Quran IV – Preservation & Other Names of the Quran SS1 Islamic Studies Lesson Note

The Holy Quran is the sacred book of Islam and the literal word of Allah as revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Muslims believe the Quran has been perfectly preserved since its revelation over 1400 years ago. This lesson explores how the Quran was preserved, how it was arranged, and why Muslims believe in its authenticity. We will also learn about other names given to the Quran.

1. Preservation of the Quran

Allah’s Promise of Preservation

In the Quran itself, Allah promises to preserve His message. In Surah Al-Hijr (15:9), Allah says: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the message [the Quran], and indeed, We will be its guardian.” This divine promise has been fulfilled through various methods of preservation.

Methods of Preservation During the Prophet’s Time

1. Memorization (Hifz)

• The Prophet memorized each revelation as it came to him
• Many companions (Sahabah) memorized the entire Quran
• The Prophet would recite the Quran in prayers, which helped others learn
• Every Ramadan, Angel Jibreel would review the entire Quran with the Prophet
• In the last year of the Prophet’s life, they reviewed it twice

2. Writing Down Revelations

• The Prophet appointed scribes to write down revelations
• Main scribes included Zaid bin Thabit, Ubayy ibn Ka’b, and Ali ibn Abi Talib
• Revelations were written on palm leaves, stones, animal bones, and leather pieces
• The Prophet would tell scribes exactly where to place new verses

3. Regular Recitation

• Muslims recited portions of the Quran in their five daily prayers
• The Prophet encouraged reading the Quran regularly
• Public recitation meant many people heard the same verses regularly
• Any mistake would be noticed and corrected by others

Preservation After the Prophet’s Time

1. Abu Bakr’s Compilation

• After the Battle of Yamama, many memorizers (huffaz) died
• Umar suggested to Abu Bakr that they collect the Quran in one place
• Zaid bin Thabit led this project
• Written materials were collected and verified by at least two witnesses
• The complete manuscript was kept with Abu Bakr, then Umar, then Hafsa

2. Uthman’s Standardization

• As Islam spread, different readings of the Quran emerged
• Uthman ordered a committee to make official copies
• The committee was led by Zaid bin Thabit
• They used Hafsa’s manuscript as the main source
• Several copies were made and sent to major Muslim cities
• Other unofficial versions were destroyed to prevent confusion

3. Development of Diacritical Marks

• The early Arabic script had no dots or marks
• During the time of the fifth Umayyad caliph, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan
• Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf asked scholars to add dots to distinguish similar letters
• Later, vowel marks were added to help non-Arab Muslims read correctly
• These additions did not change the text but made it easier to read

4. Continuous Chain of Transmission

• Each generation of Muslims has taught the next
• Teachers give “ijazah” (permission) to qualified students
• This creates an unbroken chain back to the Prophet
• This system is called “isnad” (chain of narration)
• It applies to both written copies and memorization

Modern Methods of Preservation

1. Mass Printing

• The invention of printing made it possible to produce identical copies
• The first printed Quran appeared in Europe in 1537
• The first Muslim-printed Quran was in 1787 in Russia
• Today, millions of identical copies exist worldwide
• King Fahd Complex in Saudi Arabia prints high-quality Qurans

2. Digital Preservation

• The Quran is now preserved in digital formats
• Audio recordings by famous reciters are widely available
• Quran apps and websites make it accessible anywhere
• Digital copies are exactly the same as written copies
• Computer programs help check for any errors in new printings

2. Arrangement of the Quran

Not in Order of Revelation

The Quran is not arranged in the order it was revealed. If it were, it would begin with Surah Al-Alaq and end with either Surah An-Nasr or Surah Al-Baqarah (verse 281).

Current Arrangement by Divine Guidance

1. Divinely Instructed Order

• The order of verses and surahs was instructed by Allah
• Angel Jibreel guided the Prophet on where to place each revelation
• The Prophet would tell his scribes: “Put this passage in the surah where such and such is mentioned”
• This order is called “tawqifi” (by divine instruction)

2. Structure of the Quran

• The Quran has 114 surahs (chapters)
• It is divided into 30 equal parts called “juz”
• It is also divided into 7 “manzil” (stages) for weekly recitation
• Each verse is called an “ayah” (sign)
• The total number of verses is about 6,236 (counts vary slightly)

3. Organization of Surahs

• Generally arranged from longest to shortest
• Begins with Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening)
• Ends with Surah An-Nas (The People)
• Each surah has a name taken from a word or theme in it
• Many surahs begin with “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah)

4. Special Groupings

• The first four long surahs are called “al-Tiwal”
• Surahs 50-69 are called “al-Mi’un” (the hundreds)
• Surahs with fewer than 100 verses are called “al-Mathani”
• Very short surahs are called “al-Mufassal”
• Some surahs have special names like “The Seven Oft-Repeated” (Al-Fatihah)

The Wisdom Behind This Arrangement

• The arrangement helps with memorization
• It groups similar themes together in many cases
• It creates a balance between long and short surahs
• It puts Surah Al-Fatihah first as it is essential for prayer
• It is perfect for regular recitation and study

3. Authenticity of the Quran with Other Names Given to the Quran

Evidence for Authenticity

1. Perfectly Preserved Text

• The Quran has remained unchanged for over 1400 years
• Ancient manuscripts match today’s Quran exactly
• The Birmingham Quran manuscript from around 645 CE is identical to modern copies
• Muslims worldwide recite the same text without differences

2. Memorization Tradition

• Millions of Muslims have memorized the entire Quran
• This living tradition goes back to the Prophet’s time
• If someone makes a mistake in recitation, others can correct it
• No other book has been memorized by so many people

3. Historical Documentation

• The process of compilation was well-documented
• Many eyewitness accounts describe how the Quran was preserved
• The methods used were rigorous and careful
• The entire community was involved in its preservation

4. Consistency in Content

• The Quran is internally consistent with no contradictions
• Its teachings are consistent throughout
• Its language is consistently in the same style
• Its scientific statements have not been disproven

5. Inimitability (I’jaz)

• The Quran challenged opponents to produce something like it
• No one has successfully met this challenge
• Its literary excellence is acknowledged even by non-Muslims
• Its language is considered the highest standard of Arabic

Other Names of the Quran

The Quran has many names and descriptions that highlight its special qualities:

1. Al-Kitab (The Book)

• This name appears in the Quran itself
• It shows that the Quran is the most important book
• Example: “This is the Book about which there is no doubt” (2:2)

2. Al-Furqan (The Criterion)

• This name means “that which distinguishes right from wrong”
• It shows that the Quran helps people make good choices
• The Quran says: “Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion” (25:1)

3. Al-Dhikr (The Reminder)

• This name shows that the Quran reminds people about Allah
• It helps people remember what is important
• Allah says: “Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder” (15:9)

4. Al-Tanzil (The Revelation)

• This name refers to how the Quran was sent down from Allah
• It emphasizes the divine origin of the Quran
• “And indeed, it is the revelation of the Lord of the worlds” (26:192)

5. Al-Huda (The Guidance)

• This name shows that the Quran guides people to the right path
• It gives direction for living a good life
• “This is the Book…a guidance for those conscious of Allah” (2:2)

6. Al-Noor (The Light)

• This name means the Quran brings spiritual light
• It helps people see the truth clearly
• “There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book” (5:15)

7. Al-Shifaa (The Healing)

• This name shows that the Quran heals spiritual problems
• It brings comfort to troubled hearts
• “And We send down of the Quran that which is healing” (17:82)

8. Al-Maw’izah (The Admonition)

• This name means the Quran gives helpful warnings
• It advises people on how to avoid harm
• “O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord” (10:57)

9. Al-Mubarak (The Blessed)

• This name shows that the Quran brings blessings
• Reading and following it brings good things to people
• “And this is a Book We have revealed which is blessed” (6:155)

10. Al-Hakeem (The Wise)

• This name shows that the Quran contains perfect wisdom
• Its teachings are always wise and good
• “These are verses of the wise Book” (10:1)

Conclusion

The preservation of the Quran is unique in human history. Through careful memorization, writing, compilation, and standardization, the exact words revealed to Prophet Muhammad have been preserved for over 14 centuries. The arrangement of the Quran, while not chronological, follows a divine plan that serves many purposes. The authenticity of the Quran is supported by historical evidence, the memorization tradition, and its internal consistency. The many names of the Quran reflect its various qualities and functions as guidance for humanity. Muslims believe that because of these factors, the Quran they read today is exactly the same as the one revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).