The History and Importance of the Holy

Quran

Revelation of Quran (610AD – 632AD)

2(a) Write an account of the different ways in which revelations came to the Prophet.
Include examples in your answer. [10] [O/N 2018 (11)][M/J 2021(11)]

2(a) The Angel Jibrael brought the revelations of Quran to the Prophet (PBUH) at different
times and places. Give examples to show how this took
place. [10][M/J 2015 (11)]

2(a) Write about the Prophet’s different experiences of revelation, after the first
revelation. [10] [O/N 2012 (11)]

• As Prophet (pbuh) approached the age of 40, he started retiring into a cave in a nearby mountain
known as Hira. One day angel Jibrail appeared before him and asked him to read. This was repeated
thrice after which the Angel recited the following five verses of Sura Alaq also known as Sura Iqra,
“Proclaim in the name of your Lord and Cherisher who created, created man out of a clot of
congealed blood. Proclaim and your Lord is the most bountiful. He who taught by the pen. Taught
man that which he knew not.” (96:1-5)
This was the first revelation and the beginning of Prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). From
this time onwards, that is 610 A.D, he continued to receive revelations throughout the rest of his life
for a period of about 23 years.
• After the first revelation, sura al-‘Alaq, revelation stopped for a period which caused the Prophet
to worry. This interval is known as “fatrah tul wahi”. Once they started again they came strongly
and frequently.
The occurrence of receiving revelations was not within his control (sura 75:16–19), he had no idea
when they were coming and they were safeguarded by God.
The Quran says, “Move not your tongue with it, (O Muhammad), to hasten with recitation of the
Quran. Indeed upon us is its collection and its recitation. So when we have recited it (through
Jabriel), then follow its recitation. Then upon us is its clarification (to you)” (Al Qiyamah 75:16-19)

• There were different ways in which the verses were revealed to the Prophet (pbuh). A few times
the Prophet (pbuh) saw the Angel in his original form, for example, at the time of the first revelation
when the first five verses of Sura Alaq were revealed and on the night journey (Sura Najm).
Sometimes the Angel Jibril would come in the form of a man, and in this form, he resembled the
Companion Dihya al Kalbi. The revelations also came in the form of dreams, and the Prophet (pbuh)
would wake up and remember them. When a revelation came, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) experienced
different sensations. He heard ringing sounds, he perspired in the cold; he became so heavy that the
animal he was riding on and his companions could feel the weight of his body.
 The most difficult was when they came as the ringing of a bell, and this would weigh down on him, so
much so that his camel could not withstand the weight, and it also put pressure on Zayd’s thigh when
he was sitting next to the Prophet (pbuh) during one of the revelations. Zayd bin Thabit, one of the
chief scribes relates: " When the revelation came to him he felt intense heat and drops of
perspiration used to roll down his body like pearls. When this state was over I used to fetch a
shoulder bone or a piece of something else. He used to go on dictating and I used to write it down.
When I finished writing the sheer weight of transcription gave me the feeling that my leg would
break and I would not be able to walk anymore ….." A companion relates that once he was sitting
with his leg under the leg of the Prophet. A revelation came at that moment and he felt his leg would
crush under the weight.

• He also received revelation in dreams. He also received revelation directly from God during the night
journey (Last 2 verses of surah Baqarah).
• When a companion once asked of Prophet (pbuh) how a revelation comes to him, he replied,
“It comes to me sometimes as the ringing of a bell and this is hardest on me, then he leaves me and I
remember from him what he says and sometimes the Angel comes in the shape of a man and he
talks to me and I remember what he says.”
• The experience of receiving revelations would cause him to sweat in the winter and shiver in the
summer. Hazrat Aisha reports, ‘‘ I saw revelations coming down upon him in the severest cold and
when that condition was over, perspiration ran down his forehead.’’

• He received revelations as divine instructions on all important occasions of life. Revelations received in
Makkah during 610 to 622 are known as Makkan surahs. These are generally brief and are related to
articles of faith. e.g oneness of Allah, life after death etc. they also talk about the opposition of the
unbelievers and the language used is stronger. Throughout all the years of persecutions and hardships
in Makah, Prophet (pbuh) received revelations which not only consoled and comforted him but also
his followers e.g. Sura al Duha and Surah al Kauther etc.
• In 622 A.D Prophet and his followers migrated to Madina when he was instructed through revelation.
During migration he was reassured of divine help when Abu Bakr was worried in the cave of
Thawr(Saur). “For Allah did indeed help him, when the unbelievers drove him out: he had no more
than one companion the two were in the cave and he said to his companion, have no fear, for Allah
is with us” (9:40).
• The surahs received during 622AD to 632AD are known as Madni surahs. This includes verses which
were revealed during the battles, as well as those revealed in Makah and Arafat during and after the
farewell Pilgrimage. They contain social, economic, political, criminal as well as spiritual laws that are
important for the organization and development of Islamic State. These surahs are generally lengthy.
• In 624 A.D Prophet (pbuh) received a revelation in which the permission of fighting was given in these
words, “Fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight you.” (2:190)
• He continued to receive revelations till his farewell pilgrimage in 631A.D. The last revelation received
by him was in the plain of Arafat after he performed Hajj and delivered the sermon:
“This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for
you Islam as your religion.” (5:3)
• The Quran was revealed in portions but it did not remain long in that condition as it was
simultaneously recorded by the Scribes.
 2

Preservation of Quran during Prophet’s lifetime:

• The Holy Quran started to be revealed in 610 AD and continued for a period of 22 years 5 months
and 14 days . The Quran was revealed in portions but it did not remain long in that condition.
Though it could not be completed until the last verse was revealed, it was never without some form
of arrangement and every verse and chapter was given its place in the Book.
• Whenever, a revelation was received by the Prophet (P.B.U.H) he would summon one of his literate
companions and dictate the text to him. He would then ask him to read what he had written. This
was to ensure perfect accuracy. He would also ask them to memorize the verses in order to recite
them in their daily prayers. Zaid bin Thabit says, “The Prophet(pbuh) used to go on dictating and I
used to write it down. When I finished writing, he would say, 'Read!' and I would read it back to
him. If there was an omission or error he used to correct it and then let it be brought before the
people."
• The Quran was written on thin and flat tablets of stone, wood, branches of palm trees, bones of
camels and goats and on piece of leather etc.
The verse and chapters of the holy Quran were not compiled in the order of revelation, for
example, the first five verses of Surah Alaq are the first in order of revelation, but they are placed in
the 96th chapter whereas, the chapters which appear at the beginning of the Quran were revealed
at Madinah after the Prophet (P.B.U.H) migration. The arrangement of different verses and
chapters of the Quran was done under the guidance of Hazrat Jibrail. According to Hazrat Usman
every portion of Quran was written down and given its specified place at the command of the
Prophet (P.B.U.H). It was customary with the messenger of Allah that when verses of different
chapters were revealed to him or when any chapter was revealed, he would call one of his scribes
and say to him “write this verse in the chapter where such and such verse occur” (Ahmad)
• The Quran did exist in the written form but no complete copy of it existed at the time, nor could
such a copy be made while the Prophet (P.B.U.H) was alive and still receiving revelations. The whole
Quran in one arrangement was safely preserved in the memories of the reciters. It was the practice
of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) to recite loudly the text of the Quran, revealed so far every year,
during the month of Ramazan. Those companions who had written it down would bring out their
manuscripts and compare it with the version of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) so that they could check
the text and order of the chapter. In the last year of his life, a few months before his death, the Holy
Prophet (P.B.U.H) read out the complete text of the Quran twice. In this way, the Divine Message
was recorded in scriptural from and learnt by heart to be preserved for the coming generations.
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Compilation of Quran

2 (a) Give an account of how the Qur’an was compiled in the years following the
Prophet’s death. [10]
2(a) Write about the ways in which Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman were involved in the
compilation and preservation of the Qur’an.[10]

Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A)

• During the time of the Prophet (pbuh) the Qur’an was written on pieces of animal skin and on
parts of bone but was mainly memorised by the companions. At the time of the Prophet (P.B.U.H)
death no official copy of the Quran existed.
• After becoming caliph, Hazrat Abu Bakr waged a war against the false prophet Musailima and many
companions who had committed the Holy Quran to memory were martyred in that battle known as the
battle of Yamama. Hazrat Umar suggested to Hazrat Abu Bakr that the Quran should be compiled.
Hazrat Abu Bakr, however, hesitated and said that he would not do the job left unfinished by the Holy
Prophet (P.B.U.H). According to Hazrat Abu Bakr, “Umar went on persuading me to accept his
suggestion till I was convinced that he was right so I accepted his suggestion.”
• Hazrat Abu Bakr asked Zaid bin Sabit, one of scribes of Divine revelation to collect the Quranic verses
from every part of the Islamic empire and compile them in book form. He was also reluctant but Abu Bakr
persuaded him. Zaid later remarked, “It would have been easier to carry a mountain on my shoulders,
than to compile the Quran.”
• A commission was appointed headed by Zaid Bin Sabit and its members comprised at least twenty or
twenty five companions who had committed the Quran to memory. Zaid Bin sabit traced out and
collected the chapters of the Quran from every person who had it in their possession. He collected it
from palm leaves, stones, and pieces of wood and people who had committed it to memory.
• He applied the following careful methods for accepting any verse or surah.
• He was not content just finding a written piece of the Quran. He also verified it from those people who
had heard it from the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). Though he himself was a hafiz of Quran, he always tried
to find a verse in writing before including it in his manuscript. He only accepted those verses which
were in the dialect of Quraish. He did not accept any part without two witnesses to it. The verses were
written in the order that the Prophet (pbuh) had given, but the surahs were written on separate sheets.
• So that version of the Quran he recorded was the one heard from and written under the supervision of
the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).
• The script prepared by Zaid Bin Sabit was named “Mushaf” by Abdullah bin Masood. It remained
with Abu Bakr and after his death was transferred to the custody of Hazrat Umar, the second Khalifa,
who gave it to Hazrat Hafsa, a widow of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). This copy of the Quran came to be
known as Mushaf al –Hafsa i.e Hafsa’s copy of Holy Book.
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Hazrat Usman (R.A)

• During ‘Uthman’s time as caliph, Islam had spread to other areas. Hazrat Huzaifa bin Yamaan
reported to Hazrat ‘Usman that people in different areas, in particular in Armenia and Azerbaijan,
were reciting the Qur’an in a different dialect. He requested him to take immediate action for the
removal of these differences; otherwise it might create a rift among the Muslims.
• Accordingly, Hazrat Usman acquired the copy of the Quran prepared by Zaid Bin Sabit from Hazrat
Hafsa. He appointed Zaid Bin Sabit along with three other knowledgeable Muslims , Abdur Rehman bin
Harris, Abdullah bin Zubair and Saad bin Aas, who assisted to make copies of the Quran from the
original text. They were told to follow the dialect of the Quraish in case of differences over the
language, as the Quran had been revealed in that dialect.
• The Quran was read out loudly from the beginning to the end in the Prophet (P.B.U.H) mosque
from these copies of the Quran, so that not a shadow of doubt remained in the mind of anyone that
changes had been introduced in the Quran.
• These copies were then dispatched to the capital city of every Province of the Muslims States with
instructions that in future copies should be made only from the official authentic text. Hazrat Usman
also ordered that if anyone had a copy with a different text, it was to be destroyed by fire. Hazrat
Usman also sent teachers to these areas to teach the correct dialect to the inhabitants of these areas.
• Hazrat Usman is Known as Jami-al-Quran. These means that he brought the Muslims around to a
uniform reading of the Quran.

2(b) Why did these caliphs think it was important to make a compilation of the Qur’an?
[4]
• Abu Bakr came to see at the suggestion of Umar that the Qur’an could not be kept in memories alone.
• Although the Prophet had not made a written compilation, Abu Bakr realised that this would have
to be done if the authentic Qur’an was to be preserved for the guidance of the future generations
otherwise it would be lost or corrupted like the previous divine books.
• `Uthman realised that the original message might be lost.
• If different versions were allowed to exist the original meaning might no longer survive.
• Muslims would not have a single source of guidance.
• Rival interpretations might break the unity of the community.
• Only the original revelation given to the Prophet could preserve unity

Q2. (b) What is the significance to Muslims today of having the Quran in the form of a
Book? [4]
• Having the Qur’an in book form ensures a standard copy which lessens the likelihood of it
being reproduced with mistakes.
• If the Qur’an had not been collected into book form, parts may have been lost.
• It also suggests unity between Muslims, e.g. they use the same book, they read it in its
original language even if that language is not their own
• The practical benefits include that copies can be carried by individuals, and referred to with ease.
• Even those who do not speak Arabic can read it and get the rewards.
• The availability of the written form of the Qur’an digitally, gives easy access to Muslims.
2(b) The Qur’an was not revealed all at one time. Why do you think this was
important? [4]
Candidates may include some of the following information. All other relevant information must be
credited.

• It was important because the power and words of the Qur’an weighed heavily on the Prophet (pbuh) so
it was better for it to be revealed over time.
• Also, the way the revelation came was physically demanding for the Prophet (pbuh) and so again it was
easier for him if the revelations were spaced out.
• Another reason was that the new Muslims needed change slowly and so the Qur’an being revealed
gradually, allowed them to put actions into practise before new ideas and rules were given.
• Being revealed over time also meant that questions that arose from the Quraysh or the Muslims were
given an answer through new revelation.
• Gradual revelation also catered for the changing needs and circumstances of the emerging Muslim
community.

2.(b) What was the significance of the Prophet being given the revelation by word
rather than in writing? [4]
• the Arabs at the time had an oral tradition and it was in keeping with that. As people
committed things to memory it was a more reliable way of ensuring the Qur’an’s preservation.
• Had it been delivered in a book, it would have been harder to check if any changes had been made.
• If the Prophet had been given it in written form, he would not have been able to read or write
it, and because of this the oral revelation allowed the message to be memorised by him and
committed to heart, again ensuring there were no errors.
• It is significant because the Qur’an is primarily a book of worship, in a vocative tone, rather than
a legal written guid.