The miraculous preservation of Allah's final revelation through three historical phases of compilation.
Unlike previous scriptures, Allah promised to personally protect the Quran from corruption: "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian." (15:9) This divine promise was fulfilled through the meticulous efforts of the early Muslim community, who preserved every word, letter, and pronunciation through both memorization and written compilation. The Quran we read today is identical to what was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) over 1,400 years ago.
"And We have certainly made the Quran easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?" (Quran 54:17)
During the Prophet's Lifetime (610-632 CE)
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
The Quran was revealed gradually over 23 years and was memorized by thousands of companions and written on various materials.
Foundation of preservation through dual method: memorization and writing
Abu Bakr's Caliphate (632-634 CE)
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (RA)
After many Huffaz (memorizers) were martyred in the Battle of Yamama, the Quran was compiled into one unified book.
First complete written collection (Mushaf) created
Uthman's Caliphate (644-656 CE)
Uthman ibn Affan (RA)
To prevent dialectical variations in distant provinces, one standard copy was created and distributed throughout the empire.
Universal standardization ensuring unity in recitation
Every verse required both a written record AND testimony from at least two witnesses who heard it directly from the Prophet (ﷺ).
Zaid ibn Thabit said: "By Allah, if they had asked me to move a mountain, it would have been easier than compiling the Quran."
A committee of the most knowledgeable companions verified each verse, ensuring no individual bias or error.
The committee included Zaid ibn Thabit, Abdullah ibn Zubair, Said ibn al-As, and Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Harith.
The compiled version was presented to the entire Muslim community for verification before final approval.
No companion objected to any part of the compilation, confirming its accuracy.
Allah promised to protect the Quran from corruption, and this human effort was part of that divine protection.
"Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian." (Quran 15:9)
Chief Scribe and Compiler
Personal scribe of the Prophet, led both compilation phases, known for his accuracy and memory
Qualification: Witnessed the final review of the Quran with the Prophet and Angel Jibreel
Advocate for Compilation
Suggested the first compilation to Abu Bakr after Battle of Yamama
Qualification: One of the most knowledgeable companions in Quranic matters
Authorizing Caliph
Initially hesitant, then authorized the first compilation after consultation
Qualification: Closest companion to the Prophet, present during many revelations
Standardizing Caliph
Ordered the standardization and distribution of the unified Mushaf
Qualification: Married to two daughters of the Prophet, wealthy sponsor of Islamic causes
The preservation of the Quran is considered one of the greatest miracles of Islam. Here's evidence of this divine protection:
The Quran remains unchanged after 1,400+ years
Millions have memorized the entire Quran (Huffaz)
Same Arabic text exists worldwide without variations
Archaeological evidence confirms textual consistency
Oral and written traditions perfectly match
Scientific facts mentioned align with modern discoveries
In 2015, researchers at the University of Birmingham discovered Quran fragments dating to 568-645 CE, making them among the oldest known copies. Remarkably, the text matches today's Quran perfectly, providing archaeological evidence of the book's preservation.
"The person who wrote these pages may well have known the Prophet Muhammad. He may have heard him preach. These pages may have been written by someone who was actually there at the time of the first revelations." - Professor David Thomas, University of Birmingham