How was the Quran compiled after the Prophet died?
Mostly in two steps. Soon after the Prophet ﷺ died, Abu Bakr had the whole Quran gathered into one set of pages, using what was written down and what the memorisers knew by heart. Later, Uthman had standard copies written and sent to the main cities so that everyone recited the same text.
Written and memorised in his lifetime
The Quran was never lost or scattered, because it was kept in two ways during the Prophet's ﷺ lifetime: it was memorised by many Companions and written down by scribes. Allah had also promised to preserve it:
But it was not yet bound together in a single book.
Abu Bakr and the first collection
After the Battle of Yamamah, many of those who had memorised the Quran were killed. Umar feared that a large part of it might be lost if more reciters died, and urged Abu Bakr to have it collected. Zayd ibn Thabit, who had written down revelation for the Prophet ﷺ, was asked to do the work. He hesitated at first, asking how they could do what the Prophet ﷺ had not done, but then accepted it. He searched among pieces written on palm stalks and thin stones and among the memorisers, until he completed the Quran (Sahih al-Bukhari 4986). The finished pages stayed with Abu Bakr, then Umar, and then with Hafsah, Umar's daughter.
The process was careful, not casual. It rested on both the written pieces and the memory of the Companions. See Was the Quran changed over time?
Uthman and the standard copies
Years later, Hudhayfah saw soldiers from different regions differing in how they recited the Quran, and warned Uthman to save the community before they differed about the Book as earlier nations had. Uthman asked Hafsah for the pages and ordered Zayd ibn Thabit and three Quraysh men to write out copies. If they disagreed on any point, they were to write in the dialect of Quraysh, since the Quran was revealed in their tongue. Uthman sent a copy to each province and ordered the other fragmentary and full copies to be burnt, to end the differences (Sahih al-Bukhari 4987).
Why it matters
- The Quran was gathered by the Prophet's closest Companions, not by later generations.
- The text was checked against writing and memory.
- Standard copies ended disputes, and the same text has been used ever since.
The book is not arranged in the order of revelation. See Why isn't the Quran in chronological order? And for who wrote it down, see Who wrote the Quran?
- The Quran was memorised and written during the Prophet's ﷺ lifetime.
- Abu Bakr had it collected into one set after Yamamah (Sahih al-Bukhari 4986).
- Uthman had standard copies made and sent to the provinces (Sahih al-Bukhari 4987).
- The process relied on both writing and memory.
People also ask
Is Quranic Arabic different from modern Arabic?
Yes, somewhat. The Quran is in Classical Arabic; Modern Standard Arabic grew out of it, but vocabulary and style differ and dialects differ more.
Read the full answer →How was the Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad?
Mostly through the angel Jibril, in parts, over about 23 years. The Quran was revealed gradually in response to events, beginning in the cave of Hira.
Read the full answer →How is the story of Adam and Eve different in the Quran?
Yes, the Quran's Adam and Eve story differs from the Bible: no serpent, Eve not blamed alone, Adam forgiven and no original sin.
Read the full answer →How do I teach my children the Quran at home?
Yes, you can teach your children the Quran at home: build love first, keep sessions short, start with listening, letters and short surahs.
Read the full answer →How do I stop forgetting what I memorized from the Quran?
Mostly by revising little and often. Review daily, recite in prayer and test yourself; the Prophet compared the Quran to a hobbled camel.
Read the full answer →