Basic
History & Lessons
Surah: Al-Hijr (9)
Compilation of the Quran in the Era of Abu Bakr
إِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا ٱلذِّكۡرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَٰفِظُونَ
— الحجر الآية 9
Direct Cause:
After the Battle of Yamama (12 AH), seventy Quran memorizers were martyred. Umar ibn al-Khattab feared that portions of the Quran might be lost, and urged Abu Bakr to compile it.
Methodology:
After the Battle of Yamama (12 AH), seventy Quran memorizers were martyred. Umar ibn al-Khattab feared that portions of the Quran might be lost, and urged Abu Bakr to compile it.
Methodology:
- Nothing was recorded unless two reliable witnesses attested it was written in the Prophet's presence.
- Zaid ibn Thabit, the scribe of revelation, was entrusted with the compilation.
- Verses were ordered within each surah — but surahs were not yet arranged in a fixed order.
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari (4986); Al-Suyuti, Al-Itqan (1/165); Al-Zarqani (1/247)
Test Yourself
Who suggested compiling the Quran to Abu Bakr and why?
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