JAM’UL QUR’AN (2)

HOW WAS THE QUR’AN COLLECTED

In Suyuti’s Itqan it is said that the Qur’an had been written down in its entirety in the time of the Prophet but had not been brought together in one single place, and that therefore these written records or documents had not been arranged in order’ (Itqan, 1, p. 41)

However, this statement does not preclude that the ordering of the Qur’an and the arrangement of the surahs, was fixed by the Prophet himself and safeguarded through oral trasmission.

STAGES OF COLLECTION

1) In the time of the Prophet:

- In the hearts of men (memorisation)

- On writing materials

2) In the time of Abu Bakr

3) In the time of ‘Uthman

WHY WAS NO BOOK LEFT BY PROPHET?

Because the revelation did not come down in one piece, but at intervals and was received continuosly until the end of the Prophet’s life.

Because some verses were abrogated in the course of revelation, and therefore flexibility needed to be maintained.

The Prophet lived only nine days after the last revelation and was severely ill.

THE MATERIAL OF INSCRIPTION OF THE QUR’AN

The material available at the lifetime of the Prophet are said to have included the following:

Palm stalks (‘usub)

Thin white stones (likhaf)

Boards – (alwah) a long thin piece of wood

Scapula bones (aktaf)

Saddles (aqtab)-a joint of meat consisting of the two loins

Pieces of cloth ( riqa’)

Potsherds (khazaf)-a broken piece of earthenware – pottery made of baked clay

Shells (sadaf)

Ribs (adla’)

Parchments (raqq)-a heavy paper-like material made from animal skins.