๐ When Was the Quran Written and By Whom?
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Revelation Period:
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Muslims believe the Quran was revealed to Muhammad over 23 years (610–632 AD) through the angel Jibril (Gabriel).
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Muhammad himself did not write the Quran—he was illiterate according to Islamic tradition (Surah Al-A‘raf 7:157).
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Early Recording:
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During Muhammad’s life, verses were memorized by his followers (hafiz) and written on materials like bones, palm leaves, and parchment.
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There was no official, compiled book during his lifetime.
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๐ Who Compiled the Quran and When?
1. Abu Bakr’s Collection (c. 633 AD)
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After Muhammad’s death, the first caliph Abu Bakr ordered a written compilation due to fears that those who memorized the Quran were dying in battle (notably after the Battle of Yamama).
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Zayd ibn Thabit, Muhammad’s scribe, led this collection.
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This version was kept by Hafsa, one of Muhammad's widows.
2. Uthman’s Standardization (c. 650 AD)
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Under the third caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, disputes arose over different recitations (qira’at) of the Quran in various regions (like Kufa, Basra, and Damascus).
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Uthman commissioned a standard version, again led by Zayd ibn Thabit and others.
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This version was sent to major Islamic centers and all other variants were ordered to be burned to unify the Muslim community under one recitation.
๐ How Many Versions of the Quran Existed Before Uthman?
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Multiple Regional Versions:
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Before Uthman’s standardization, there were regional codices compiled by different companions of Muhammad, including:
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Ibn Mas'ud (Kufa)
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Ubayy ibn Ka'b (Syria)
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Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (Basra)
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These versions contained:
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Variations in wording
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Differences in order of surahs (chapters)
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A few additional or missing verses according to some historical reports
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Examples of Differences:
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Ubayy ibn Ka'b’s codex reportedly included two extra surahs: Surat al-Khal and Surat al-Hafd (which are not in the current Quran).
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Ibn Mas'ud allegedly did not include Surah Al-Fatihah and Surahs 113 & 114—though this is disputed by Muslim scholars.
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๐ฅ What Did Egypt Do with the Versions?
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In 1924, Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, under King Fuad I, produced the "Cairo Edition" of the Quran based on Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, one of the 10 canonical qira’at (recitations).
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This version became the official printed Quran worldwide, especially in educational and governmental settings.
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It further standardized pronunciation, diacritics, and spelling, but did not change the content of Uthman’s version.
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Other qira’at (recitations) are still accepted, but not widely used or printed.
❗️Key Takeaways
Issue | Summary |
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Quran revealed | Over 23 years to Muhammad |
Compiled by | Zayd ibn Thabit under Abu Bakr and Uthman |
Versions before Uthman | Yes – Ibn Mas'ud, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, others |
Differences in versions | Order, wording, few unique surahs or verses |
Uthman’s role | Standardized text, burned others |
Egypt 1924 edition | Based on Hafs recitation, official print version |
Would you like a visual timeline or a comparison chart between different early Quran versions next?
Are there a lot of controversies with the Quaran?
๐ 1. Textual Preservation and Compilation
Muslim Claim:
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The Quran has been perfectly preserved word-for-word since the time of Muhammad (based on Surah 15:9: “We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it.”).
Controversies:
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Multiple early versions: Before Caliph Uthman standardized the Quran (~650 AD), different companions had their own codices with textual variations (e.g., Ibn Mas’ud, Ubayy ibn Ka’b).
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Uthman’s burning: Uthman ordered the destruction of other versions to enforce one reading, raising questions about why a perfect revelation needed to be “fixed.”
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Missing verses or chapters: Early Islamic sources (like Sahih Muslim, al-Bukhari, and Ibn Abi Dawud) mention:
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Verses lost due to the deaths of memorizers
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A verse about stoning being omitted
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Entire surahs not included in the standard Quran
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๐ 2. Qira’at (Variant Readings)
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There are 10 recognized qira’at (recitations) and over 30 rawis (narrators) of the Quran that vary in spelling, pronunciation, grammar, and meaning.
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While Islamic scholars see this as a richness of the oral tradition, critics argue it contradicts the claim of a single, unchanged Quran.
๐งพ 3. Abrogation (Naskh)
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The Quran contains verses that abrogate (cancel or replace) others (Surah 2:106).
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Critics ask: Why would an eternal, perfect book need verses replaced?
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Example: Early peaceful verses toward non-Muslims are later abrogated by militant ones (e.g., Surah 9:5 – “the verse of the sword”).
๐ป 4. Treatment of Women
Critics point to Quranic verses seen as controversial today:
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Wife-beating: Surah 4:34 permits striking a disobedient wife (after warnings and separation).
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Testimony: Surah 2:282 says one man’s testimony equals that of two women.
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Inheritance: Women inherit half of what men inherit (Surah 4:11).
⚔️ 5. Violence and Warfare
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Verses like Surah 9:5 and 9:29 are seen as commands to fight non-Muslims.
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Debate exists: Are these contextual to 7th-century Arabia or universal?
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Critics argue these were militant expansions justified by the Quran.
๐ค 6. Scientific and Historical Claims
Muslim apologists claim the Quran contains scientific miracles (e.g., embryology, cosmology). However:
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Critics argue many of these are vague, misinterpreted, or incorrect.
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Historical issues: Some stories (e.g., Alexander the Great/Dhul-Qarnayn in Surah 18:83–98) do not match known history.
✝️ 7. Contradictions with the Bible
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Quran denies the Trinity (Surah 4:171), crucifixion of Jesus (Surah 4:157), and Jesus as Son of God.
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Christians and Jews dispute the Quran’s version of events and consider it a later rewriting of biblical narratives.
๐ง 8. Doctrinal Ambiguity
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Quran says it's clear and easy to understand (Surah 54:17), yet many verses require Hadith and Tafsir (commentary) to interpret.
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Critics say the Quran lacks chronological order and contains grammatical ambiguities.
๐งพ Summary of Controversial Topics in the Quran
Topic | Controversy |
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Textual Integrity | Early variants, verses missing, Uthman’s burning |
Variant Readings | Dozens of qira’at with different meanings |
Abrogation | Eternal words canceled or replaced |
Women’s Rights | Beating, inheritance, legal testimony |
Violence | Warfare verses and their interpretation |
Scientific Claims | Alleged errors or retroactive readings |
Doctrinal Clashes | Denial of crucifixion, Trinity |
Clarity | Claims of clarity vs. interpretive complexity |
If you'd like, I can also provide Christian apologetic responses to some of these issues, or a side-by-side comparison between the Bible and Quran on specific topics. Would that be helpful?
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