‘Umar has come to me and told me that casualties were heavy at al-Yamamah among the Muslims who knew the Qur'an by heart, and I am afraid that more heavy casualties may take place among the Muslims who know the Qur'an by heart on other battlefields and a large part of the Qur’an may be lost. I ['Umar] think that you [Abu Bakr should issue instructions that the Qur'an be collected. I said to ‘Umar. How can I do anything that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not do? He said: By Allah, it is a good thing. And he kept urging me to do that until Allah opened my heart to it and I came around to 'Umar's point of view. Zaid said: And ‘Umar was sitting with him, not speaking. Abu Bakr said: You are a wise young man and we trust you. You used to write down the revelation for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), so collect it. Zaid said: By Allah, if they had ordered me to move a mountain, that would not have been more difficult for me than what they instructed me to do of collecting the Qur'an. I said: How can you do anything that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not do?
Historical Context & Significance
This narration from Musnad Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ra) in Musnad Ahmad (76) documents the momentous decision to compile the Qur'an into a single manuscript. Following the Battle of Yamamah where numerous Qur'an memorizers (huffaz) were martyred, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) recognized the urgent need to preserve the divine revelation against potential loss.
Scholarly Commentary on Initial Reluctance
Abu Bakr's initial hesitation reflects the principle of tawaqquf (exercising caution) regarding matters not explicitly undertaken by the Prophet (ﷺ). This demonstrates the Companions' meticulous adherence to following prophetic precedent in all affairs.
'Umar's persistence and Abu Bakr's eventual acceptance after "Allah opened my heart to it" illustrates how ijtihad (scholarly reasoning) operates within divine guidance when addressing new challenges facing the Muslim community.
The Methodology of Compilation
Zaid ibn Thabit's selection was based on his qualifications: he was present during the final review (ardah) of the Qur'an with the Prophet (ﷺ), served as a scribe of revelation, and possessed both memorization and writing skills.
The compilation followed rigorous verification requiring two witnesses for each verse, ensuring nothing was accepted except what was definitively established as Qur'an. This method preserved both the oral and written transmission chains.
Divine Wisdom in the Process
This event demonstrates Allah's promise to preserve the Qur'an (15:9) being fulfilled through human agency. The compilation during Abu Bakr's caliphate established the official mus'haf which later served as the basis for 'Uthman's standardized copies.
The Companions' careful approach shows that while the Qur'an's preservation was guaranteed by Allah, the Muslim community bears the responsibility of undertaking the necessary means for its protection.