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548 I understand that the Quran is the unchanged word of Allah (S.W.T) but I also know that it was written in many dialects in the beginning era of Islam so could you clarify how the original was distinguished against the others?
Allah (S.W.T) who revealed the Quran Himself made arrangements for its safety and security forever. No sooner was a passage of the Quran revealed that it was recorded on leaves of date-palm, the bark of trees, bones, at the dictation of the Prophet (S.A.W) and all these pieces were put in a bag.

Besides this, some of his Companions themselves wrote these pieces for their own use. At the same time, the Muslims committed these passages to memory as they had to recite them during Salat [obligatory prayers to Allah, the Lord of the universe], a prescribed practice from the very beginning of Islam. But immediately after the Holy Prophet (S.A.W)’s passed away from this world, an event occurred that necessitated this work.

A furious storm of apostasy broke out and many of the Companions, who went to war to suppress it, were martyred. Among these martyrs were some of the men who had committed the whole of the Quran to memory. So it occurred to Hazret Umar (R.A) that necessary steps should be taken to preserve the Quran intact in its original form against any and every danger and that it was not wise to depend exclusively upon those who had learnt it by heart.

He tried to impress the necessity of this step on Hazret Abu Bakr Sadeeq (R.A) (Who was the First Khalifah) who at first showed hesitation in doing what the Prophet (S.A.W) had not done. But after some discussion, he too agreed.

Accordingly, he entrusted the work to Hazret Zaid bin Thabit (R.A) who also hesitated at first, like Hazret Abu Bakr Sadeeq (R.A), and for the same reason. But at last he was convinced and he undertook this historic work.

Hazret Zaid (R.A) was best qualified for this work. He had frequently acted as scribe to the Prophet (S.A.W) and was one of those Companions who had learnt the Quran directly from The Holy Prophet (S.A.W). He was also present on the occasion when the Prophet (S.A.W) recited the whole of the completed Quran to Hazret Jibrail (A.S).

Arrangements were consequently made to collect and gather all the written pieces of the Quran left by the Prophet (S.A.W) along with those in possession of his Companions (R.A). Then, with the cooperation of those Companions (R.A) who had memorized the whole or any part of the Quran word for word, all the written pieces were compared with each other for verification; Hazret Zaid (R.A) would not take down anything in his manuscript unless all three sources tallied with one another. Thus was compiled one correct, authenticated and complete copy.

This authenticated copy of the whole Quran was kept in the house of Hazrete Hafsah (R.A) who was Hazret Umar's (R.A) daughter and one of the blessed wives of the Prophet (S.A.W).

It was proclaimed that anyone who so desired, might make a copy of it or compare it with the copy he already possessed.

However, as Islam spread, more and more people became Muslims. This also meant that more and more Non-Arabic speaking people became Muslims too. The non-Arabic speaking Muslims found it difficult to read the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran was compiled and made easier to be read by non-Arabic speaking Muslims by adding (Zabr, Zair and Paish). This however allowed the non-Arabic speaking Muslims to pronounce the Holy Quran correctly without changing the meaning in any way.

The Quran, which is now in use all over the world, is the exact copy of the Quran which was compiled under Hazret Abu Bakr Sadeeq’s (R.A) order and copies of which were officially sent by Hazret Uthman (R.A) to different locations.

Even today many very old copies are found in big libraries in different parts of the world. A sceptic might entertain a doubt about its revelation from Allah (S.W.T), but none can have any doubt whatsoever regarding its authenticity, immunity and purity from any kind of addition, omission or alteration, for there is nothing so authentic in all of human history as this fact about the Quran, that it is the same Quran that was presented to the world by the Prophet (S.A.W).
Category (Quran)
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