When was the Quran written? History, Memory, and the Journey of Revelation
Introduction
The question “When was the Quran written?” may sound simple, but behind it lies a great history spanning centuries. This history is full of faith, sacrifice, protection, and responsibility. I witnessed a scene in an old mosque, where a small child was reciting the entire Quran, and an elderly man sitting next to him was silently reading along with a copy of the Quran in his hand. That moment made me understand that the Quran is not just a book written on paper. It was first revealed in hearts, preserved in memories, and then written down.
To understand when the Quran was written, we must first know how the Quran was revealed, how it was preserved during the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and how it was compiled into a book after his death.
When did the revelation of the Quran begin?
The revelation of the Holy Quran was not completed all at once. It began in 610 AD. This was the time when the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was engaged in worship in the Cave of Hira near Mecca. In this cave, the first revelation was revealed through the angel Gabriel (peace be upon him).
The first verses were from Surah Al-Alaq, in which it was commanded to read and think. After that, the Quran was revealed little by little for about 23 years. These verses provided guidance on people’s problems, situations, wars, peace, morality and every aspect of life.
During this period, the Quran was mostly memorized orally. People used to listen, memorize, and pass it on.
How was the Quran preserved during the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)?
Most people think that the Quran was immediately written down in the form of a book, but the fact is that this was not the case.
During the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) the Quran was preserved in two ways.
The first method was to memorize orally. The companions would memorize the verses as soon as they heard them.
The second method was to write them down. The Prophet (peace be upon him) had given the responsibility of writing down the revelation to some specific companions. When a verse was revealed, he (peace be upon him) would call them and tell them which Surah and where to write it.
At that time, paper was not common, so the verses were written on leather, bones, palm leaves and stones.
Every Ramadan, Hazrat Gabriel (peace be upon him) would go through the revealed Quran with the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). This trip happened twice in the last year, which confirmed the order and completeness of the Quran.
When was the Quran first collected in the form of a book?
After the death of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), in 632 CE, Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became the Caliph.
At that time, a problem arose. Many companions who had memorized the Quran orally were martyred in wars. Especially after the Battle of Yamamah, it was felt that if the Quran was not collected in one place, it could be damaged.
Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) advised Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) to collect the Quran in the form of a book. Initially, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) hesitated, but then accepted this important responsibility.
Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit (RA) was entrusted with this task. He compiled the Quran very carefully. Every verse was checked by written and oral testimony.
This first complete copy remained with Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), then with Hazrat Umar (RA), and later with Hazrat Hafsa (RA).
Uniform Form of the Quran during the Time of Hazrat Uthman (RA)
As Islam spread to different regions, the dialects of the people began to differ. The Quran was the same, but the reading styles were changing.
Hazrat Uthman (RA) realized that if this continued, disagreements might arise. Therefore, he had standardized copies of the Quran prepared from the original copy with Hazrat Hafsa (RA).
These copies were sent to Mecca, Medina, Kufa and Damascus. In this way, the Quran reached the entire Ummah in a uniform form.
Has the Quran changed over time?
This question is often asked, but history provides a clear answer.
The Quran has not changed. The Quran we read today was revealed fourteen hundred years ago. Old Quranic manuscripts, such as the Birmingham and Sana’a manuscripts, are completely identical to the Quran of today.
The words, arrangement, and meaning of the Quran are the same no matter where in the world it is read.
Why wasn’t the Quran written down in book form right away?
During the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), revelation was coming continuously. Verses were being revealed, commands were being completed.
If the Quran had been closed down in book form at that time, there could have been a problem with the order. Therefore, it was collected after the revelation was completed.
This was not a delay, but wisdom.
Also Read: Surah Ad-Duha Benefits, Powerful Healing, Hope and Divine Reassurance
The importance of memorization in preserving the Quran
The strongest means of preserving the Quran is memorization.
Even today, millions of Muslims, even children, memorize the entire Quran by heart. This tradition has been going on since the time of the Companions.
Writing was for help, the real protection is in the hearts.
Conclusion
So when was the Quran written down? The answer is in stages.
The Quran began to be revealed in 610 CE. It was both memorized and written down during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). After his death, it was collected in book form. Then, during the reign of Hazrat Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), it was preserved to a certain standard.
The Quran is not just a historical book. It is a living book, preserved today as it was when it was first revealed. This preservation is proof of Allah’s promise, and this is the greatest importance of the Quran.
FAQs
Q: When was the Quran actually written?
A: The Quran was revealed from 610 CE and compiled into a book after 632 CE, standardized under Hazrat Uthman (RA).
Q: Which is older, the Bible or the Quran?
A: The Bible is older. Its texts were written centuries before the Quran.
Q: Which word is repeated 365 times in the Quran?
A: The word “Yawm” (Day) is repeated 365 times.
Q: What name was mentioned 7000 times in the Bible?
A: The name “Israel” is mentioned around 7000 times.
Q: What word is repeated 41 times in the Bible?
A: The word “Holy” appears 41 times.
Q: Who had 7000 wives in the Bible?
A: King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines according to the Bible.
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