Wed 1447/09/15AH (04-03-2026AD)
The Compilation of the Qur’an under Caliph Abu Bakr (ra) is a major topic in the IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 syllabus. It explains how the Qur’an was collected into a single manuscript after the death of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Students must understand why the compilation was needed, who carried it out, and how it was done.
This topic is very commonly tested in 10-mark and 15-mark questions.
After the death of the Prophet (pbuh), many companions who had memorised the Qur’an took part in battles to defend Islam.
Umar feared that if more Huffaz died, parts of the Qur’an could be lost.
He went to Caliph Abu Bakr (ra) and urged him to compile the Qur’an into one book.
At first, Abu Bakr hesitated because:
“How can I do something the Prophet did not do?”
But after reflection, he realised it was necessary to protect the Qur’an.
Abu Bakr (ra) appointed Zayd ibn Thabit (ra) to lead the compilation.
Why Zayd?
Zayd himself said:
“By Allah, if they had asked me to move a mountain, it would not have been heavier than this task.”
This shows the seriousness of the responsibility.
Zayd followed a strict and careful method:
This method ensured absolute accuracy.
This manuscript became the official reference copy.
❌ No – very important distinction
Examiners love testing this difference.
This topic belongs here because it explains:
This topic is important because it:
For Muslims today, this means:
Students may be asked to:
Common questions:
The topic Compilation under Abu Bakr (ra) appears very frequently in Paper 1. It was confirmed in 2021–2023 sessions in questions on Qur’anic preservation.
Describe the compilation of the Qur’an under Caliph Abu Bakr (ra) and explain why this was important.
After the death of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), many companions who had memorised the Qur’an were killed in the Battle of Yamama. Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) feared that if more Huffaz were martyred, parts of the Qur’an might be lost. He therefore urged Caliph Abu Bakr (ra) to compile the Qur’an into one book.
At first, Abu Bakr was hesitant because the Prophet had not done this, but he later realised it was necessary to protect the Qur’an. He appointed Zayd ibn Thabit (ra), who was a scribe of revelation and had memorised the Qur’an, to carry out the task.
Zayd collected written pieces of the Qur’an from the companions and only accepted a verse if it was written in the presence of the Prophet and confirmed by two reliable witnesses. He also checked every verse against memorisation. The verses were arranged according to the order taught by the Prophet. This careful method ensured complete accuracy.
The result was one complete manuscript of the Qur’an, which was kept with Abu Bakr, then Umar, and then Hafsa (ra). This was the first official compilation of the Qur’an.
This compilation was extremely important because it protected the Qur’an from being lost or altered. It strengthened unity among Muslims and increased confidence in the authenticity of the Qur’an. It also fulfilled Allah’s promise to protect His message.
In conclusion, the compilation under Abu Bakr (ra) was a vital step in preserving the Qur’an and ensuring that Allah’s guidance would remain محفوظ (protected) for future generations.