How the first revealed chapter of the Quran was revealed

28-4-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu Alaykum, 1-When the angel Gabriel (Jibril) PBUH asked prophet Muhammad PBUH to read the first revealed chapter of the holy Quran and said read, did he have The Quran written on a paper or a tablet? 2- What is the oldest Quran in the world and where is it located? Thank you

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

The angel Jibreel (Gabriel) did not have any written papers when he came down to our Prophet with the revelation and ordered him to recite; rather, Jibreel taught him from what he learnt by heart so that the Prophet would recite after him and follow his recitation.

The statement of the angel Jibreel to the Prophet ‘Recite’ in the Prophetic narration should not constitute a problem for you because recitation [or reading] refers to pronouncing the words – whether it is written words or words that one learnt by heart. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

 

·        {So when We have recited it [through Jibreel], then follow its recitation.} [Quran 75:18]

{So when you recite the Quran, [first] seek refuge in Allaah from Satan, the expelled [from His mercy].} [Quran 16:98], which means that if you want to recite the Quran, say: “I seek refuge in Allaah from the accursed devil". Of course, it is well known that the Prophet was unlettered and he could neither read nor write.

As for the oldest Mus-haf (the Arabic text of the Quran) – as far as we know – it is the Ottoman Mus-haf in Istanbul, Turkey.

Allaah Knows best.