Quran Compilation, Transmission & Preservation

Dr. Sabeel Ahmed QuranCompilation, Transmission & Preservation

What Is the Qur’an?

Arabia in 610 C.E.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh*)The First Memorizer of the complete Quran

First Generation of MemorizersCompanions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Second Generation Memorizers

Memorizers in Subsequent Generations

Quran Memorization Schools:Chicago, USA - example 100s of Quranic Memorization schools exist in USA, a non-Muslim country. 1000s of these schools exist in Muslim countries.

ConclusionQur’an Memorization

Conclusion - Memorization 1. Prophet Muhammad (s) was the first memorizer of the entire Quran 2. 100s of his companions memorized the whole Quran 3. Some of his wives memorized the whole Quran 4. 1000s in each generation memorized it without any gap 5. 10 million Muslims are currently alive who memorized the whole Quran 6. Thus Quran is perfectly preserved through memorization

Written Qur’an During the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Prophet Muhammad (s) did not knew how to read and write, thus he used to call his scribes to write down the Quran for him whenever he received a new revelation from Allah (The God)

Written Qur’an During the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad Above is an example of Prophet Muhammad (s) calling one of his scribes when he received a revelation The above narration confirms the fact that the written copy of the Quran was present in a book form during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (s)

So, What is the significance of having the whole written Quran during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammed (s)? • Prophet Muhammed (s) authenticated this written copy. • Any mistake in writing the original can be checked and corrected by Prophet Muhammad (s) • Copies were made from this original by people who were memorizers, thus preserving its purity. • No previous religious personality can verify the holy scripture written about him (example Prophet Jesus was not around when the first Gospel was written down. Prophet Moses was not around when the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible were written, obituary of Moses is present in Duet. 34, Moses cannot have writen his own obituary!)

So, What is the significance of having the whole written Quran during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammed (s)? • The above is unlike the New-Testament, Old Testament, Hindu scriptures, Buddhist scriptures, all were written down AFTER their main person (founder) left the world, thus the later writers can interpolate and edit the original sayings. • Since no other book was memorized and written down as the Quran, then the check and balance system of correcting the copying errors is lacking in other scriptures (except the Quran) and resulted in their defective transmission. • An altered, defective, less then 100% authentic scripture, cannot be trusted for our salvation. • Thus, we can safely set aside all other books for our salvation except the Quran.

Written Qur’an Private copies of Companions of the Prophet Muhammed

Qur’an ManuscriptFrom 1st Century of Islam (7th Century) Comparing the ancient manuscripts of the Quran with our current copies No Change in number of chapters, verses or words!

Qur’an Manuscripts Comparing the ancient manuscripts of the Quran with our current copies No Change in number of chapters, verses or words!

Qur’an Manuscripts

Qur’an Manuscripts Comparing the ancient manuscripts of the Quran with our current copies No Change in number of chapters, verses or words!

The Versailles Treaty [WW I]Section II, Article 246[June 28, 1919] Even non-Muslim nations acknowledge that Muslims possess the Original Quran written down in the time of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (s).

Preservation of the Qur'an

Preservation of the Quran

Allah (swt) Is Quran’s Protector ‘We’ is the plural of authority and respect and not the plural of ‘trinity’ or more than one.

Conclusion 1. Entire Quran is Preserved through memory in each generation from Muhammad’s (s) to ours. 2. Written copies copied from the original Quran of Muhammad (s) still exist for verification and authentication 3. Any copying errors by the copyist is caught and corrected by the memorizers of the Quran 4. Any mistake in recitation by a memorizer is corrected by fellow memorizer & by written copies of the Quran 5. Multi-layered system of check and balance to protect Quran from getting corrupted (this check and balance system is lacking for any other book, religious or secular!) 6. Quran is recited from memory by Muslims in the daily prayers. 7. Entire Quran is recited and listened to by Muslims once each year during the month of Ramadan (Fasting) 6. Allah is the ultimate preserver of the Quran

Contact Info. for Islam • Dr. Sabeel Ahmed • SabeelDawah@yahoo.com • http://www.slideshare.net/sabeel • http://www.iol.ie/~afifi/BICNews/Sabeel/sabeel3.htm

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Quran Compilation, Transmission & Preservation