Alan Paton

The Collection and Codification of the Quran Alan Paton

This book examines Muslim tradition and modern scholarship concerning how the Quran came into existence as written pages between two covers. How this happened and how the text was agreed is not always clear and there are different explanations. Muslim tradition is a huge field, and it is a formidable challenge to draw out and understand what it has to say about the collection and codification of the Quran, a subject of great importance. The information is sometimes inconsistent or contradictory involving different caliphs and scholars. Arabian society at the time of the Prophet depended on oral transmission, the word "Quran" means recitation, and Arabic writing was at an early stage of development with fewer symbols, and written words might be read in different ways. Variant readings of the Quran became a concern. The book also explains what we can learn about the early history of the Quran from extant early manuscripts such as the great find at Sanaa in the Yemen and the Birmingham Quran, and the use of radiocarbon dating. The book is for well informed and interested citizens and students who want to have some depth on key topics, while avoiding the need for extensive prior knowledge. It provides an excellent introduction to scholarly work.