelations, wrote letters, and documented treaties as commanded by the Prophet (PBUH).
• They were also memorizers of the Quran.

Question 2

When was the Quran written in its entirety, and on what materials?

Answer 2

• The Quran was fully written during the Prophet’s (PBUH) time, though not compiled into one text.
• Scribes wrote verses on various materials, such as animal skin, camel shoulder bones, palm leaves, stone tablets, and wood.

Question 3

What were the differences between the roles of official scribes and personal scribes of the Prophet (PBUH)?

Answer 3

• Official scribes, like Ubayy ibn Ka’ab, wrote letters, while personal scribes like Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘As kept their copies of the revelations.
• Abdullah asked the Prophet (PBUH) if he could write down everything he heard, to which the Prophet replied, “Yes, for I speak nothing but the truth.”

Question 4

How did the Prophet (PBUH) guide the arrangement of the Quran’s verses?

Answer 4

• The Prophet (PBUH) instructed scribes on the sequence of verses for each Surah, arranging the Quran systematically.
• Zayd ibn Thabit said, “We used to record the Qur’an from parchments in the presence of the Messenger of God.”

Question 5

What is the Quranic verse that highlights the honor of the scribes?

Answer 5

• The Quran mentions the honor of the scribes in Surah Abasa:

“(written) by the hands of the scribes, honorable, pious and just.” (80:15-16)

Question 6

How did Zayd ibn Thabit describe the process of recording revelation?

Answer 6

• Zayd said that when the revelation came, the Prophet (PBUH) felt intense heat.
• Zayd would write on a shoulder bone or other material while the Prophet dictated.
• After writing, Zayd would read it back, and the Prophet would correct any errors before sharing it with others.

Question 7

How did the memorized versions of the Quran by companions play a role after the Prophet’s (PBUH) death?

Answer 7

• Companions who memorized the Quran helped verify the written copies after the Prophet’s death, ensuring accuracy in the preservation of the Quran’s text.