Wed 1447/09/15AH (04-03-2026AD)
The Recording of the Qur’an during the Prophet’s lifetime is a key topic in the IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 syllabus. It explains how the Qur’an was preserved through both memorisation and writing while Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was still alive. Students must understand who recorded the Qur’an, how it was recorded, and why this method was reliable.
This topic is often tested in 10-mark and 15-mark questions.
During the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Qur’an was preserved in two main ways:
These two methods worked together to ensure accuracy.
Arab society had a strong tradition of memorisation, and the companions took memorising the Qur’an very seriously.
Key points:
This ensured the Qur’an was firmly preserved in people’s hearts.
The Prophet (pbuh) appointed special companions as scribes (Katib al-Wahy) to write down the revelations.
Famous scribes included:
The Qur’an was written on:
This shows the companions’ dedication, even with limited resources.
Whenever a revelation came:
This ensured:
The Qur’an was not written randomly – it was carefully arranged under the Prophet’s guidance.
The Prophet (pbuh) did not decide the order himself. He was instructed by Angel Jibril where each verse and Surah should be placed.
This shows:
This is very important for exam answers.
No. During the Prophet’s lifetime:
However, it was:
This is why compilation later was possible.
This topic belongs here because it explains:
It shows that the Qur’an was protected from loss or corruption.
This topic is important because it:
For Muslims today, this means:
Students may be asked to:
Typical questions:
The topic Recording of the Qur’an during the Prophet’s lifetime has appeared repeatedly in Paper 1.
It was confirmed in 2020–2022 sessions in questions on Qur’anic preservation.
Describe how the Qur’an was recorded during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and explain why this method of preservation was reliable.
During the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the Qur’an was preserved through both memorisation and writing. The Prophet himself memorised the revelations, and many of his companions also memorised the Qur’an as it was revealed. These companions were known as Huffaz. The Qur’an was regularly recited in prayers and gatherings, which helped to strengthen memorisation.
In addition to memorisation, the Prophet appointed special scribes to write down the revelations. Among these scribes were Zayd ibn Thabit, Ubayy ibn Ka‘b, and Ali ibn Abi Talib. They wrote the verses on materials such as palm leaves, animal skins, bones, and parchment. Whenever a revelation came, the Prophet would recite it to the scribes, who would write it down. He would then check their writing and correct any mistakes.
The Prophet also instructed the scribes where each verse should be placed in the Surah. This ensured that the order of the Qur’an was correct and divinely guided. Angel Jibril also revised the Qur’an with the Prophet every year in Ramadan, which further confirmed its accuracy.
This method of preservation was reliable because it used two strong systems: memorisation and writing. If a mistake was made in writing, it could be corrected by those who had memorised the Qur’an. If someone forgot a verse, it could be checked from the written record. This double system ensured that the Qur’an was preserved accurately.
In conclusion, the Qur’an was carefully recorded and memorised during the Prophet’s lifetime under his supervision. This shows that the Qur’an was protected from the beginning and can be trusted as the true word of Allah.