بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Asalamualaykum,
The Holy Quran is a record of the Divine Revelations received by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) through the angel, Jibreel (A.S), as a direct message from Allah (S.W.T).These Revalations began when our Prophet Muhammmad (S.A.W) was 40 years old…and went on for about 23 years till the death of our beloved in 632 A.D. These messages received from time to time were recited by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W), to his companions who were currently near him and were written on leather, palm leaves,tablets of stone, and bones of camels. The verses were also learnt by heart.It is believed that there were about 15 copies of the complete Quran written down.
Last time we talked about the revelation of the Quran and the Night of Power, and this time I’ll tell you a little about the scribes of the Divine Revelation
The scribes of the Quran from amongst the companions of the Prophet (S.A.W) are said to be 40 in number, but the most prominent people were:-
1. Hazrat Abu Bakr:-
He was a very close friend of the Holy Prophet, in fact, they were friends from their childhood and remained friends throughout their lives.
He was the first, free, male adult to believe in the Holy Prophet. He accepted Islam without any hesitation, argument or reluctance. After the Prophet, he was the greatest campaigner of Islam.
2. Hazrat Umar:-
Hazrat Umar, the son of Khattab was born in Makkah. He was about twelve years after the birth of the Holy Prophet. His father who was an educated, respectable merchant of Makkah taught him reading and writing.After his acceptance of Islam, he received the title of Farooq which means, ‘who distinguishes between right and wrong.’
3. Hazrat Usman:-
Hazrat Usman, was born in Makkah 5 years after the birth of the Prophet (S.A.W). He was related to our beloved Prophet through their great-grand father, Abd Manaf.
He belonged to the Ummayad tribe and was the first Ummayad to accept Islam,he accepted Islam by the suggestion of Hazrat Abu Bakr.
4. Hazrat Ali:-
Hazrat Ali was the son of Abu Talib, an uncle of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) took Hazrat Ali under his own care and protection.He was ten years old when the Prophet (S.A.W.) was conferred to Islam. Ali was the second person to embrace Islam, the first being Hazrat Khadijah (R.A.A.). He learned reading and writing while he was still a boy, which was a great achievement as education was not a very big part of Arab culture back then. The first teaching of Islam, however was to gain knowledge. Hazrat Ali (R.A.A) learned the whole Qur’an by heart during the lifetime of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
5. Abdullah bin Masoodd:-
Abdullah Bin Masud was one of the most favorite companions of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W). He is known as Sahabi bin Sahabiyah because his brother and mother belonged to the earlier Companions of the Prophet (S.A.W.). After embracing Islam, he gave up all other business and would always remain present in the service of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). He started to learn the Quran with fondness and attention and is said to be the first one to recite the Quran openly in Makkah. Because of his closeness of the Prophet (S.A.W.), Hazrat Umar greatly appreciated his deep knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah and often consulted him on these matters. He is said to have authority on some eight hundred traditions.
6. Zaid bin Thabit:-
Zaid Bin Sabit was the principal scribe of the Holy Quran. He accepted Islam when he was eleven years old. After his migration to Madinah, he was appointed by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) to write down the revelations received by him.
7.Ameer Muawiyah
Ameer Muawiyah was the son of Abu Sufyan who was the leader of the Quraysh and for a long time, one of the bitterest enemies of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). After the conquest of Makkah, he along with his father and other members of the Banu Umayya accepted Islam and devoted himself to its cause. The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) appointed him as his secretary.
8. Ubbay bin Ka’ab
Ubbay bin Ka’ab was one of the main scribes in Madinah who wrote down the Revelations of the Holy Quran. He was one of the distinguished companions of the Holy Prophet and a person of high esteem in the early Muslim community. He served as a scribe to the Holy Prophet and wrote letters for him. The last verse of the Holy Quran, revealed in 10 A.H. is said to be written down by him.At the time of the death of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.), he was one of those who knew the Holy Quran by heart and is said to have possessed his own copy of the sacred text. His recitation of the Quran was so beautiful and his understanding so profound that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) encouraged his companions to learn the Quran from him.
Jazakallah Khair
-Hafsah Khan
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