The Compilation of the Holy Qur'an between Traditional Narratives and the Qur'anic Text: A Critical Study from the Perspective of Islamic Theology and Thought

Abstract

This study examines the narrations concerning the compilation of the Holy Qur’an through a critical approach grounded in the Qur’anic text, while employing historical analysis and hadith criticism to evaluate the extent to which these narrations correspond with established historical evidence and Qur’anic principles. The central research problem arises from the divergence of reports regarding the stages pertaining to the Qur’an compilation and the changing semantic scope of the concept of compilation across different historical periods, which has, in turn, contributed to the emergence of diverse theological and intellectual perspectives within Islamic thought.

The importance of this study stems from its critical re-evaluation. of these narrations, its clarification of the concept of the initial compilation of the Qur’an, and its assessment of their consistency with the Qur’anic text, thereby reinforcing confidence in the historical preservation and textual integrity of the Holy Qur’an. The study aims to analyze the reports related to the compilation of the Qur’an, distinguish between their various implications and historical stages, examine their theological and intellectual ramifications, and address the principal research problem together with its subsidiary questions.

To achieve these objectives, the research adopts descriptive, analytical, and critical methodologies. It concludes that treating the Holy Qur’an as the supreme criterion for evaluating historical narrations leads to a more coherent scholarly understanding of the history of the Qur’an’s compilation, while simultaneously strengthening Islamic doctrine and contributing to the development of sound Islamic thought.