From Scattered Writings to One Mushaf

Scattered writings and memories: In the Prophet's lifetime, the Quran was written on many separate materials, and it was held in the hearts of many people. It was not yet gathered into one single book volume.

Gathered after the Prophet: After the Prophet's passing, the companions gathered those writings together, so that the whole Quran would be in one place, in the order the Prophet (SAW) had taught.

Ali gathers the Quran first: In Shia tradition, Imam Ali (as) is remembered as one of the first to gather the Quran in the order of its revelation, with notes on what each verse was about. The copies later made for the whole Muslim community followed the order we have today — beginning with Surah Al-Fatiha and ending with Surah An-Nas.

The same Quran today: What matters for a beginner is this: the Quran we hold today is the same Quran — in the same order of surahs, with the same words — that the Prophet (SAW) recited.

Key Terms

• Mushaf (المصحف) — the written copy / volume of the Quran
• Jama' (الجمع) — the gathering / compilation of the Quran
• Surah Al-Fatiha (سورة الفاتحة) — the first surah; Surah An-Nas (سورة الناس) — the last surah

Quran or Hadith

No verse is quoted in this topic. The story of compilation is told from historical reports; any Hadith about it should be added only after checking. — to be checked before adding a reference here.

Fresh diagram to be drawn

Diagram to be drawn: three steps — 1) verses written on separate materials, 2) writings gathered together, 3) one Mushaf, from Al-Fatiha to An-Nas. In Project Desk colours.

Example

Notes gathered into one book: Imagine a teacher's notes are written on many separate sheets of paper. At the end of the course, a student gathers them, puts them in order, and binds them into one book.

Scattered writings put in order: In the same way, the scattered writings of the Quran were gathered and put in order, so that every Muslim could hold one complete book.