Abū Bakr sent for me after the slaughter of those who fought at al-Yamāma and ‘Umar b. al-Khattāb was with him. Abū Bakr told me that ‘Umar had come to him and drawn attention to the extensive slaughter among Qur’ān readers at the battle of al- Yamāma, saying he was afraid that if readers continued to be killed in large numbers at other battles a large amount of the Qur’ān would be lost, and that he therefore thought he should give command that the Qur’ān be collected. He had asked. ‘Umar how he could do a thing which God’s messenger had not done, and ‘Umar, swearing by God that this was best, had kept at him till God made him inclined to do that, and he came to hold ‘Umar’s opinion about the matter. Zaid told how Abū Bakr said to him, “You are an intelligent young man whom we do not suspect and you have been writing down the revelation which came to God’s messenger, so search for the Qur’ān and collect it,” adding: I swear by God that if they had imposed on me the transportation of a mountain it would not have been a heavier load for me than the collecting of the Qur’ān which he ordered me to undertake. I asked how they could do a thing which God’s messenger had not done and Abū Bakr, swearing by God that this was best, kept at me till God made me inclined to do what He had made Abū Bakr and ‘Umar inclined to do. I therefore searched for the Qur’ān and collected it from leafless palm branches, white stones and the breasts of men till I found the end of sūra at-Tauba (Qur’ān, 9) with Abū Khuzaima al-Ansārī, not having found it with anyone else: "A messenger from among yourselves has come to you . . .” to the end of Barā'a* (Qur’ān, 9 128-129). The sheets were deposited with Abū Bakr till God took him, then with ‘Umar during his lifetime, then with Hafsa, ‘Umar’s daughter. *Tauba and Barā’a are alternative titles of sūra 9.Bukhārī transmitted it.
The Excellent Qualities of the Qur'an - Mishkat al-Masabih 2220
This narration from Zaid ibn Thabit, transmitted by Imam Bukhari, details the momentous occasion when the Qur'an was first compiled into a single manuscript during the caliphate of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. The wisdom behind this divine preservation was the martyrdom of numerous Qur'an memorizers at the Battle of Yamama, which prompted Umar ibn al-Khattab to recognize the urgent need to safeguard the revelation from potential loss.
Divine Wisdom in Compilation
The initial hesitation of both Abu Bakr and Zaid ibn Thabit stemmed from their profound respect for the Prophetic precedent. Their concern about undertaking an action not performed by the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) demonstrates the companions' meticulous adherence to Islamic principles. However, through divine guidance (tawfiq), they recognized this as a necessary ijtihad for the preservation of Islam's primary source.
Methodology of Collection
Zaid's methodology was exceptionally rigorous, requiring two witnesses for each verse and collecting from written materials (palm branches, parchment) alongside human memorization. The discovery of the final verses of Surah At-Tauba exclusively with Abu Khuzaima al-Ansari demonstrates the scrupulous verification process. This meticulous approach ensured the absolute authenticity of the compiled text.
Chain of Preservation
The historical custody of the original manuscript - from Abu Bakr to Umar, then to Hafsa bint Umar - establishes an unbroken chain of preservation under the care of the most trusted companions. This systematic safeguarding laid the foundation for the later standardization during Uthman's caliphate, ensuring the Qur'an's pristine transmission to subsequent generations.