Scribes of the Divine Revelations - BY: Muhammad Shehroz

Scribes of the Divine Revelations

1. Message of Allah was recited to the scribes by the Prophet(S.A.W) to his companions.

1. Scribes of the Holy Prophet(s) were the closest companions. They not only kept the record of the revalations but also wrote letters and treaties as commanded by Holy prophet(s).

1. Written on pieces of leather, tablets of stones, palm leaves and bone
2. Learnt by heart by some companions as well

1. None of these scribes made any addition or ommision in the divine revelation except Abdullah Ibn Saad Ibn Abi Sarah who incurred the displeasure of the holy prophet(s) by making changes in the divine revelations. He was nearly executed at the time of Conquest of makka. There was always a Scribe on hand to write down the revelation or to insert new ones as ordered by Prophet(s).

1. The scribes of the holy prophet(s) assistted him as He could not Read or write.The prophet(s) dictated the revelations recieved by him from time to time and then asked his companions to read out loud what they had written in order to ensure accuracy.They wrote them down in portions on various material includinganimal skins, shoulder bones of camels , palm leaves, stone tablets and pieces of wood etc. it was a practice of the prophet(s) to recite the quran loudly every ramadan in every year, so that the scribes could check their written material for any mistakes.it is also said that at the time of the death of holy prophey s there wer at least 15 copies of Quran but not in compiled form.

1. Have great importance as being the guardians of the Holy Quran

1. The Quran describes them in the following words:      “(Written) by the hands of the scribes- Honourable, Pious and Just” (80: 15-16)

Zaid bin Thabit 

1. Chief scribe
2. belonged to the Khazraj tribe
3. Accepted Islam at the age of 11, before the migration to Madinah
4. Not allowed to take part in battle of badr due to his young age
5. Took part in battle of Trench and Tabuk Expedition
6. Became the secretary of the Prophet(S.A.W) in 3AH
7. Learned person
8. Could speak many languages
9. Learned Herbew for communication with jews:   "Zayd, learn the writing of the Jews for me," instructed the Prophet. "At your command, Messenger of Allah," replied Zayd
10. Among the scholars and jurists
11. Was very intelligent and had a wonderful memory
12. Memorised the Quran
13. Given the duty of compiling the Quran during the reign of Abu Bakr(R.A) in a book form:     Abu Bakr summoned Zayd ibn Thabit and said to him: "You are an intelligent young man and we do not suspect you (of telling lies or of forgetfulness) and you used to write the Divine revelation for Allah's Messenger. Therefore look for (all parts of) the Quran and collect it in one manuscript."
14. He was the first Ansar to swear allegiance to Abu Bakr (R.A)
15. Took part in Battle of Yammamah and wars against Musailmah
16. Appointed as the Qazi of Madina during the time of Hazrat Umar(R.A)
17. Responsible of the public treasury during khalif of Hazrat Usman(R.A)
18. Recompiled the Quran during the lifetime of Hazrat Usman(R.A): Umar ibn al-Khattab once addressed the Muslims and said: "O people, whoever wants to ask about the Quran, let him go to Zayd ibn Thabit."