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ZAID IBN THAABIT
The Compiler of Qur'aan!
If you hold the Holy Qur'aan with your right hand and concentrate your eyes upon it, and go on
applying yourself eagerly and meticulously to its verdant meadows, chapter by chapter, verse by verse,
remember that among those who deserve all gratitude and appreciation for such an accomplishment is a
great venerable called Zaid Ibn Thaabit!
The event of compiling the Qur'aan into one Holy Book is only mentioned in relation with that great
Companion.
When roses of honor are scattered on the day of remembrance of all the blessed ones who deserve
credit for the compilation and preservation of the Qur'aan and putting it into its right order, Ibn Thaabit's
share of those roses will be the greatest.
He was an Ansaar from Al-Madiinah. When the Prophet (PBUH) reached Al-Madiinah in his
Hijrah, Zaid was eleven years old. The young boy embraced Islam together with the Muslims of his clan
and was then blessed by a prophetic supplication of Allah.
His father took him to take part in the Battle of Badr, but the Prophet sent him back because of his
tender age and body.
On the day of Uhud, Zaid went with a group of veterans to the Prophet (PBUH), begging humbly to
be accepted into any of the veteran ranks. Their relatives were more insistent, begging and hoping. The
Prophet (PBUH) took a thankful look at the young horseman, seeming as if he was going to apologize for
not recruiting them in this battle also. However, one of them, Raafi' Ibn Khudaij, approached the Prophet
(PBUH) holding a lance, moving it skillfully with his right hand He then said to the Prophet (PBUH),
"As you can see, I am a spearman. I can throw very well. Please let me!"
The Prophet (PBUH) greeted the mature and energetic young man with a delightful smile, then he
allowed him. The blood burst into the veins of his peers.
The second who approached was Samurah Ibn Jundub, who set off waving with this strong hands so
that some of his relatives said to the Prophet,"Samurah will kill Raafi'." The Prophet (PBUH) greeted
him with a kind smile and allowed him.
Both Samurah and Raafi" were already 15 years old, with strong manly shapes. Six of the young
peers were left, among them Zaid Ibn Thaabit and `Abd Allah Ibn `Umar. They set out to do their best,
humbly begging the first time, weeping and crying the second time, and flexing their muscles the third
time. However, they were too young and their bodies were still unripe, so the Prophet (PBUH) promised
them to take part in the next battle.
That is why Zaid Ibn Thaabit began to play the role of a warrior in the cause of Allah on the Day of
Al-Khandaq, in A.H. 5.
His believing, faithful personality was developing rapidly and amazingly. He was not just proficient
as a warrior but also as an intellectual possessing various different merits. He followed up the Qur'aanic
revelation, learning it by heart, writing it for the Prophet (PBUH), proving to be exquisite in terms of
knowledge and wisdom. When the Prophet (PBUH) began to proclaim his message to the outer world
and to send his messages to kings and emperors, he ordered Zaid to get acquainted with some of their
languages, which is what he actually did in a very short time.