Who Wrote the Quran

The Holy Quran is a sacred book of Islam, but do you know who wrote the Quran? This Question has been a field of debate more among non Muslim scholars than muslims. 

The Quran is the words of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), memorized and compiled by the holy companions. It was first written in book form in the era of Hazrat Abubakr (R.A). 

Who Is the Author of the Quran 

According to Islamic belief, the Quran is divinely revealed. It was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) over approximately 23 years. Muslims hold that Allah is the sole author of the Quran, and its divine origin is a fundamental tenet of Islamic theology. 

The Quran itself states in several verses that it is a revelation from Allah, such as in Surah Ash-Shu’ara (26:192-195), where it describes itself as a divine message sent down to guide humanity.

 وَ اِنَّهٗ لَتَنْزِیْلُ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ (192) نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوْحُ الْاَمِیْنُ (193) عَلٰى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُوْنَ مِنَ الْمُنْذِرِیْنَ (194) بِلِسَانٍ عَرَبِیٍّ مُّبِیْنٍ (195) 

This is certainly a revelation from the Lord of all worlds, which the trustworthy spirit Jibriel (A.S) brought down, into your heart “O Prophet”—so that you may be one of the warners—, in a clear Arabic tongue.

The Islamic Theological Perspective

From the Islamic viewpoint, the Quran was not ‘written’ by any human author in the conventional sense. Muslims believe the Quran is the literal word of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) over approximately 23 years, from 610 CE until his death in 632 CE.

According to Islamic tradition, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) delivered these divine revelations to Hazrat Muhammad (SAW), who then recited them to his followers. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is considered the messenger and recipient of these revelations, not their author. This distinction is fundamental to Islamic theology. The Quran is viewed as Allah's eternal, uncreated word.

Who Wrote the Quran First

During the Prophet’s (SAW) lifetime, the Quran was not compiled into a single standardized book. The oral transmission was the primary mode of its preservation. 

However, after the death of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the need for a unified written text became evident due to the deaths of many memorizers (huffaz) in battles, such as the Battle of Yamama.

During the Prophet's (SAW) Lifetime

As the Quran was not compiled into a single book during the Prophet's (SAW) life, revelations were memorized by professional reciters (huffaz) and written on disparate materials. The oral tradition was paramount. Memorization ensured accurate transmission in a largely oral culture.

Different chapters (surahs) and verses (ayahs) were revealed at different times, often in response to specific situations. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) would instruct his scribes where each revelation should be placed within the existing framework.

Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (R.A) Compilation of the Quran 

The first Caliph, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A.), ordered Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit (R.A) to collect all written and memorized fragments of the Quran into a single collection. 

Hazrat Zayd (R.A) gathered materials from various sources. He cross-verified them with memorizers to ensure accuracy. This compilation, known as the suhuf (sheets), was kept by  Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A) and later passed to his successor, Hazra Umar (R.A), and then to his daughter, Hazrat Hafsa (R.A), a widow of the Prophet (PBUH).

Hazrat Uthman’s Standardization of the Quran 

During the reign of the third Caliph, Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan (R.A), variations in recitation and written copies began to emerge as Islam spread to regions with diverse dialects. 

To prevent discrepancies, Hazrat Uthman (R.A) commissioned a standardized copy of the Quran, again tasking Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit (R.A) and a committee of scholars. 

They used Hazrat Hafsa’s (R.A) suhuf as the primary source, ensuring fidelity to the original revelations. Copies of this standardized text were sent to major Islamic centers, such as Makkah, Madina, Kufa, Basra, and Damascus, and non-standardized copies were destroyed to maintain uniformity. This codex forms the basis of the Quran as it exists today.

Western Perspectives on the Authorship of the Quran

The Western academic approaches to the Quran's origins vary widely. Traditional Orientalist scholarship largely accepted the Islamic account with some modifications. More recent revisionist scholars have questioned various aspects:

Some researchers have proposed that the Quran may have developed over a longer period, potentially into the late 7th or early 8th century. Others have suggested that it incorporated earlier Jewish, Christian, or Arabian religious materials.

However, many contemporary scholars, using manuscript evidence, linguistic analysis, and historical documents, support a 7th-century origin closely aligned with Muhammad's (SAW) lifetime. 

The discovery of early Quranic manuscripts, including fragments possibly dating to within decades of the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) death, has strengthened arguments for early compilation.

The Question of Authorship of the Quran: Multiple Meanings

The question "Who wrote the Quran?" is a much-debated debated among scholars, especially non-Muslim scholars. It can be answered at different levels. 

Theological Answer: Muslims believe Allah is the author of the Quran, with the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the conduit.

Historical Answer: Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) received and recited the Quran verses to His companions. They memorized and initially wrote it. Hazrat Zayd ibn Thabit (R.A) led the compilation efforts under Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A) and Hazrat Uthman Ghani (R.A). 

Literary Answer: The text reflects a 7th-century Arabian context. It addresses the specific historical circumstances of Muhammad's (SAW) community while claiming universal and timeless significance.

Conclusion 

Muslims believe Allah wrote the Quran by revealing it to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) through Jibrael (A.S). He orally transmitted these divine revelations, which were then memorized and written down by his companions. After the Prophet's (PBUH) death, the Quran was compiled into a standardized written text. The first standardized version was ordered by the first caliph, Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A), and a more definitive, unified version was established by the third caliph, Hazrat Uthman (R.A).