['Aalim Network QR] Qur'an Compilation

["Akil M. Karim" <amk@ican.net>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun 'Alaykum

The following question was kindly answered by Dr. Takim.


Fee Amaanillah,

Akil Karim
Moderator - 'Aalim Network

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

QUESTION:

This question is concerned with the history of compilation of the Quran.

1)Was the Quran compiled during the Prophet(PBUH+HF)?, since he said : "I
leave AMONGST you; Quran and AhlulBayt"

2) Who compiled the Quran that we have today?


ANSWER:

The standard story accepted by the majority of Muslims has been that the
Qur'an was written down during the Prophet's (SAW) time and compiled in the
time of Abu Bakr when he noticed that many of those who had written and
memorized the Qur'an were dying especially at the battle of Yamama. He
commissioned Zayd b. Thabit to compile the Qur'an.

However, this view has been challenged by other 'ulama notably Ayat Allah
al-Khu'i (RA). He notes several discrepancies & contradictions in the
stories on the compilation in Abu Bakr's time. Ayatullah al-Khu'i also
quotes reports to indicate that the Qur'an was compiled in the time of the
Prophet (SAW) himself. He also emphasizes how the Qur'an sees itself as a
book which denotes a collection of pages, not scattered pieces of paper.

The idea of the Qur'an being compiled in the time of the Propeht (SAW) also
accords with reason. Indeed, we have some reports which indicate that the
Qur'an was compiled by some ladies too.

The arguments are too lenghty to quote here, I have merely stated a small
gist of the discussion. See al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, two important
chapters translated by Mulla Asgher.

We also believe that Imam Ali (AS) compiled the Qur'an the way it was
revealed chronologically but this was rejected by the Caliph of the time.

Please remember me in your prayers

Liyakatali Takim