Preservation Of The Quran

3 min readMay 24, 2024

How can we be sure that the Qur’an we have today is the same Qur’an that the Prophet Muhammad taught to his companions 1400 years ago? How do we know the Quran has not changed? This is a central question to the legitimacy of the religion of Islam, and to answer it, we need to know how the Qur’an was given to the Prophet, preserved by his companions, and distributed around the Muslim world.

This is a story of language, history, and the commitment of an entire civilisation to preserving the words of God.

Memorisation of the Quran

In Ancient Oral Societies
- Memory and oral transmission were highly developed skills before the widespread use of writing.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the First Memoriser
- Born in 570 C.E. in Mecca, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received divine revelations for 23 years.
- He memorised these revelations and recited them to his companions.
- Angel Gabriel refreshed the Prophet’s memorisation of the Quran annually once the Quran’s revelation was complete, and twice in the year of his death.
- The Prophet recited the Quran in the 5 daily prayers and encouraged his companions to learn and teach it.

Companions as the First Generation Memorisers
- Many companions memorised the Quran, including prominent figures like Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali.
- Public recitations and listening sessions were common practices.

Subsequent Generations and Quranic Schools
- Quranic memorisation schools (katatib) were established, starting from the Caliphate of Umar.
- By the second generation, figures like Ibn ‘Amir taught hundreds of disciples.
- In Cairo alone, there were over two thousand such schools.

Memorisation Today
- The tradition continues worldwide, including in non-Muslim countries.
- Worldwide, numerous mosques conduct Quran memorisation classes.
- Quranic recitation is integral to daily prayers and special occasions like Ramadan.

The Quran is unique for being entirely memorised by millions across generations, ensuring its preservation through a continuous oral tradition.

Written Text of the Quran

During Prophet Muhammad’s Lifetime
- Though illiterate, the Prophet (PBUH) had scribes write down revelations immediately.
- Multiple companions maintained their own written copies.
- The Prophet (PBUH) ensured the Quran’s preservation through both memorisation and written records.

Post-Prophet Compilation
- After the Battle of Yamama, where many memorisers died, Abu Bakr initiated the compilation of the Quran into a single manuscript.
- Zaid bin Thabit led the compilation, gathering material from various sources and verifying it rigorously.

Uthman’s Official Compilation
- Discrepancies in recitation among far reaching regions of the state led Caliph Uthman to standardise the Quranic text.
- Uthman’s committee of many memorisers and scribes with preserved and accurate written copies compiled an official copy in the Quraishi dialect, supervising closely to ensure accuracy.
- Copies were distributed to major Islamic centres, and other versions were destroyed to maintain uniformity.

Surviving Copies
- Two copies of Uthman’s Quran still exist today: one in Tashkent and another in Istanbul.
- These copies affirm the careful preservation and continuity of the Quranic text through centuries.

The meticulous oral and written preservation methods ensure the Quran remains unchanged, confirming its unique status among religious texts.

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