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.

In the history of Quranic writing, it is explained that the symbols or scripts of the Quran were not initially complete as we know them today. Instead, they underwent significant developments over time. The symbols and signs were intended to enable non-Arabs to understand the correct recitation of the Quran. Unlike the Arabs themselves, who could express Quranic recitation correctly even without written symbols, as the word of God was revealed in their language, Arabic.

Quranic exegesis expert Prof. KH Muhammad Quraish Shihab explains that there are at least two reasons for the use of Arabic in the Quran. First, because the Quran was initially revealed in Arab lands. Second, because Arabic is a language with an extensive vocabulary. “Roughly, Arabic has 12 million vocabulary words. The more vocabulary a language has, the clearer its conveyed meanings can be,” said Prof. Quraish in an episode of Tafsir Al-Mishbah aired on Metro TV on Friday, April 24, 2020.

“By the clear Book, Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Quran that you might understand.” (Quran 43:2-3)

Since the Quran was revealed in Arabic, Quranic codification or rules of writing are crucial for non-Arabs to read it correctly. Expressing Quranic verses according to the rules of Arabic pronunciation allows better understanding among Muslims worldwide.

Beginnings of Writing

In the history of Quran codification, debates arose among the Prophet’s companions regarding the idea of writing the Quran. This occurred during the time of Caliph Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. Companion Umar ibn al-Khattab proposed the idea of collecting the Quran due to the deaths of many memorizers during battles.

Umar urged Caliph Abu Bakr to promptly compile the Quran. Initially hesitant, Abu Bakr felt reluctant as Prophet Muhammad had never instructed such an action. However, observing the prevailing circumstances, Abu Bakr eventually agreed to the collection and writing of the Quran. Thus, a committee was formed, with Zaid ibn Thabit appointed as its leader due to his competence in Quranic writing, as he had often written down the Quranic recitations of Prophet Muhammad.

During Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime, writing the Quran was not deemed urgent. Any questions regarding the Quran were immediately referred to him. However, after the Prophet’s demise, various issues regarding the correct recitation of the Quran emerged. Therefore, writing the Quran after the Prophet’s passing became imperative.

During Caliph Abu Bakr’s reign, the Quran began to be collected and written on various available materials, such as palm leaves, animal skins, palm leaves, camel bones, and so on. However, in subsequent periods, during the reign of Caliph Uthman ibn Affan, issues regarding Quranic recitation arose. The Quran codification written during Caliph Abu Bakr’s time could not address the challenges of the era. Thus, Caliph Uthman formed a committee to compile the Quran with the aim of minimizing differences among the various tribes in the Arab region. Furthermore, by creating a unified copy of the Quran, it would facilitate unity in understanding God’s words, both in meaning and recitation.

In the early stages, Quranic writing was very basic, without dots and diacritical marks. For the Arabs, this wasn’t a problem as they had already memorized and understood the Quranic verses in their language. To facilitate all Muslims worldwide, specific codes were developed, such as adding dots as pronunciation symbols. A dot above a letter signifies a “fathah,” a dot below signifies a “kasrah,” and two dots above signify a “sukun,” and so forth.

This codification was initiated by Abul Aswad al-Du’ali, a pioneer of Arabic grammar and language expert from the Kinanah tribe, known as the Father of the Arabic Language. His original name was Zhalim bin Amr, better known by his nickname Abu Al-Aswad Ad-Du’ali, a person of great knowledge and virtue, and a judge in Basrah.

In subsequent periods, refinements were made, such as adding diacritics in the form of lines above letters, “fathah” as a line above, “kasrah” as a line below, “dhammah” as a small “waw” above letters, and so on, as well as punctuation marks to facilitate Quranic recitation. As we witness today, Quranic writing wasn’t perfect from the start but required dedication from scholars to codify it.

Wisdom of Quran Codification

Quran codification holds its own wisdom for Muslims. With specific reading codes and writing rules, Muslims worldwide can recite the Quran according to its text.

Here are some wisdoms of Quran codification. First, it unites Muslims who differ in recitation. With a single rule or method of recitation, differences are minimized, reducing disputes among believers. Uniformity in recitation is an indication that Islam is a unified nation that doesn’t dispute in any aspect.

Second, it standardizes Quranic recitation dialects. With codification, the Quran becomes a single dialect or expression, ultimately fostering unity in Islam. A unified dialect, a shared recitation, demonstrates Islam’s commitment to unity.

“Hold firmly to the rope of Allah (religion), all together, and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.” (QS. Ali Imran: 103)

Third, arranging the sequence of chapters according to the order found in the current copies of the Quran. The order of chapters in the Quran is a specific guidance from the Prophet Muhammad. The sequence of verses and chapters in the Quran is a divine directive, not a result of scholarly interpretation. Instead, it is a direct guidance from Allah through His Prophet, Muhammad.

Assurance of Preservation

“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, We will be its guardian.” (QS. Al-Hijr: 9)

This verse indicates that the assurance of the preservation of the Quran is Allah’s prerogative. This has been evident throughout history. The Quran we read today remains unaffected by irresponsible interventions. The authenticity of the Quran, for more than fourteen centuries, has been preserved and safeguarded from the schemes of disbelievers.

Below are the technical impossibilities of falsifying the Quran by irresponsible individuals:

Firstly, it has been recited and memorized by millions of people. The Quran was memorized because at the time of its revelation, the words of Allah were transmitted orally, not in writing. From the outset, the Quran was memorized by the companions of the Prophet. Thus, it is reasonable that over time, the number of memorizers (huffadz) has increased. These memorizers are granted guidance by Allah, which brings tranquility and peace while memorizing the 30 juz of the Quran.

Moreover, Arabic is a language relatively easy to pronounce. Compared to other languages, Arabic is much easier to read and memorize. To date, there are numerous Quran memorization institutions producing memorizers across the country and around the world. Therefore, it is impossible for the Quran to be corrupted by those who reject it.

Secondly, it was written down since its revelation. From the moment the Prophet received revelation from Allah through the angel Gabriel, the Quran was written down. The Prophet had scribes for revelation, and until the death of Prophet Muhammad, not a single revelation from Allah was left unrecorded.

During the time of the Prophet, the Quran was written on various simple materials such as date palm leaves, camel bones, or animal skins. This further ensures the authenticity of the Quran throughout history.

Thirdly, it was compiled into one volume. This also serves as a technique for preserving the Quran. By compiling it into a single book, bound in a specific order, the authenticity of the Quran is further guaranteed. Thus, in addition to Allah’s assurance of authenticity, in reality, the Quran is truly preserved through techniques that cannot be refuted by human logic.

This is the history of Quranic codification in simplified terms, as part of the treasure trove of knowledge. It turns out that the history of Quranic codification required sacrifice and dedication. Scholars have exerted tremendous effort to devote all their abilities for the betterment of the Quran.

It is only fitting that we understand that Quranic history involves codification. There are specific techniques and codes to ensure that the Quran imparts wisdom to all humanity. Even with the compilation of the Quran, non-Muslims can study it and hopefully receive guidance from their efforts to study the Quran.

Wallahu A’lam.