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During the Battle of Al-Yamaamah - which was mentioned when we talked about Khaalid Ibn Al-
Waliid and Zaid Ibn Al-Khattaab - the number of reciters who died as martyrs was tremendous. The
flames of war had hardly died down when Umar hurried to Caliph Abu Bakr Al-Siddiiq (May Allah be
pleased with him) asking him insistingly to compile the Qur'aan quickly before the remaining reciters
and scribes of the Qur'aan passed away.
The caliph asked Allah for guidance and consulted his companions, then sent for Zaid Ibn Thaabit
and told him, "You're a rational youth, in whom we find no faults." Then he ordered him to begin
compiling the Qur'aan, assisted by people of experience in that matter. Zaid carried on his work, upon
which the whole destiny of Islam as a religion depended.
He stood the test in accomplishing the most difficult and crucial task. He went on compiling the
chapters and verses from the reciters' memories and from the written work comparing , refuting and
investigating until he could gather the whole Qur'aan and put it in order.
His success was attested to by the honorable record of the Companions' consensus (May Allah be
pleased with them). They, especially the scholars, reciters, and scribes, had heard the Qur'aan being
recited by the Prophet (PBUH) during all the different phases of Islam.
Zaid once described the tremendous difficulty which this holy, honorable task represented "By
Allah, if they had asked me to move a whole mountain from its place, it would have been easier than the
task of compiling the Qur'aan which they ordered me to fulfill"
Indeed, to carry a whole mountain, or several mountains, on his back would have pleased Zaid more
than to make the slightest error in moving a verse or completing a chapter.
His conscience and religion could withstand any error except a mistake such as this, no matter how
tiny or unintentional it may be. However, Allah's guidance accompanied him as well as His promise:
"Indeed! We are the One Who has revealed the Qur'aan, and We will most surely preserve it" (15 : 9).
So he succeeded in accomplishing his work, his duty, and responsibility as well as it could be.
This was the first phase of the compilation of the Qur'aan. However, at that time it had been
compiled and written down in more than one book. Although the little difference between these books
was merely in the pronunciation, experience had proven the necessity of uniting them all in one book.
During the caliphate of `Uthmaan (may Allah be pleased with him) the Muslims continued their
expansions, spreading far from Al-Madiinah.
During those days, Islam received each day groups of new converts embracing Islam, one group
following the other swearing the oath of allegiance. It was becoming more and more obvious what a
danger the variety in the Holy Books might present, especially when different tongues recited the
Qur'aan. Even the dialects of the earlier and later Companions differed.
At that stage, a group of Companions with Hudhaifah Ibn Al Yamaan went to the Caliph `Uthmaan
explaining the necessity to unite the Holy Books into one.
The Caliph asked Allah for His guidance and consulted his Companions. As Abu Bakr Al-Siddiiq
had sought Zaid's aid, so did `Uthmaan.
So, Zaid brought all his companions and assistants together and they brought all the different verses
of the Qur'aan from the house of Hafsah the daughter of `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them), where
they were kept safe. Thereupon Zaid and his comrades started to carry on their great task.