Part 2 – Zikr and Quran from Sunni Books: The harsh Reality

Part 2 – Zikr and Quran from Sunni Books: The harsh Reality

Introduction

Part 2 of our Zikr and Qurran series explores the historical events during Uthman ibn Affan's compilation of the Quran, as recorded in Sunni sources.

While the Quran is revered as Allah's message, the process of standardizing it for the first time involved several steps. Abdullah ibn Masood (RA), a companion with deep knowledge of the Quran, had his own copies and understanding of Quran, which differed from the version compiled under Uthman (RA).

This article examines:

Mistakes in Uthman's compilation

The treatment of Abdullah ibn Masood (RA) and the copies of Quran

The first official publication burning of Quran copies—the hard truth that Allah's words were first time burned in Islamic history by Muslims

By analyzing Sunni historical sources, we aim to present a historical fact-based and logical perspective on these events, as the second part of this series.

Mistakes in Uthman's Compilation

During the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan (RA), the Quran was compiled into a single version for the first time. While (people says) the goal was to unify the text, But the process contained several unacceptable mistakes:

Committee with Limited Knowledge

Uthman appointed a committee to compile the Quran, but many of its members did not have the deep knowledge of the Quran that companions like Abdullah ibn Masood (RA) possessed.

This meant that many recitations and details known to the Prophet's companions were overlooked or simplified.

Top 5 Companions with Deep Quran Knowledge (based on historical Sunni sources):

Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS) – mastered Quran interpretation and memorization

Abdullah ibn Masood (RA) – extensive knowledge of Quran, memorized and wrote personal copies

Ubayy ibn Kab (RA) – recognized for deep understanding and recitation

Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA) – expert in Quranic commentary and explanation

Huzaifa ibn Al-Yaman (RA) – knowledgeable about Quran and practical application

These companions had superior knowledge compared to most members of Uthman's committee, highlighting the limitations of the official compilation process.

Treatment of Abdullah ibn Masood (RA)– His Copies and Knowledge

Abdullah ibn Masood (RA) was one of the companions with exceptional knowledge of the Quran.

He had personal copies and had memorized the Quran thoroughly, including verses not included in the Uthmanic version.

His understanding of recitation, context, and interpretation was deeper than most members of Uthman's committee.

Surah and verses not in copies of ibn Masood (RA) , some surah and verses missing in Uthmanic version

Surah Al-Fatiha

Surah Al-Baqarah

Surah Al-Tawbah

Surah Al-Kafirun

Surah Al-Nasr

Surah Al-Fil

Surah Al-Ikhlas

Surah Al-Masad

What He Told His People

Ibn Masood (RA) warned his followers about the version compiled by Uthman (RA).

He advised them to preserve the original copies and recitations that he had, as they contained more complete and accurate details.

Historical Sunni sources mention that he expressed concern over some verses being omitted or altered during standardization.

✅ Observation:

The treatment of Abdullah ibn Masood (RA) highlights a key fact:

the Uthmanic compilation did not fully capture all variations known to the companions, and some of the earliest Quranic knowledge was effectively sidelined.

First Official Publication and Burning of Copies(Quran)

During Uthman ibn Affan's caliphate, the Quran newly compiled version were sent to major Islamic regions.

To enforce uniformity, all other existing copies(Quran)—including those held by companions like Abdullah ibn Masood (RA)—were collected and burned. This marks the first time in Islamic history that Allah's words were physically burned, a hard historical fact recorded in Sunni sources.

this action also caused permanent loss of some original textual variations, which had been preserved by companions like Ibn Masood (RA). Historical records emphasize that this burning was carried out under Uthman's authority,

Critical Question: Is it right to burn Allah's words?

From a logical and factual perspective, burning the words of Allah or the Prophet ﷺ's message is highly problematic.

While the intent was standardization, the act physically destroyed parts of Allah's revelation known to earlier companions.

This action also sets a precedent: even today, Quranic copies are desecrated or burned(we can see in west and even Muslims) , showing how the original act led to ongoing risks of disrespect.

sunni historical books

Tarikh al-Tabari — by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari

Al-Masahif — by Ibn Abi Dawood

Tarikh al-Khulafa — by Al-Suyuti

Series Context and Next Steps

This article is Part 2 of the “Zikr and Quran” series, which aims to explore the history, preservation, and compilation of the Quran using historical sources, facts, and logical analysis.

What the Next Parts Will Cover:

Hadiths and Narrations about Preservation

Sunni and Shia sources regarding the preservation of Allah's message (Zikr)

Narrations about memorization, written copies, and transmission

Conclusion

In this article, we examined Uthman ibn Affan's compilation of the Quran and the role of companions like Abdullah ibn Masood (RA).

Allah promised to protect His message (Zikr), not every physical copy.

Uthman's created a unified text, but many original copies and variations were lost.

The burning of other copies was a critical turning point, raising questions about respecting Allah's words.

This is Part 2 of the “Zikr and Quran” series, which will continue to explore Sunni and Shia narrations, historical analysis, and the difference between divine message preservation and physical standardization.

Part 1: Allah’s Promise – Did He Take Responsibility for the Quran?