Abdul Hye translation: Qur`an - the Final Revelation

What follows is the forward to the print edition, available here.

English Interpretation of the Meaning of

Qur’an

The Final Revelation

www.finalrevelation.net

Houston, Texas

Interpretation of Meaning by: Abdul Hye, PhD

1st Print: July / 2006

2nd Print: December / 2006

3rd Print: December / 2007

4th Print: September / 2011

Printed in the United States of America

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Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006906270





ISBN 9781477468098

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© Copyright: 2006 Finalrevelation.net, Houston, Texas.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying and recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. No part of this book may be translated into any other language without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Qur’an

Introduction

The Qur’an is the final revelation for the Guidance of mankind from the same Almighty God who sent Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. This Qur’an is translated / interpreted word-for-word from Arabic to English in a simple way so that it can be understood easily by everyone. We used Allah (One and only like Him instead of God) throughout. Any word needed to clarify a meaning is added in parenthesis. All 25 names of the prophets mentioned in the Qur’an are listed as English names so the reader can find the same name mentioned in previously revealed scriptures. A Prophet tree is provided at the beginning with a list of places, nations, landmarks, etc. for each prophet as references. A map is provided to show the location of each of these places and nations. A brief list of the life events of Prophet Muhammad is given to understand the goals and objectives of his mission. Since he has been sent as the final Messenger for the entire universe until the Last Day of this world, all of his efforts focused on reaching out to all nations through delegations and letters towards peace for all mankind. He personally traveled many expeditions and wrote letters to different kings and rulers of different nations. Besides the Qur’an, all of his sayings with events (Hadith) narrated by his companions during his lifetime and afterwards were preserved and recorded in systematic order so a reader can find the detailed reference / reason in Hadith for any particular revelation in the Qur’an which was revealed during 23 years. Two copies of the originally compiled Qur’an are still preserved in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Istanbul, Turkey. Today’s Arabic Qur’an is the same as the one originally compiled.

All this information will help the reader understand the continuation of the religion of Abraham through Moses, Jesus and finally through Muhammad, who has been sent with this Qur’an to deliver the final version of the religion of Allah to mankind, Islam.

Abdul Hye, PhD

finalrevelation.net

September 30, 2011

Table of Contents (page number refer to the printed edition only)

# Chapter Name Chapter Name Meaning # Verses Revealed @ Page # 1 Al-Fatihah The Opening 7 Makkah 1 2 Al-Baqarah The Cow 286 Madinah 1 3 Al-‘Imran The family of Imran 200 Madinah 22 4 An-Nisa’ The Woman 176 Madinah 35 5 Al-Ma’idah The Table Spread 120 Madinah 48 6 Al-An’am The Cattle 165 Makkah 57 7 Al-A’raf The Heights 206 Makkah 68 8 Al-Anfal The Spoils of War 75 Madinah 81 9 At-Taubah The Repentance 129 Madinah 85 10 Yunus Jonah 109 Makkah 95 11 Hud Hud 123 Makkah 102 12 Yusuf Joseph 111 Madinah 109 13 Ar-Ra’d The Thunder 43 Madinah 116 14 Ibrahim Abraham 52 Makkah 119 15 Al-Hijr The Rock Tract 99 Makkah 122 16 An-Nahl The Bee 128 Makkah 125 17 Al-Isra’ The Night Journey 111 Makkah 132 18 Al-Kahf The Cave 110 Makkah 139 19 Maryam Mary 98 Makkah 145 20 Ta-Ha Ta-Ha 135 Makkah 149 21 Al-Anbiya’ The Prophets 112 Makkah 154 22 Al-Hajj The Pilgrimage 78 Madinah 160 23 Al-Muminun The Believers 118 Makkah 165 24 An-Nur The Light 64 Madinah 169 25 Al-Furqan The Criterion 77 Makkah 174 26 Ash-Shuara’ The Poets 227 Makkah 177 27 An-Naml The Ant 93 Makkah 183 28 Al-Qasas The Narration 88 Makkah 188 29 Al-Ankabut The Spider 69 Makkah 193 30 Ar-Rum The Romans 60 Makkah 197 31 Luqman Luqman 34 Makkah 200 32 As-Sajdah The Prostration 30 Makkah 202 33 Al-Ahzab The Confederates 73 Madinah 204 34 Saba’ Sheba 54 Makkah 209 35 Fatir The Originator of Creation 45 Makkah 212 36 Ya-Seen Ya-Seen 83 Makkah 215 37 As-Saffat Those who set the Ranks 182 Makkah 218 38 Sad Sad 88 Makkah 223 39 Az-Zumar The Groups 75 Makkah 226 40 Ghafir The Forgiver 85 Makkah 231 41 Fussilat The Detailed Explanation 54 Makkah 235 42 Ash-Shura The Consultation 53 Makkah 238 43 Az-Zukhruf The Gold Adornments 89 Makkah 242 44 Ad-Dukhan The Smoke 59 Makkah 246 45 Al-Jathiyah The Kneeling 37 Makkah 247 46 Al-Ahqaf The Curved Sand-Hills 35 Makkah 249 47 Muhammad Muhammad 38 Madinah 252 48 Al-Fath The Victory 29 Madinah 254 49 Al-Hujurat The Private Apartments 18 Madinah 256 50 Qaf Qaf 45 Makkah 258 51 Adh-Dhariyat The Winds that Scatter 60 Makkah 259 52 At-Tur The Mount Tur 49 Makkah 261 53 An-Najm The Star 62 Makkah 263 54 Al-Qamar The Moon 55 Makkah 265 55 Ar-Rahman The Gracious 78 Madinah 267 56 Al-Waqi’ah The Event 96 Makkah 268 57 Al-Hadid The Iron 29 Madinah 271 58 Al-Mujadilah The Woman who Disputes 22 Madinah 273 59 Al-Hashr The Gathering 24 Madinah 275 60 Al-Mumtahanah The Woman to be Examined 13 Madinah 276 61 As-Saff The Rank 14 Madinah 278 62 Al-Jumu’ah The Congregation 11 Madinah 279 63 Al-Munafiqun The Hypocrites 11 Madinah 279 64 At-Taghabun The Mutual Loss and Gain 18 Madinah 280 65 At-Talaq The Divorce 12 Madinah 281 66 At-Tahrim The Prohibition 12 Madinah 283 67 Al-Mulk The Sovereignty 30 Makkah 284 68 Al-Qalam The Pen 52 Makkah 285 69 Al-Haqqah The Inevitable 52 Makkah 287 70 Al-Ma’arij The Ways of Ascent 44 Makkah 288 71 Nuh Noah 28 Makkah 289 72 Al-Jinn The Jinn 28 Makkah 290 73 Al-Muzzammil The one wrapped in Garments 20 Makkah 291 74 Al-Muddaththir The one Enveloped 56 Makkah 292 75 Al-Qiyamah The Resurrection 40 Makkah 294 76 Ad-Dahr The Time 31 Madinah 295 77 Al-Mursalat Those sent forth 50 Makkah 296 78 An-Naba’ The Great News 40 Makkah 297 79 An-Nazi’at Those who Pull Out 46 Makkah 298 80 ‘Abasa He Frowned 42 Makkah 299 81 At-Takwir The Overthroughing 29 Makkah 300 82 Al-Infitar The Cleaving 19 Makkah 301 83 Al-Mutaffifin Those who deal in Fraud 36 Makkah 301 84 Al-Inshiqaq The Splitting Asunder 25 Makkah 302 85 Al-Buruj The Big Stars 'Buruj' 22 Makkah 303 86 At-Tariq The Night-Comer 17 Makkah 303 87 Al-A’la The High 19 Makkah 304 88 Al-Ghashiyah The Overwhelming 26 Makkah 304 89 Al-Fajr The Dawn 30 Makkah 305 90 Al-Balad The City 20 Makkah 306 91 Ash-Shams The Sun 15 Makkah 306 92 Al-Lail The Night 21 Makkah 306 93 Ad-Duha The Forenoon 11 Makkah 307 94 Ash-Sharh The Opening Forth 8 Makkah 307 95 At-Tin The Fig 8 Makkah 307 96 Al-‘Alaq The Clot 19 Makkah 308 97 Al-Qadr The Night of Decree 5 Makkah 308 98 Al-Bayyinah The Clear Evidence 8 Madinah 308 99 Az-Zalzalah The Earthquake 8 Madinah 309 100 Al-‘Adiyat Those that Run 11 Makkah 309 101 Al-Qari’ah The Striking Hour 11 Makkah 309 102 At-Takathur The Piling Up 8 Makkah 310 103 Al-‘Asr The Time 3 Makkah 310 104 Al-Humazah The Slanderer 9 Makkah 310 105 Al-Fil The Elephant 5 Makkah 310 106 Quraish Quraish 4 Makkah 310 107 Al-Ma’un The Small Kindness 7 Makkah 310 108 Al-Kauther A River in Paradise 3 Makkah 311 109 Al-Kafirun The Disbelievers 6 Makkah 311 110 An-Nasr The Help 3 Madinah 311 111 Al-Masad The Palm Fiber 5 Makkah 311 112 Al-Ikhlas The Purity 4 Makkah 311 113 Al-Falaq The Daybreak 5 Makkah 311 114 An-Nas The Mankind 6 Makkah 312 Total 6,236

References ……………………………………………………………………. 312









# Prophet Places, Nations, Landmarks Map Locations 1 Adam Makka, Jeddah, India, Sri Lanka, Syria 1, 3, 75, 76, 74 2 Enoch(Idris) Babylon, Hebron, Manf 64, 35, 30 3 Noah (Nuh) People of Noah (Kufah), Mt. Judi 65, 72 4 Hud Al-Ahqaf, People of ‘Ad 19, 21 5 Salih Hadramawt, Madain Saleh, People of Thamud 24, 23, 22 6 Abraham (Ibrahim) Ur, Babylon, Harran, Aleppo, Jerusalem, Hebron, Makkah, Al-Gizah 66, 64, 52, 57, 33, 35, 1, 31 7 Isaac (Ishaq) Ur, Babylon, Urfa, Jerusalem, Hebron 66, 64, 67, 33, 35 8 Ishmael (Ismail) Makkah, Mina, Muzdalefa, Arafat 1, 4, 5, 6 9 Lot (Lut) Sodom & Gomorrah, Dead Sea, Sughar 54, 39, 55 10 Jacob (Yaqub) Hebron, Jerusalem, Harran, Faddan, Manf, Heliopolis 35, 33, 52, 41, 30, 29 11 Joseph (Yusuf) Jerusalem, Hebron, San Al-Hajar 33, 35, 32 12 Shuaib (Shu’aib) Midian, Al-Aikah (Tabuk) 18, 16 13 Moses (Musa) Manf, Midian, Al-Aqabah, Mt. Tur, Heliopolis, Red Sea, Sinai, Jordan River, Mt. Nibu 30, 18, 60, 17, 29, 47, 73, 51, 62 14 Aaron(Harun) Sinai, Mt. Haur 73, 61 15 Elias (Ilyus) Balabak, Jal'ad, B'ir Sheva, Sinai 45, 53, 42, 73 16 Elisha (Al-Yasa) Balabak, Jal'ad, B'ir Sheva, Sinai 45, 53, 42, 73 17 David (Dawud) Ashdod, Bait Dajan, Ramlah, Abu Ghush, Jerusalem 48, 44, 37, 59, 33 18 Solomon (Solaiman) Jerusalem, Ashdod, Asqalan (Valley of Ants), Marib (Yemen), Queen Bilqis 33, 48, 49, 26, 27 19 Job (Ayub) Bathaniyyah, Damascus, Adoum 46, 38, 58 20 Isaiah (Dhul-Kifl) Mt. Qasiyun (Damascus) 56 21 Jonah (Yunus) Jaffa, Aleppo, Nasibain, Minawa (Mosul) 50, 57, 63, 68 22 Zachariah (Zakariyya) Jerusalem, Aleppo 33, 57 23 John(Yahya) Jerusalem, Damascus 33, 38 24 Jesus (’Isa) Bethlehem, Nazareth, Gaza, Farma, Heliopolis, Jordan River, Jerusalem 34, 36, 40, 43, 29, 51, 33 25 Muhammad Makkah, Syria, Taif, Jerusalem, Al-Aqabah, Madinah, Badr, Uhud, Hudaibiyah, Khaibar, Hunayun, Tabuk, Mina, Muzdalefa, Arafat 1, 74, 11, 33, 60, 2, 9, 8, 10, 13, 12, 15, 4, 5, 6





Place Location Place Location Makkah 1 Hebron 35 Kabah M1 Nazareth 36 Station of Abraham M2 Ramlah 37 ZamZam M3 Damascus 38 Safa M4 Dead Sea 39 Marwa M5 Gaza 40 Cave Hira M6 Faddan 41 Madinah 2 B'ir Sheva 42 Jeddah 3 Farma 43 Mina 4 Bait Dajan 44 Muzdalefa 5 Balabak 45 Arafat 6 Bathaniyyah 46 Mt. Thawr 7 Red Sea 47 Uhud 8 Ashdod 48 Badr 9 Asqalan (Valley of Ants) 49 Hudaibiyah 10 Jaffa 50 Taif 11 Jordan River 51 Hunayan 12 Harran 52 Khaibar 13 Jal'ad 53 Mutah 14 Sodom and Gomorrah 54 Tabuk 15 Sughar 55 Al-Aikah (Tabuk) 16 Mt. Qasiyun (Damascus) 56 Mt. Tur 17 Aleppo 57 Midian 18 Adoum 58 Al-Ahqaf 19 Abu Ghush 59 Najran 20 Al-Aqabah 60 People of Ad 21 Mt. Haur 61 People of Thamud 22 Mt. Nibu 62 Madain Saleh 23 Nasibain 63 Hadramawt 24 Babylon 64 Sana 25 People of Noah (Kufah) 65 Marib (Yemen) 26 Ur 66 Queen Bilqis 27 Urfa 67 Cairo 28 Minawa (Mosul) 68 Heliopolis 29 Antakiya 69 Manf (Egypt) 30 Istanbul 70 Al-Gizah 31 Tashkent 71 San Al-Hajar 32 Mt. Judi 72 Jerusalem 33 Sinai 73 Al-Aqsa Masjid J1 Syria 74 Dome of the Rock J2 India 75 Bethlehem 34 Sri Lanka 76

Life of Prophet Muhammad Year Event * Age 570 Birth of Prophet Muhammad at Makkah (March / April). His father Abdullah died several months before he was born. He was raised by Halimah as wet-mother according to Makkah's tradition. 0 576 Death of Aminah (Prophet's mother). Muhammad was taken care by his grandfather Abd Al-Muttalib. 6 578 Death of Abd Al-Muttalib. Then Muhammad grew up under the protective care of his uncle Abu Talib. 8 582 Journey to Syria with uncle Abu Talib. 12 582-94 Worked as a shepherd for his uncle and later as a merchant. He lived a simple life. He was compassionate to the poor, widow, and orphans. He volunteered in many community activities. People of Makkah named him 'Al-Siddiq (the Truthful)' and 'Al-Ameen (the Trustworthy)' due to his honesty and good character. Acted as a business agent for Khadijah, a business woman of Makkah. Muhammad carried goods to the north and returned with a profit. 12-24 595 Impressed by Muhammad's honesty and character, Khadijah (who was a widow) proposed for marriage and eventually they got married. He was 25, she was 40. 25 609 Kabah was rebuilt by the people of Quraish. Muhammad helped to resolve disputes between the tribes. 39 610 First revelation came (August) to Muhammad at Cave Hira with a message (verses 96:1-5) from Allah by the Angel Gabriel. 40 610-13 Received several verses during this period and later they were compiled to become part of the Qur'an. He was belittled, ridiculed, then persecuted and physically attacked by the people of Makkah for his message of 'Oneness' of Allah, departing from the traditional tribal ways, including idol worshipping at the Kabah. 40-43 615 Muslims emigrated to Abyssinia to avoid sufferings / persecution from the people of Makkah. The king Negus offered asylum. 45 617-20 Embargo and boycott of Prophet's family by the people of Quraish. 47-50 620 Death of Abu Talib, Prophet's uncle. Death of Khadijah, Prophet's wife. The Quraish tried to assassinate him. Journey to Taif. Talked with the community leaders and people to convey his message. They rejected and stoned him to injury. 50 621 Ascension of Prophet Muhammad on the night of Meraj with angel Gabriel. The journey took him from Makkah to Jerusalem and then through the 7 heavens. Allah showed him all the activities, features of heaven and hell. He was then returned to Makkah with full knowledge, so he was able to describe everything. First Pledge of Al-Aqabah (between the prophet and 12 people from Madinah). They swore allegiance to him. 51 622 Second Pledge of Al-Aqabah (between the prophet and 75 people from Madinah). They swore to defend him. Emigration to Madinah (July). Established Quba Masjid as the first Masjid of Islam. Treaty with Jews and non-Muslims in Madinah with equal rights of citizenship and full religious liberty. Expedition of Hamza (December). 52 623 Expedition of Ubaidah (February); Al-Kharrar Expedition (March); Marriage to Aisha (April); Al-Abwa' Expedition (June); Buwat Expedition (July); Safawan Expedition (First Badr) (July); Ushairah Expedition (October). 53 624 Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah (January) when he received the commandment of Allah while he was praying at the Masjid known as the Masjid Al-Qiblatain. Batn Nakhlah Expedition (January); Badr Expedition (March). Salim bin Umair Expedition (April); Banu Qainuqa' Expedition (April); Marriage of Prophet's daughter Fatimah to Ali (June); Sawiq Expedition (June); Bani Sulaim (Al-Kudr) Expedition (July); An-Nadir Expedition (September); Dhi Amar Expedition (September); Buhran Expedition (November); Al-Qaradah Expedition (December) 54 625 Uhud Expedition (March); Hamra' Al-Asad Expedition (April) 55 626 Abu Salamah Expedition (July); Abdullah bin Unais Expedition (July); Dhatur-Riqa' Expedition (July); Al-Mundhir bin Amr (August); Raji Expedition (August); Daumatul-Jandal Expedition (August); Banu An-Nadir Expedition (September). 56 627 Banu Mustaliq Expedition (January); Ahzab Expedition (Trench around Madinah to defend the city) (February - March); Banu Quraizah Expedition (April); Second Badr Expedition (May); Al-Qurata Expedition (June); Banu Lihyan Expedition (August); Dhu Qarad Expedition (August); Ghamr Expedition (August); Dhul-Qassah Expedition (September); Dhul Qassah (Abu Ubaidah) Expedition (September); Zaid bin Harith 5 Expeditions (August / 627 - February / 628). 57 628 Daumatul-Jandal (Abdul Rahman bin Awf) Expedition (January); Fadak Expedition (January); Khaibar: (Abdullah bin Atik) Expedition (February), (Abdullah bin Rawaha) Expedition (March); 'Urainah Expedition (March); Ad-Damri Expedition; Treaty of Hudaibiyah between the Quraish of Makkah and Muslims (April). The Prophet Muhammad and Muslims returned to Madinah without Umrah as a part of the treaty with a provision to return to Makkah next year for Umrah. Makkans breached the treaty a year later. Invitation letters to Kings and world leaders (April - May) of Abyssinia, Bahrain, Persia, Jerusalem (Roman King), Alexandria, Oman, Yamamah, Damascus. See attached map later. Khaibar Expedition (May - June). 58 629 Turabah (Umar bin Khattab) Expedition (January); Najd Expedition (Abu Bakr) (January); Fadak Expedition (Bashir bin Sa'd) (January); Mayf'ah Expedition (January); Yamn and Jabar Expedition (January). Performance of missed Umrah (Umratul-Qada') (April). Banu Sulaim Expedition (May); Kadid and Fadak Expedition (July); Al-Asadi Expedition (August); Dhat Atla Expedition (August); Mutah Expedition (October); Dhatus-Salasil Expedition (November); Al-Khabt Expedition (December) 59 630 Abu Qatadah Expedition (January); Victory of Makkah (January); The Prophet entered Makkah with 10,000 Muslims without any bloodshed. The Makkans joined the Muslims after they saw no revenge or retaliation rather he announced general amnesty to all the enemies and treated the citizens of the city with generosity. Nakhlah (Khalid bin Al-Walid) Expedition (January); Suwa-Banu Hudhail (Amr bin Al-'Aas) Expedition (January); Al-Mushallal (Sa'd bin Zaid) Expedition (January); Banu Jadhimah (Khalid bin Al-Walid) Expedition (February). Hunain Expedition (February); At-Taif Expedition (February). Birth of Ibrahim (Prophet's son) (March); Banu Tamim Expedition (May); Tabalah Expedition (June); Dahhak Al-Kilabi Expedition (July); Jeddah Expedition (August); Ali bin Abi Talib (August); Al-Asadi Expedition (August). Death of Negus, King of Abyssinia (October). Tabuk Expedition (October - December). 60 631 Death of Ibrahim (Prophet's son) (January). Hajj Pilgrimage led by Abu Bakr (March). Najran Expedition by Khalid (July). 61 632 Yemen Expedition by Ali (January); Last Revelation (February - March). Farewell Pilgrimage to Makkah and thousands of Muslims joined (February - March). Last Sermon at Arafat (March); Usamah Expedition (June). 62 632 Death of Prophet Muhammad (June). He was buried in the Masjid in Madinah. During the last 10 years of his life, he Ø destroyed idolatry in Arabia; Ø raised the status of women to legal equality with men; Ø stopped drunkenness and immorality in the society; Ø made people live with faith, sincerity and honesty; transformed the nation from the ignorance of darkness into fully knowledgeable societies. Ø His mission transformed a society from all forms of injustice into universal human brotherhood as servants of Allah. Within 100 years, Islam and his way of life had spread from the remote corners of Arabia to as far east as Indo-China and as far west as Morocco, France, and Spain. He is the LAST messenger for the entire world from the SAME Allah of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The Qur'an is the FINAL REVELATION. 62+

* Prophet Muhammad participated in expeditions in Bold.









The Last Sermon of the Prophet Muhammad

(This Sermon was delivered at Arafat in March, 632 CE)

After praising and thanking Allah, he said:

O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, just as you regard this month, this day, and this city as sacred; so regard the life and property of every Muslim as a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and He will indeed reckon your deeds. Allah has forbidden you to take usury (interest); therefore all interest obligations shall henceforth be waived. Your capital, however, is yours to keep. You will neither inflict nor suffer inequity. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all the interest due to Abbas ibn 'Abd'al Muttalib shall henceforth be waived. Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived and the first such right that I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabiah ibn al Harith.

O People, the unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calendar in order to make permissible that which Allah forbade, and to forbid that which Allah has made permissible. With Allah, the months are 12 in number. 4 of them are holy, 3 of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumada and Sha’ban. Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then they have the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to be unchaste.

O People, listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford it. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over another except by piety and good action. Remember, one day you will appear before Allah and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O People, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O People, and understand my words which I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Qur’an and my example, the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness O Allah that I have conveyed Your message to Your people.





The History of Compilation of the Qur'an**

During the life of the Prophet Muhammad (570 - 632 CE)

The Prophet used to recite the Qur'an before angel Gabriel once every Ramadan, and he recited it twice (in the same order as we have today) in the last Ramadan before his death.

Each verse received was recited by the Prophet, and its location relative to other verses and chapters was identified by him.

The verses were written by scribes, selected by the Prophet, on any suitable object - the leaves of trees, pieces of wood, parchment or leather, flat stones, and shoulder blades. Scribes included Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Mu'awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan, Ubey Ibn Ka'ab, and Zayed Ibn Thabit. Some of the companions wrote the Qur'an for their own use. Several hundred companions memorized the Qur'an by heart.

During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr (632 - 634 CE)

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab urged Abu Bakr to preserve and compile the Qur'an. This was prompted after the battle of Yamamah, where heavy casualties were suffered among those who memorized the Qur'an.

Abu Bakr entrusted Zayed with the task of collecting the Qur'an. Zayed had been present during the last recitation of the Qur'an by the Prophet to Angel Gabriel.

Zayed, with the help of the companions who memorized and wrote verses of the Qur'an, accomplished the task and handed Abu Bakr the first authenticated copy of the Qur'an. The copy was kept in the residence of Hafsah, daughter of Umar and wife of the Prophet.

During the Caliphate of Uthman (644 - 656 CE)

Uthman ordered Zayed Ibn Thabit, Abdullah Ibn Al Zubayr, Saeed Ibn Al-Aas, and Abdur-Rahman Ibn Harith to make perfect copies of the authenticated copy kept with Hafsa due to the rapid expansion of the Islamic state and concern about differences in recitation.

Copies were sent to various places in the Muslim world. The original copy was returned to Hafsa, and a copy was kept in Madinah.

Three stages of dotting and diacritization

Dots were put as syntactical marks by Abu Al-Aswad Al Doaly, during the time of Mu'awiya Ibn Abi Sufian (661-680 CE).

The letters were marked with different dotting by Nasr Ibn Asem and Hayy ibn Ya'mor, during the time of Abd Al-Malek Ibn Marawan (685-705 CE).

A complete system of diacritical marks (damma, fataha, kasra) was invented by Al Khaleel Ibn Ahmad Al Faraheedy (d. 786 CE).

**University of Southern California - MSA

Original copies of the Qur’an still exist: (1) Tashkent, Uzbekistan, (2) Istanbul, Turkey.