Allah the Exalted has revealed the Noble Quran in installments rather than in one go for many wise reasons. This situation has provided human beings with many benefits and many important conveniences. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) had many scribes of revelation. The number of these reaches 65 by some accounts. When part of the Noble Quran was revealed, he would call those from among the scribes who were available and would have the revelation recorded in written form.[1] They would write the revealed verses with the writing tools of the time, and then they would read back these writings and have the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) check them.[2]
The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) used to recite the revealed verses first to men and then to women Companions.[3] Muslims also used to memorize the revelation and some of them would keep the revelation with them by writing it down. The revealed verses of the Quran used to be recited in the ritual prayers that were performed five times a day. In the month of Ramadan, the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) and Gabriel (peace be upon him) used to recite the Quran to each other mutually. In the last year of Prophet’s life, they did this twice.[4] During these interchanges some Companions also used to be present and would follow the Quran. After the final interchange of HE Prophet and Gabriel, our Master the Prophet, Zayd bin Saabit and Ubay bin Ka’b (Allah be pleased with them) recited the Quran to each other. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) recited it twice to Ubay bin Ka’b.[5]
On top of these, our Master the Prophet and his companions spent sustained efforts to teach the Quran. Thus, all preparations were being completed for the Noble Quran to take the form of a book, all of which text had been verified.[6]
[1]. Prof. Dr. M. M. el-A‘zami, Kur’ân Tarihi (History of Quran), pp. 106-107.
[2]. Bukhari, Fedâilü’l-Kur’ân, 4; Tirmizî, Menâkıb, 74/3954; Ahmad bin Hanbal, V, 184.
[3]. Ibn-i Ishâk, Sîret, p. 128.
[4]. Bukhari, Bed’ü’l-halk, 6; Fedâilü’l-Kur’ân, 7.
[5]. Mukaddimetân, pub. A. Jeffery, pp. 74, 227; Tâhir el-Cezâirî, et-Tibyân, p. 26.
[6]. In this matter the following books can be consulted: Prof. Dr. M. M. el-A‘zami, The History of the Qur’anic Text from Revelation to Compilation: A Comparative Study with the Old and New Testaments, Leicester: UK Islamic Academy, 2003; M. Hamidullah, Kur’ân-ı Kerîm Tarihi (The History of the Noble Quran) (Introduction Section of Le Saint Coran).