Salaam Mentoring Program

When was the Quran compiled as a written document?

It was written as soon as it was revealed. However, we Muslims
believe that God is the compiler of the Qur’an. The Qur’an says:
لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ (16) إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ (17) فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ (18) ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُ (19) سورة القيامه
[Prophet], do not move your tongue attempting to rush your memorization of the Revelation. (75:16) Its collection and recitation are up to us. (75:17) So, when We recite it, follow its recitation, (75:18) and it is then, up to Us, to make it all clear (75:19).

It is historically known that during the 23 years of Muhammad's mission as a messenger and a prophet, the verses of the Quran were memorized as they were revealed, and about 42 scribes wrote the verses on different materials such as cloth, bone fragments and leather.

However, during the time of Caliph Abu Bakr, 632 to 634 C.E., when 70 people who knew the Quran by heart (qari'), were killed in the Battle of Yamama, Umar ibn al-Khattab became concerned and appealed to Abu Bakr in order to compile the Quran into a written codex or a book.

Abu Bakr formed a delegation under the leadership of Zaid ibn Thabit, one of the leading scribes. This delegation of 12 people included famous figures such as Uthman bin Affan, Ali bin Abi Talib, and many other companions of the Prophet. They came together in Umar's house and collected all the materials on which verses from the Quran were written.

The manuscript according to Zayd remained with Abu Bakr until he died in 634.

In 644, Muhammad's widow Hafsa was entrusted with the manuscript until the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, requested the standard copy from her in 650.

In order to preserve the sanctity of the text, Uthman ordered a committee headed by the same Zayd to use Abu Bakr's copy and prepare a standard text of the Quran. Thus, within 20 years of Muhammad's death, the complete Quran was committed to a regular book format. All material used previously to write the Qur’an were no longer needed and were destroyed. That text became the model from which copies were made and promulgated throughout the urban centers of the Muslim world. The present form of the Quran’s text is accepted by Muslim scholars to be identical with the original version compiled by Abu Bakr. The preservation of the Quran in its perfection, is considered to be a miracle from God by all Muslims and other fair-minded people.

🔎 Qur'an parchement in Birmingham University - Google Search

وَإِنْ عُدتُّمْ عُدْنَا ۘ
If you turn back [to sinning], We will turn back [to punishing you]
17:08