The Effect of the Last Presentation on the Collection of the Quran
The last presentation of the Holy Qur’an was the reference and basis for the reading of the companions of the Prophet, as it was the criterion between them if they disputed about something in the Book of God, and when they wanted to collect the Holy Qur’an, it was also the basis for this collection, as they agreed to write what they were certain was the established Qur’an in the last presentation, and they left everything else. (33)
We have already passed in the previous section some of the traces that indicate that the reading that people read - which is the reading on which the Qur’an was collected - is what was presented in the last presentation, and this is evidence of the effect of this last presentation on the collection of the Qur’an. (34)
Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Salami said: The reading of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Zaid bin Thabit, the Muhajireen and the Ansar was one, they used to read the general reading, which is the reading that the Messenger of God read to Gabriel twice in the year in which he died. (35)
He also said: Zaid bin Thabit read to the Messenger of God twice in the year in which God took him, and this reading was called the reading of Zaid bin (36)
Al-Baghawi (37) said: It is said that Zaid bin Thabit witnessed the final presentation, in which what was abrogated and what remained were explained. (38)
On the authority of Muhammad bin Sirin, on the authority of Katheer bin Aflah, he said: When Uthman wanted to write the Qur’an, he gathered twelve men from Quraysh and the Ansar, among them Ubayy bin Ka’b and Zaid bin Thabit. He said: So they sent to the four who were in Umar’s house, and they were brought. He said: Uthman used to look after them, and if they disputed about something, they would delay it. Muhammad said: So I said to Katheer - who was among those who wrote: Do you know why they delayed it? He said: No. Muhammad said: So I thought that they were only delaying it to look for the one who had the most recent experience with the last presentation, so they could write it according to what he said. (39)
Thus, this presentation was the mainstay of this nation in knowing the Qur’an, as it collected what was proven to be recited from the Wise Book, and brought out what was proven to be abrogated.
(33) Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Quran (1/142).
(34) See: Al-Ahruf al-Sab’ah wa-Duzlat al-Qira’at minha, pp. 270-271.
(35) Sharh al-Sunnah by Imam al-Baghawi (4/525), and see al-Burhan fi Ulum al-Quran (1/237).
(36) Sharh al-Sunnah by Imam al-Baghawi (4/525-526), and see al-Burhan fi Ulum al-Quran (1/237).
(37) Sheikh, Imam, role model, preserver, Sheikh of Islam, reviver of the Sunnah, Abu Muhammad al-Husayn ibn Masud al-Farra’ al-Baghawi al-Shafii, the interpreter, author of many books. He was an imam in jurisprudence and interpretation, an ascetic who was content with little. He died in the year 516 AH. Seerah A`lam al-Nubala’ (19/439), and Shudharat al-Dhahab (4/48).
(38) Sharh al-Sunnah (4/525).
(39) Narrated by Ibn Abi Dawud in the Book of the Qur’ans, Chapter on Uthman’s Collection of the Qur’ans, may God have mercy on him, p. 33.