Abstract
This study critically examines the personal codices (Muṣḥaf) attributed to the Companions ofthe Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in the context of the compilation and preservation of the Qur’an. These codicesrefer to complete written collections of the Qur’an maintained by individual Companions,rather than partial writings of a few verses. During the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم lifetime, revelations wereboth memorized and recorded on various materials such as parchment, leaves, bones, andstones. Prominent scribes, including Zayd ibn Thabit and Abu ibn Ka‘b, meticulouslytranscribed the Qur’an, while other Companions maintained personal copies according totheir capacity and convenience. The research highlights the diversity among these personalcodices, including variations in verse arrangement, calligraphy, brief explanatory notes, andreadings, as well as occasional differences in nasikh and mansukh (abrogated) verses. Despitethese variations, the essential Qur’anic text remained consistent. Following the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلمpassing, Abu Bakr ensured a unified compilation, which was later standardized during CaliphʿUthmān’s reign to prevent discrepancies across the Muslim community. Personal codicesattributed to various Companions, such as ʿAlī, ʿUbayy ibn Ka‘b, and ʿAbdullah ibn Mas‘ūd,either influenced this standardization or were subsequently set aside. This study also addresseshistorical misconceptions raised by Orientalists regarding the destruction of non-standardcodices, emphasizing that the standardization process was based on consensus among theCompanions and preserved the Qur’an’s integrity. By analyzing the content, historical context,and significance of these codices, this research provides a comprehensive understanding of theearly transmission and compilation of the Qur’an, illustrating the crucial role of theCompanions in safeguarding its text.