Preservation of the Quran
The Quran is the holy scripture of Islam and is considered by Muslims to be the word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. Muslims believe that the Quran was not written by any human being, but rather was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel. The Prophet Muhammad, in turn, conveyed the message of the Quran to his companions, who memorized and wrote it down.
1. Prophet Muhammad (S) was the first person to memorized the Quran
Prophet Muhammad (S) is known for being the first Hafiz or memorizer of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. He received the revelations of the Quran from Allah through the angel Gabriel and committed them to memory. This memorization was an important aspect of preserving the Quran, as it was primarily transmitted orally during the early years of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (S) also encouraged his followers to memorize the Quran, and many of his companions became Hafizs as well. The practice of memorizing the Quran continues to be an important tradition in Islamic education today, and many Muslims strive to memorize the entire text of the Quran.
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4998: Narrated Abu-Huraira:
Gabriel used to repeat the recitation of the Qur’an with the Prophet (ﷺ) once a year, but he repeated it twice with him in the year he died. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to stay in Itikaf for ten days every year (in the month of Ramadan), but in the year of his death, he stayed in Itikaf for twenty days. It’s important to note that Prophet Muhammad (S) was not just a memorizer, but also a great teacher, leader, and example for all Muslims. He spread the message of Islam, established the first Islamic state in Medina, and demonstrated the values of compassion, justice, and humility. His legacy extends far beyond his role as the first memorizer of the Quran.
It’s important to note that Prophet Muhammad (S) was not just a memorizer, but also a great teacher, leader, and example for all Muslims. He spread the message of Islam, established the first Islamic state in Medina, and demonstrated the values of compassion, justice, and humility. His legacy extends far beyond his role as the first memorizer of the Quran.
2. The process of collecting the Quran into a single
During the time of Prophet Muhammad, the Quran was not compiled into a single, written text as we know it today. Rather, the Quran was primarily transmitted orally, with the Prophet reciting the verses to his companions, who in turn memorized and recited them to others. However, there were written records of the Quran during the time of the Prophet. These records included portions of the Quran written on various materials such as leather, bone, and tree bark. Additionally, some of the companions of the Prophet who were literate wrote down portions of the Quran for their own personal use. However, these written records were not widely circulated and were not compiled into a single, authoritative text during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. It was only after the death of the Prophet that the process of compiling the Quran into a single, written text began. This task was undertaken by a group of the Prophet’s companions who were known for their knowledge of the Quran and its recitation, led by the first caliph of Islam, Abu Bakr. They collected various written and oral versions of the Quran and compiled them into a single text, which was then distributed throughout the Muslim community. So, while there were written records of the Quran during the time of the Prophet, it was primarily transmitted orally and was not compiled into a single, written text until after his death.
Birmingham Manuscript
“’Oldest’ Koran fragments found in Birmingham University”
This BBC News report highlights two parchment leaves radiocarbon‑dated between 610 and 645 CE, possibly written within a few years of the Prophet’s life. It emphasizes that while the manuscript’s date is close to the Prophet’s era, its text aligns with the standardized Uthmānī Qur’an
David Thomas, professor of Christianity and Islam at the University of Birmingham said: The tests carried out on the parchment of the Birmingham folios yield the strong probability that the animal from which it was taken was alive during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad or shortly afterwards. This means that the parts of the Qur’an that are written on this parchment can, with a degree of confidence, be dated to less than two decades after Muhammad’s death. These portions must have been in a form that is very close to the form of the Qur’an read today, supporting the view that the text has undergone no alteration and that it can be dated to a point very close to the time it was believed to be revealed.
Reference: Birmingham Quran manuscript
3. Prophet Muhammad’s Role in Transmitting the Qur’an Orally
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4992:
This Hadith narrates the story of how the Prophet Muhammad used to receive the revelations of the Quran from Angel Gabriel and then recite them to his companions.
These Hadiths are just a few examples of the many that describe the Prophet Muhammad’s role in transmitting the Quran orally to his companions, who in turn memorized and transmitted it to others. They provide valuable insights into the historical context and the methods used to transmit and preserve the Quran.
4. Prophet’s Quranic Writing Instructions
📖Sunan Abi Dawud 3646: In this Hadith narrated by Abdullah bin ‘Amr, he said: “I used to write everything I heard from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in order to memorize it. The Quraysh prohibited me from doing that, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Write it down, for by the One in Whose hand my soul is, nothing comes from me but the truth.
📖Sahih Muslim 3004: in this Hadith Abu Sa’id Khudri reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, ‘Do not write anything from me except the Quran. Whoever has written something other than that should erase it.
5. Reciting Verse Differently
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 3476:
Ibn Masud heard someone reciting a Quranic verse differently from how the Prophet (ﷺ) recited it. He took the matter to the Prophet (ﷺ), but the Prophet (ﷺ) showed disapproval and said that both ways of recitation were correct, and that disagreements among previous nations led to their destruction.
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 5037 : Narrated Aisha:
The Prophet (ﷺ) heard a man reciting the Qur’an in the mosque and said, “May Allah bestow His Mercy on him, as he has reminded me of such-and-such Verses of such a Surah.
The meaning of this hadith is that during the time of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), people had already learned how to recite the Quran and were using it in their prayers.
7. Oral Transmission with Early Written Records
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4986:
This Hadith narrates the story of a group of companions who wrote down some verses of the Quran on a piece of parchment during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad.
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4990:
This Hadith describes how the companions of the Prophet Muhammad used to write down the Quranic verses as they were being revealed to the Prophet.
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4986:
This Hadith narrates the story of how the Quran was written down on a palm-leaf stalk.
These Hadiths, along with others, provide evidence that some of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad did write down portions of the Quran on various materials. However, it is important to note that these written records were not the primary means of transmission, and the Quran was primarily transmitted orally and memorized by the companions. The process of compiling the Quran into a single, written text did not take place until after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
8. Recommended Qur’an Teachers by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
Sahih al-Bukhari 4999
Narrated Masriq: Abdullah bin Amr mentioned Abdullah bin Masud and said, “I shall ever love that man, for I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, ‘Take (learn) the Qur’an from four: Abdullah bin Masud, Salim, Muadh and Ubai bin Kab.
9. Qur’an Was Present During the Lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad
📖Tirmidhi 3786
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah: “I saw the Messenger of Allah during his Hajj, on the Day of ‘Arafah. He was upon his camel Al-Qaswa, giving a sermon, so he said: O people! Indeed, I have left among you that which if you hold fast to it, you shall not go astray: The Book of Allah and my family, the people of my house.’”
The Book of Allah (the Qur’an) was present during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It existed:
- Through oral memorization by the companions
- And in written form on various materials such as parchments, leather, palm-leaf stalks, and bones
- The Prophet ﷺ emphasized its authority and instructed Muslims to hold fast to it as a source of guidance
This hadith confirms that the Qur’an was recognized, preserved, and relied upon while the Prophet ﷺ was still alive, not just after his death.
10. Many Qur’an Memorizers (Qurrāʾ) Existed During the Prophet’s Lifetime
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4679
This narration describes how Abu Bakr and Umar asked Zaid bin Thabit to collect the Qur’anic material from various sources and compile it into a single manuscript. Zaid initially hesitated due to the great responsibility but eventually accepted the task.
- He gathered the Qur’an:
- From parchments, bones, and other materials
- From his own memory
- And from the memories of other companions who had memorized the Qur’an during the Prophet’s lifetime
The final compiled manuscript was then kept in the possession of Abu Bakr, then Umar, and later entrusted to Hafsa (daughter of Umar and wife of the Prophet ﷺ), This shows the strong presence of Qur’an memorizers (Qurrāʾ) and the preservation of the Qur’an through both memory and written records immediately after the Prophet’s death.
11. The Manuscripts with Hafsa: Primary Source for Compilation of the Quran
The manuscripts with Hafsa, which were used to compile the Quranic text during the time of Caliph Uthman, were likely written on different materials, such as palm leaves, parchment, or pieces of bone, as was common practice during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. It is important to note that the early written records of the Quran were not compiled into a single manuscript or book form, but rather were scattered across various materials and locations. The process of compiling the Quran into a standardized text was a meticulous one, involving the collection of various written and oral sources and the cross-checking of texts to ensure accuracy and consistency. So, the manuscripts with Hafsa likely contained different materials, but they were all considered to be part of the Quranic text as revealed to Prophet Muhammad, and they were used as the primary source for the compilation of the Quranic text during the time of Caliph Uthman.
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 4987:
Hudhayfah feared the differences in recitation, so Uthman sent a message to Hafsa saying: “Send us the manuscript so we may compile the Qur’an into copies, and we will return it to you.
12. The Misconception about Uthman’s Order to Burn Manuscripts of the Quran
On the contrary, Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and one of the early Muslims who worked sincerely to preserve the Qur’an. During his caliphate, as Islam spread to different regions, people began reciting the Qur’an in various Arabic dialects, which led to disputes and confusion in recitation, To ensure consistency and preserve the Qur’an in its authentic form, Uthman ordered that a standard version be compiled using the dialect of Quraysh — the dialect in which the Prophet ﷺ received the revelation. He appointed a committee of qualified companions, led by Zayd ibn Thabit, to carry out the task. They used the manuscripts compiled during Abu Bakr’s time and cross-verified them with the memorization of the companions who had learned directly from the Prophet ﷺ. Once the standard version was prepared, Uthman ordered multiple copies to be made and distributed to the major Islamic cities. He then instructed that any other personal materials, manuscripts, or fragments people had written for themselves, which might contain spelling errors, misarranged verses, or dialectal differences, be burned. This was not the burning of the Qur’an, but rather the destruction of unofficial, unauthenticated copies to prevent confusion, So, it is misleading to say Uthman burned the Qur’an. In truth, he preserved its purity by ensuring that only the authentic, standardized, and verified version of the Qur’an was circulated, the same version still read and memorized today by Muslims around the world.
13. Are the Quranic Verses on Stoning (Rajm) Missing?
📖Sunan Ibn Majah 2553
Narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “I fear that after a long time has passed, some will say: ‘I do not find the sentence of stoning in the Book of Allah,’ and they will go astray by abandoning one of the obligations enjoined by Allah. Rather, stoning is a must if a man is married (or previously married) and proof is established, or if pregnancy results, or if he admits it. I have read it: ‘And if an old man and an old woman commit adultery, stone them both.’ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ stoned (adulterers), and we stoned after him.”
Stoning (Rajm) Is Still a Valid Ruling
- It is part of Islamic law through mutawātir Hadith (mass-transmitted reports).
- The verse was revealed but abrogated in recitation, so it is not part of the Qur’an today.
- However, the ruling still applies.
Who It Applies To:
- Men and women
- Married or previously married individuals
- Who commit adultery (zina)
Why the Punishment Exists:
- To protect society from the destruction caused by open adultery.
- If such punishments are ignored, people eventually normalize zina,
Which leads to its legalization, - Destroying the family structure and moral foundation of society.
14. Temporary Verses Were Always Part of Allah’s Plan – Not Meant to Remain in the Qur’an
Some verses were revealed by Allah as part of His divine plan, fully knowing they would not be part of the eternal written Qur’an. These included:
- The verse of ten sucklings
The stoning verse - They were recited, followed, and acted upon for a limited period, but Allah never intended them to be eternal Qur’anic text.
- Allah’s Plan Was Already Decided Before Revelation
- Allah, in His perfect knowledge, already knew that:
- The verse of ten sucklings would later become five, and even the five would not remain in the Qur’an.
- The stoning verse would be revealed, practiced, but then abrogated in recitation – not to be included in the written Mushaf.
This was not a change in plan, it was part of the plan from the beginning. Allah revealed these verses to guide, test, and protect society, but never intended them to remain recited forever.
Example 1: Ten to Five Sucklings
📖Book 30, Hadith 18
Muwatta Malik – A’ishah (RA) said: “Among what was sent down of the Qur’an was: ‘Ten known sucklings make haram’ – then it was abrogated by ‘five known sucklings’. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died, it was what was still recited.”
But Imam Malik said:
“One does not act on this.”
Why? Because Allah had already planned to remove it. It was a temporary command, revealed for ease and mercy, but not meant to stay.
Example 2: Stoning Verse
📖Sunan Ibn Majah 2553 – Umar (RA) said:
“I fear that after a long time has passed, some will say: ‘I do not find (the sentence of) stoning in the Book of Allah (ﷺ),’ and they will go astray by abandoning one of the obligations enjoined by Allah (SWT). Rather stoning is a must if a man is married (or previously married) and proof is established, or if pregnancy results or if he admits it. I have read it (in the Quran). “And if an old man and an old woman commit adultery, stone them both.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stoned (adulterers) and we stoned (them) after him.
Again: it was revealed, recited, but Allah chose not to preserve it in the Qur’an, even though its ruling remains.
📖Sunan Ibn Majah 1944 – A’ishah (RA) said:
“The verse of stoning and of breastfeeding an adult ten times was revealed, and the paper was with me under my pillow. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ died, we were preoccupied with his death, and a tame sheep came in and ate it.”
These verses were revealed but abrogated in recitation. The ruling for five sucklings remained temporarily in Hadith, but the ten sucklings and stoning verse were never meant to remain in the Qur’an.
15. Why the Goat Eating It Was Part of Allah’s Plan
Allah had already planned that these verses were temporary and not part of the eternal Qur’an.
If the paper had remained, some people might have mistakenly tried to add them to the Qur’an later.
So Allah caused them to be lost, not the Qur’an, but abrogated verses that had already fulfilled their purpose.
This incident was not a loss, it was divine protection of the Qur’an’s final form.
1. Why Did Allah Do This?
- To guide early Muslims with laws suited for their time
- To preserve society from corruption, like zina
- To test obedience, even when something is no longer recited
- To show the power of abrogation, only Allah controls revelation
- He never intended these verses to stay in the Qur’an forever.
- Their abrogation was part of the revelation, not an accident or human choice.
2. Allah Did It as the Answer to a Question:
“Can Allah change His own verse?”
Yes – and Allah didn’t just say it.
He showed it, He revealed verses, then abrogated them, not because He needed to, but because:
➡️ He knew this question would come,
➡️ So He answered it before it was asked,
➡️ By actually doing it, and then declaring His right to do it.
📖Quran 2:106
“We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring one better than it or similar. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?”
This verse is not just a statement – It is Allah’s answer to anyone who dares to ask:
If Allah Had Never Abrogated:
| ❌ Problem | 💥 Consequence |
|---|---|
| “Can Allah change His Word?” | Doubt would spread |
| “Why reveal something temporary?” | People would assume error |
| “Does God not know the future?” | Critics would claim contradiction |
So Allah did it first, and then told us why, to make it absolutely clear:
I am Allah. I decide what to reveal, what to erase, and what to keep. Who will question Me?
Quran 2:123 He cannot be questioned about what He does, but they will ˹all˺ be questioned.
Keep in mind we do not say that these verses are lost or erased. They are not gone – they are still preserved in authentic hadith. The difference is that they are no longer recited as part of the Qur’an, but they are still part of the divine revelation given to the Prophet ﷺ.
To clarify:
✅ They were revealed by Allah.
✅ They were preserved through the Sunnah (hadith), not the Qur’anic Mushaf.
✅ They were not forgotten — the ruling or wording still exists where Allah willed.
✅ They are not part of the final Qur’an because the Prophet ﷺ did not command their inclusion during the final arrangement.
Think of it this way:
These verses are not “deleted.” They are part of the wider revelation (waḥy), but not part of the Qur’an’s final public recitation. The Prophet ﷺ taught both the Qur’an and wisdom (Quran 2:151), and these hadith fall under that divine wisdom.
So yes – everything Allah revealed is still there.
Some of it was meant to be part of the Qur’an. Some of it was meant to be preserved in the Sunnah. But nothing that came from Allah is lost. All of it remains where Allah intended, The loss of written materials (like paper) was part of Allah’s plan – because what was meant to be abrogated was never supposed to remain in the Qur’an.
So when the companions said, “This verse was abrogated”, that’s not a flaw – it’s actually proof of the trustworthiness of Islam.
If the Qur’an had been man-made, they would have just written everything down and pretended it all still applied. But instead, they were honest and said:
This was revealed – but it was abrogated.
This level of transparency is evidence that Islam is not based on human editing, but on divine command and prophetic instruction.
They didn’t try to hide what was abrogated – they preserved it in hadith and made clear what was Qur’an and what wasn’t, That’s how we know the Qur’an we have today is exactly what Allah intended to remain. Nothing missing. Nothing added.
Additional Information
This article has been carefully compiled and updated based on authentic sources and available historical evidence regarding the preservation of the Qur’an. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and completeness, there may still be some information that is not included or areas that can be further improved. If you come across any missing details, factual errors, or have additional insights to contribute, please feel free to contact us at Support@IslamicScript.com. Your feedback helps us maintain the quality and reliability of our content.