Write about the way in which the Qur'an was compiled after the Prophet's death.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [10] (a) Use the AO1 Mark Grid. A comprehensive answer will provide an account of the main events in the compilation, mentioning the key figures and the roles they played.
2. [Content] During the time of the Prophet (pbuh) the Qur'an was written on pieces of animal skin and on parts of bone but was mainly memorised by the companions. During Abu Bakr's caliphate, many companions who had memorised the Qur'an died at the Battle of Yamama.
3. [Content] 'Umar, worried that the words of the Qur'an would be lost due to companions dying of old age/in battle, suggested to Abu Bakr that the Qur'an should be compiled into one book.
4. [Content] Abu Bakr hesitated to say he could not do something the Prophet (pbuh) had not done; he eventually agreed and called Zayd ibn Thabit to collect all the verses that had been written.
5. [Content] Zayd was a hafiz himself, yet he only included a verse into the master copy once he had verified its authenticity. 'Umar was part of the process of collecting parts of the mus'haf from companions.
6. [Content] The verses were written in the order that the Prophet (pbuh) had given, but the suras were written on separate sheets; this copy was verified by the committee and was kept with Abu Bakr during his lifetime, after which it passed to 'Umar, and then to 'Umar's daughter Hafsa.
7. [Content] During 'Uthman's time as caliph, Islam had spread to other areas. Hudhaifa reported to 'Uthman that people in different areas, in particular in Armenia and Azerbaijan, were reciting the Qur'an in a different dialect.
8. [Content] 'Uthman summoned Zayd and with other companions they set about compiling one book in the Qurayshi dialect, using the mus'haf of Hafsa. 'Uthman then checked and approved the final version. This new copy was sent around the various provinces of the expanding Muslim world. He ordered for any other copies to be collected and burnt. For this he is known as 'Jami al-Qur'an'.
9. [4] (b) The Qur'an in written form helps Muslims all over the world to have a uniform text. Even those who do not speak Arabic can read it and get the rewards.
10. [Content] They can refer to specific passages with ease.
11. [Content] The availability of the written form of the Qur'an digitally, gives easy access to Muslims.