His Suggestion to Safeguard and Compile the Holy Qur’an
As I have mentioned in previous sermons, Hazrat Umar (ra) was the one who gave the suggestion to safeguard and compile the Holy Quran. I shall also mention it here.
With regard to when 70 huffaz [those who committed the Holy Quran to memory] were martyred in the battle of Yamamah during the Khilafat of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Zaid (ra) bin Thabit Ansari relates:
“When 70 huffaz were martyred at Yamamah, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)called me and Hazrat Umar (ra) was also there with him at the time. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)stated, ‘Umar (ra) has come to me saying that many people have been martyred in the Battle of Yamamah, and he fears that more qaris [reciters] of the Quran may die in future battles, and thus many parts of the Holy Quran may be lost, unless you compile the Holy Quran into one form. My advice would therefore be to compile it all into one place.’ Hazrat Umar’s (ra) suggestion was to gather all [the parchments] of the Holy Quran in one place. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)then stated, ‘How can I do something that the Holy Prophet (sa) never did?’ Hazrat Umar (ra) replied, ‘By Allah, this would be a great service on your part.’ Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)then said, ‘Umar (ra) has repeated this to me over and over until Allah the Almighty has opened up my heart to it, and so now I too deem it appropriate what Umar (ra) deems suitable.’” That is to say, it should be compiled.
Hazrat Zaid (ra) bin Thabit then began compiling it.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Tafsir, Bab Qauluh Laqad Ja‘a fikum Rasul min Anfusikum, Hadith 4679)
As I have stated, these details have been mentioned previously as well.