TRANSMISSION OF THE WRITTEN TEXT

The Written Text at the Time of the Prophet Muhammad

What is meant by Jam' al-Qur'an?

The general meaning of jam' al-qur'an is to 'bring together the Qur'an'. This was done and has to be understood in two ways:

• Bringing together the Qur'an orally, or in one's mind (hifz).
• Bringing together the Qur'an in written form, or on sheets, or in a book.

Jam' al-qura'n therefore, in the classical literature, has various meanings:

• To learn the Qur'an by heart.
• To write down every revelation.
• To bring together those materials upon which the Qur'an has been written.
• To bring together the reports of people who have memorised the Qur'an.
• To bring together all such sources, both oral and written.