Though the Holy Qur'an was
revealed in portions, yet it is a mistake to suppose that it remained long
in that fragmentary condition. As its very name implies, it was a book
from the first, and though it could not be complete until the last verse
was revealed, it was never without some form of arrangement. There is the
clearest testimony, internal as well as external that every single verse
or part of a verse and every chapter that was revealed had its own definite
place in the Holy Book. The Holy Qur'an is itself clear on this
point: `And those who disbelieve say: Why has not the Qur'an been
revealed to him all at once? Thus, that We may establish thy heart by it,
and We have arranged it well in arranging' (25:32).
The arrangement of the Qur'an was
thus a part of the Divine scheme. Another verse showing that the collection
of the Holy Book was a part of the Divine scheme runs thus: `Surely on
Us devolves the collecting of it and reciting of it' (75:17) from which
it appears that just as the Holy Qur'an was recited by Gabriel to
the Prophet (sws), in like manner, the collecting together of the various
parts was effected by the Prophet (sws) under the guidance of Gabriel.
History also bears testimony to the truth of this statement, for not only
are there numerous anecdotes showing that this or that portion of the Qur'an
was put to writing under the orders of the Prophet (sws), but we are
clearly told by Uthman (rta) the third caliph, that every portion
of the Holy Book was written at a specified place at the bidding of the
Prophet (sws): `It was customary with the messenger of Allah that when
a portion of different chapters was revealed to him, and when any verse
was revealed, he would call one of those persons who used to write the
Holy Qur'an and say to him: Write this verse in the chapter where
such and such verses occur'. In this way the whole Qur'an was arranged
under guidance of Gabriel by the Prophet (sws) himself.
|