Page 16 - Ulum Al Quran An Introduction To The Sciences Of The Quran

However, this statement does not preclude that the ordering of the Qur'an and the arrangement of the suras, was fixed
by the Prophet himself and safeguarded through oral transmission.

Stages of Collection

As far as the written text is concerned, one may distinguish three stages:
 In the time of the Prophet:

 in the hearts of men (memorization).

 on writing materials

 In the time of Abu Bakr.

 In the time of 'Uthman.
Why was no Book left by the Prophet?

The Prophet Muhammad did not present to his Companions the revelation collected and arranged in a single written
volume. There are a number of good reasons for this:

 Because the revelation did not come down in one piece, but at intervals and was received continuously
until the end of the Prophet's life.

 Because some verses were abrogated in the course of revelation, and therefore flexibility needed to be
maintained.
 The ayat and suras were not always revealed in their final order, but were arranged later.

 The Prophet lived only nine days after the last revelation and was severely ill.

 There was no dispute or friction about the Qur'an during the time of the Prophet, as developed
afterwards when he, as the final authority, was no longer available.

Writing down the Revelation

While writing was not widespread among the people in Arabia at the time of the Prophet there were persons of whom it
is reported that they did write. It is said for example of Waraqa, Khadija's cousin, that he had been converted to
Christianity in the pre-Islamic period 'and used to write Arabic and write of the Gospel in Arabic as much as Allah wished
him to write'. [Bukhari. VI. No. 478.]

The Prophet himself did much to encourage the Muslims to learn to write. It is related that some of the Quraish, who
were taken prisoners at the battle of Badr, regained their freedom after they had taught some of the Muslims the art of
writing.' [Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd, II(2), p. 19]

Did the Prophet himself write?

Although it is not clear whether the Prophet Muhammad knew how to write, there is unanimous agreement among
scholars that Muhammad himself did not write down the revelation. The Qur'an clearly states:

'And thou (O Muhammad) wast not a reader of any scripture before it, nor didst thou write it
with thy right hand, for then might those have doubted who follow falsehood' (29:48)

The Qur'an also refers to Muhammad on several occasions as the 'unlettered prophet' which some scholars have
interpreted in the sense that he did not read or write:
'Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered prophet ...' (8: 157)

His community too has been described as 'unlettered':

'It is he who has sent amongst the unlettered an apostle from among themselves ...' (62:2)