Section 2: The History and Importance of the Quran - COMPILATION OF THE QURAN UNDER THE RIGHTLY GUIDED KHALIFAS - Under the first Khalifa

Question 1

How many official copies of the Quran existed after Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s death?

Answer 1

Zero

Question 2

Zero official copies of the Quran existed….

Answer 2

…after Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s death.

Question 3

Before the compilation of Holy Quran, did anyone posses a complete written text?

Answer 3

Perhaps no one.

Question 4

Why did the Prophet (PBUH)’s companion’s feel the need to collect and compile the text of Holy Quran?

Answer 4

Because of an incident which was Battle of Yamamah where many companions who had committed Quran to memory were martyred.

Question 5

What was realized after many companions who had committed Quran to memory were martyred? And by whom, specifically? When?

Answer 5

It was realized that the Quran needs to be compiled for the future generations as companions who had memorized the Quran would either be martyred or die a natural death. This realization came to Hazrat Umar after battle of Yumamah..

Question 6

Who was the battle of Yumamah fought against?

Answer 6

The false prophet Musailma.

Question 7

Other battles were being fought against before Battle of Yumamah against…

Answer 7

…other false prophets.

Question 8

Explain Hazrat Umar’s realization in detail.

Answer 8

Hazrat Umar realized that those who have learnt the Quran by heart would depart either from natural death or during wars. It must, therefore be compiled to preserve it for future generations and so that what happened to the other holy books won’t happen to the Quran.

Question 9

In battle of Yamamah…

Answer 9

…a lot of companions who had learnt the Koran were martyred.

Question 10

There was no official copy of the Quran….

Answer 10

….after Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s death.

Question 11

What did Hazart Abu Bakr initially think of Hazart Umar’s suggestion of compiling the Quran?

Answer 11

Hazrat Abu Bakr was hesitant and expressed that he would not do a job unfinished by the Holy Prophet (PBUH)

Question 12

Who suggested the idea of compiling the Quran to whom?

Answer 12

Hazrat Umar suggested the idea of compiling the Quran to Hazrat Abu Bakr, the first caliph.

Question 13

What did Hazrat Umar argue to convince Hazrat Abu Bakr to compile the Quran after he had first refused to do so?

Answer 13

Hazrat Umar said it has become absolute necessity to compile the Holy Quran.

Hazrat Abu Bakr reports “Umar went on persuading me to accept his suggestion till I was convinced he was right so I accepted his suggestion”

Question 14

Whom did Hazrat Abu Bakr direct to compile the Quran?

Answer 14

Zaid bin Sabit.

Question 15

[the personality who was directed to compile the Quran by Hazrat] was directed to….

Who was that personality?

Answer 15

…collect the Quranic verses from every part of the Islamic empire and compile them in a form of written book.

The personality was Zaid bin Sabit.

Question 16

What was [the personality who directed to compile the Quran by Hazrat Abu Bakr]’s reaction when he was asked to start the work? What did Hazrat Abu Bakr do next?

Answer 16

He, Zaid bin Sabit, is reported to have felt that it is easier to carry a mountain on his head than do this job perfectly. However, he agreed after Hazrat Abu Bakr persuaded him every now and then.

Question 17

How did [the personality who was directed to compile the Quran] start the process of compiling the Quran?

Answer 17

He formed a commission headed by himself - Zaid bin Sabit….and other members who had been companions of Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Question 18

Who were the other members of the commission which compiled the Holy Quran?

Answer 18

Other companions.

Question 19

How many companions who had committed Quran to memory were alive?

Answer 19

At least twenty or twenty five.

Question 20

How did [the personality who was directed to compile the Quran] compile the Quran?

Answer 20

• traced out and collected chapters of Quran from every person who had it in their possession
• collected it from
  1) palm trees
  2) stones
  3) pieces of woods
  4) people who had committed it to their memory
• still not content,
  1) he verified it all from those who had heard the Quran from Holy Prophet himself
  2) despite being a hafiz of Quran himself, he always tried to find a verse in writing before including it in his manuscript

Question 21

What happened to the compiled script afterwards? What is the script called?

Answer 21

[1] The script prepared by Zaid bin Sabit remained with the first Khalifa, Hazrat Abubakr, [2] and after his death it was transferred to the custody of Hazrat Umar, the second Khalifa. [3] After his death, the script was transferred to Hazrat Hafsa, a widow of the Prophet (PBUH).

The script came to be known as Mashaf-al-Hafsa.

Question 22

What is the script called?

Answer 22

The script came to be known as Mashaf-al-Hafsa.

Question 23

Summary in bullets.

Answer 23

• There’s no single, complete, finished and written script of Holy Quran after Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s passing away.
• Hazrat Umar believes there’s a need to compile Koran
• After battle of Yamamah against the false prophet Musailma
• which was because wars were being waged against false prophets
• Hazart Umar realized that most people who know Quran by heart will either be martyred or die a natural death.
• He felt the Koran needs to be compiled for future generations and so that it won’t meet the same fate which other Holy books have
• He tried to convince the first Khalifa, Hazrat Abu Bakr,
• Hazrat Abu Bakr was hesitant at first but later agreed upon further persuasion from Hazrat Umar.
• Hazrat Abu Bakr gave the task to Zaid bin Sabit who was anxious about having been given such a big and complicated task.
• Hazrat Abu Bakr persuaded him every now and then until he agreed
• Zaid bin Sabit formed a commission with him as a head and twenty to twenty five other companions who were alive at that time.
• Zaid bin Sabit compiled the Quran
• The script was transferred to Hazrat Abu Bakr (first . After his death, Hazrat Umar, After his death Hazrat Hafsa, a widow of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).
• The script became to be known as Mashaf-al-Hafsa