COLLECTION AND WRITING OF THE QUR'AN IN THE TIME OF THE PROPHET SAW

 

The collection of the Qur'an carries two understandings, namely the collection by memorization (al-hifz fi as-sudur) and the second is the collection by writing (al-hifz fi as-sutur). The word al-jam’u (الجمع) means to collect, memorize and remember. Jam’u al-Quran means one who memorizes it in his heart. As the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. always moving both his lips and tongue to recite the Qur’an before Jibril a.s. finished reciting the verse, this is because of his desire to memorise the revelation.

The first person to have the honour of collecting the Qur’an by memorizing and remembering in the heart was Rasulullah s.a.w. himself, before it was memorized by the other companions.Compilation in writing means writing the Qur'an in the form of separated verses and surahs, or only the verses are arranged but the surahs are written in separate manuscripts.

Collection of Al-Quran by memorization

Rasulullah s.a.w was very fond of revelation, in fact he always waited and longing for the revelation to come. When the revelation comes down, he will hasten to memorize and understand it. Nabi Muhammad S.A.W. an ummi (illiterate). Thus the Prophet s.a.w clung to the power of his memory to memorize every revelation revealed to him. He tried to collect the Qur'an in his chest and then read it to his companions.

Similarly, the companions, they will always be eager to memorize the verses of the Quran. They devote all their ability to read and memorize the verses of the Qur'an. This will allow them to teach it to their wives and children. Rasulullah himself had ignited their spirit to memorize the Quran. Many of the companions memorized the entire Qur'an. Among others are Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, Umar Al-Khattab, Thalhah, Huzaifah, Abu Hurairah, Abdullah bin Mas'ud, Abdullah bin Umar, Abdullah bin Abbas, Amru bin Ash and many more from among the companions.

Collection of the Qur'an in Writing

In the time of the Prophets.a.w. further efforts to preserve and compile the Qur’an have existed. Not only a memorized collection but also a written collection. This was proved when the Prophet s.a.w. has appointed the author of revelation among the four Khulafa 'al-Rasyidin, namely Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, Sayyidina Umar al-Khattab, Sayyidina Uthman bin Affan and Sayyidina Ali bin Abi Talib. Apart from that, among his companions are Muawiyah, Ubai bin Ka'ab, Zaid bin Thabit, Al-Arqam bin Abi Al-Arqam, Khalid bin Al-Walid, Az-Zubir bin Al-Awwam, Abdullah bin Mas'ud and many more again.Among of f them, the most numerous and frequent writers of revelation were Zaid bin Thabit, Mu'awiyah, Abdullah bin Mas'ud and Ali bin Abi Talib. Whenever a revelation was sent down by Allah S.W.T., he would recite it in the presence of the companions ordering them to write it down in accordance with what had been recited in his chest. The writing on the sheet helped memorization in their chests. As the Messenger of Allah s.a.w. ordering the companions to write the verses from the revelation that was revealed, he also showed the position of the arrangement of the verses and placed the surahs in their particular place.

During this time the writers of the revelation wrote the verses of the Qur'an on the fronds of the tamar, the lumps of stone, the bones of camels and sheep that had been dried, the skins of animals, the skins or leaves of wood and so on. . Zaid bin Thabit said: "We wrote the Qur'an in the presence of the Messenger of Allah s.a.w. on the skin of animals ". (HR. Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak). This shows how difficult it was for the companions to write revelations on such devices. But in wisdom, where the writing of the Qur'an further increases the strength of their memorization. As Rasulullah memorized the Qur'an and recited it in front of the Angel Jibril a.s., so the companions also recited the verses of the Qur'an that they memorized and wrote it in front of Rasulullah s.a.w.

The writings written by the writers of the revelation were kept in the house of the Prophet s.a.w. In addition they also write for themselves. However , in the time of Rasulullah s.a.w., the Quran has not been collected in one mushaf (bound book).

Why The Quran Is Not Collected In One Mushaf

During the lifetime of the Prophet s.a.w, he did not collect the verses of the Qur'an in one mushaf, but found that the verses of the Qur'an were in a mixed and scattered state. Such a situation occurred because at that time the Qur’an was not revealed at once, even the Qur’an was revealed gradually. Such a situation makes it difficult to write the Qur'an into a single mushaf, unless after all the verses of the Qur'an are perfectly revealed to the Prophet s.a.w.

Apart from that, the order of the verses and surahs also does not follow the order of its descent. When examining the arrangement made of the Qur'an, it is clear that some verses were revealed later, but in the Qur'an are placed at the beginning of the surah. Therefore, if the Qur’an was written and compiled into one mushaf as early as its revelation, then surely it should always be changed every time a revelation is revealed to Rasulullah s.a.w.

During the life of Rasulullah s.a.w., there were also some verses of the Qur’an that were abrogated by a new revelation that abrogated them. Therefore, if from the beginning the Qur'an is collected in one mushaf, of course amendment after amendment must be made to the mushaf every time there is a repeal of a verse. It will definitely complicate the situation and Rasulullah s.a.w. never ordered the companions to collect the verses of the Qur'an into one mushaf.

Too many memorizers and  the writers of the Qur'an and it  causes the writing of the Qur'an to be everywhere. They did not feel that the collection in one mushaf was necessary because they had memorized the entire verse of the Qur’an in their respective chests, as has been shown by Rasulullah s.a.w. to them. Rasulullah s.a.w. has also explained to them the location of all the verses and surahs as directed by Allah S.W.T.

During the reign of Rasulullah s.a.w. the Muslims were in a good, peaceful  atmosphere, there was no slandering each other, besides the memorizers were too many. Therefore, there are no requirements that lead to the collection of the Qur'an into one mushaf. Furthermore, tools for writing were difficult to find because at that time they only carved writing on pieces of wood, stone blocks, dry skins and even bones.

According to Al-Zarkasyi’s view that the Qur’an was not written in a mushaf in the time of Rasulullah s.a.w. for fear of change in it. So the writing was done a bit late. Most scholars are of the opinion that the collection and writing of the Qur’an in the time of the Prophet s.a.w. done covering seven letters.