Scribes of the Divine Message

Quran is said to be a complete book of guidance. Since it was not revealed all at once and
its different verses were revealed as and when appropriate so it was not possible to
reserve it in a book form. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) had many companions to support
him in his prophetic mission. The greatest service performed by the scholarly
companions was to write the Holy Quran on the instructions of the Holy Prophet
(PBUH).

The revelations received by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) were dictated to many of his
companions but the famous ones are as follows:
The Four Caliphs
Hazrat Zaid Bin Sabit
Hazrat Abdullah Bin Masood

During the lifetime of Holy Prophet (PBUH) these were the expert scribes and appointed
recorders of the revelations. Whenever the Holy Prophet (PBUH) received a verse or a
passage he immediately instructed the scribes to record it under his supervision.
Whatever they recorded was checked and authenticated by the Holy Prophet (PBUH)
himself, every word and every passage was put in the right order. By the time the
revelations were completed the Muslims were in possession of many complete records
which were recited, memorized, studied, and followed for all daily purposes. Whenever
there was a difference it was referred to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who settled it whether
it was connected with the text meaning or the intonation (pitch of the voice).

Compilation of the Quran

After the death of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Quran was already committed through
many Muslim memories and numerous recording tables. In the valley of Yamamah,
against the false Prophets many Muslims who knew the Quran by heart died. Hazrat Abu
Bakr took an instant action and after consulting the leading authorities and on the advice
of Hazrat Umar, he in trusted this responsibility to Hazrat Zaid Bin Sabit (Prophet’s
(PBUH) chief scribe) to compile a standard and complete copy of the book in the same
order which was told by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) himself. The final and complete copy
was checked and approved by the Muslims who had it in their memories. It was done in
less than two years time after the death of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). One copy was
handed over to Hazrat Hafsa known as Mashaf-i-Hafsa for safe keeping.

During Hazrat Usman caliphate about fifteen years after the death of the Holy Prophet
(PBUH), due to many geographical and regional factor people of the new territories
started reading the Holy Quran with slightly different accent. This would cause disputes
among the Muslims, Hazrat Usman took sudden steps to avoid this and after the mutual
consultation with all the leading authorities he formed a committee of seventy members
under Hazrat Zaid Bin Sabit. All the fake copies of the Holy Quran in use were collected
and replaced by one standard copy which was to be used according to the accent and
dialect of the Quraish and the Prophet himself. The original copy was borrowed by
Hazrat Hafsa. Thus, the Holy Quran was again restricted to the accent and dialect of the
man who received it and from that time onwards the same standardized version has been
in use without the slightest change.

From these observations scholars have concluded that the Holy Quran stand today as its
first version and as it will be always. Its history is as clear as day and night, its
authenticity is unquestionable and without any doubt.

Importance of the Scribes

The scribes have a great importance in the history of the Muslims. Allah blessed them
with the honor of being the guardians of the Holy Quran. All the Muslim generations and
races cannot neglect their services in the making of the Quran safe forever. They were the
people with high character and Allah has mentioned the salient qualities of their lofty
character in the Quran and has called them honorable, pious and just. It is due to their
efforts that the Quran is being recited in the proper dialect and accent.

Zaid Bin Sabit

Quran is the fountain head of all the Islamic teachings. It is the only sacred book of the
world that can justly boose of the purity and authenticity of its text. Various portions of
the Quran were sent down as and when the need of them arose. The moment a portion
was revealed, it was written down and preserved.

Some of the closest companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) performed this important
duty. Hazrat Zaid Bin Sabit was one of them. He was always ready to take dictation from
the master and was given the honor of the Chief Scribe.

During the caliphate of Hazrat Abu Bakr, in the battle of Yamamah against Musailma
about seventy people who had learnt the Quran by heart died.