Ibn Khaldun and the Alleged Error of the Companions in the Writing of the Muṣḥaf A Critical Study

Abstract

Since the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet, it has been preserved with great care and dedication. The Ṣaḥābah (may Allah be pleased with them) devoted their most valuable time and efforts to safeguarding the Qur’an. The Ummah accepted the Rasm al-Qur’ān (the script of the Qur’an) that they unanimously agreed upon. This study examines what Ibn Khaldūn stated regarding the writing of the Muṣḥaf, particularly his claim that errors occurred in its transcription due to the Companions’ limited proficiency in writing at the time. The study is divided into several sections: - The first section provides a brief overview of Ibn Khaldūn and the significance of his book: Al-Muqaddimah. - The second section discusses the Companions’ relationship with writing and addresses the accusation that they were unfamiliar with proper orthography, and the claim that the Kuttāb al-Waḥy (scribes of revelation) deliberately introduced errors into the Muṣḥaf. The roots and influence of these accusations are also explored. - The third section refutes the notion that the Tābiʿīn (Successors) perpetuated such errors in the Rasm of the Qur’an out of reverence for the actions of the Companions. - The final section presents discussions and rebuttals that expose the fallacies and contradictions within these claims and among their proponents. The study concludes with several findings, most notably that Ibn Khaldūn was not the first to propose the idea of error in the Rasm al-Muṣḥaf; others had preceded him-either explicitly or implicitly. Ibn Khaldūn, however, is notable for his boldness in directing such criticism toward the scribes of revelation. The proponents of this claim erred significantly by measuring the Rasm of the Qur’an against modern rules of orthography, among other key conclusions demonstrated in this research.