The History of Quran Codification

The Quran, as the divine revelation sent down to Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel, stands as the greatest miracle throughout time. Composed in Arabic, the Quran serves as the guiding light for Muslims, providing direction for the pious. “This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.” (Quran 2:2) For anyone who reads the Quran, it brings rewards and is considered an act of worship.

Since its inception, the Quran has been recited as we know it today. Not in written form, as the process of writing underwent various stages until reaching its perfection as we understand it today.

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The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad not in written form but through divine speech memorized by him and conveyed to the companions. Among the Arabs, memorization was a strong suit. Thus, while Prophet Muhammad was alive, the words of the Quran were firmly embedded in the hearts of the companions.

However, as time passed, even after the demise of Prophet Muhammad, the issue of the existence of Quranic verses arose. Especially during the time of Caliph Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, many memorizers of the Quran fell in battles against apostates. Hence, the idea of compiling the Quran emerged to preserve the word of God from destruction and, furthermore, to make it accessible for non-Arabs.

Quran Codification

According to the KBBI (Indonesian Language Great Dictionary), codification is the compilation of various regulations into laws; the arrangement of legal texts; the recording of norms produced by standardization in the form of grammar books, such as pronunciation guidelines, spelling guidelines, terminology formation guidelines, or dictionaries. Therefore, Quran codification refers to the rules of writing Quranic verses that have evolved and been refined over time, ensuring the preservation of God’s words until today.