Zayd ibn Thabit (RA): Scholar and Compiler of Quran
Zayd ibn Thabit (RA) was born in Madinah eleven years before the Hijrah (around 611 CE). He belonged to the tribe of Banū al-Najjār, relatives of the Prophet’s maternal family.
When the Prophet ﷺ migrated to Madinah, Zayd was still a young boy of around 11 years old, yet his intelligence and eagerness to learn made him stand out. His mother, al-Nawwār bint Mālik, took him to the Prophet ﷺ soon after the Hijrah and said:
“O Messenger of Allah, this is my son Zayd — he knows seventeen sūrahs of the Qur’an.”
The Prophet ﷺ was impressed by the young boy’s intelligence and purity of heart. He accepted him into his circle, and Zayd became one of the youngest companions to serve the Prophet ﷺ directly.
Learning Languages for the Prophet ﷺ
Recognizing Zayd’s sharp mind, the Prophet ﷺ assigned him an extraordinary task — to learn foreign languages so that he could correspond with various tribes and nations.
Zayd ibn Thabit (RA) narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah ordered me to learn the writing of the Jews. I learned it within half a month. Then I used to write to them on his behalf and read their letters when they wrote to him.”
Some narrations mention he also learned Syriac and Coptic, becoming fluent in multiple languages. This made him the Prophet’s official scribe and translator, responsible for recording treaties, correspondence, and most importantly — revelation.
Scribe of the Qur’an
Zayd ibn Thabit (RA) held one of the most honored positions in the early Muslim community — he was among the primary scribes of the Qur’an. Whenever a verse was revealed, the Prophet ﷺ would call upon Zayd and instruct him to write it down, dictating its exact place within the surahs.
He said:
“We used to compile the Qur’an in the presence of the Prophet ﷺ from parchment, scapula bones, palm leaves, and pieces of leather.”- Al-Bukhārī
Through this role, Zayd memorized the Qur’an directly from the Prophet ﷺ and was among the few companions who memorized it completely during the Prophet’s lifetime. The Prophet ﷺ often praised his knowledge, saying:
“He is the most knowledgeable of my Ummah concerning the laws of inheritance (farāʾiḍ).”
(al-Tirmidhī, 3790)
Compilation of the Qur’an under Abū Bakr (RA)
After the Prophet’s ﷺ death, during the caliphate of Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq (RA), a major battle took place at Yamāmah, in which many Qur’an memorizers were martyred. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (RA) feared that parts of the Qur’an might be lost and urged Abū Bakr RA to compile it into a single manuscript.
Abū Bakr entrusted this monumental task to none other than Zayd ibn Thābit (RA), saying:
“You are a wise young man, and we do not suspect you of any fault. You used to write revelation for the Messenger of Allah. So collect it and compile it.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 4986)
Zayd described the gravity of this mission:
“By Allah, if they had ordered me to move a mountain, it would not have been more difficult than collecting the Qur’an.”
(al-Bukhārī, 4987)
He meticulously gathered the Qur’anic verses from written materials and from the hearts of men, verifying each verse through two witnesses — one written and one memorized source. The final compiled manuscript, known as the Muṣḥaf of Abū Bakr, was preserved first with the Caliph, then with ʿUmar (RA), and later with Ḥafṣah bint ʿUmar (RA).
Standardization of the Qur’an under ʿUthmān (RA)
During the caliphate of ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān (RA), Islam had spread across vast regions, and differences in Qur’anic recitation began to emerge among non-Arab converts. ʿUthmān decided to standardize the text based on the dialect of Quraysh — the dialect of the Prophet ﷺ — to prevent disputes.
Once again, he chose Zayd ibn Thābit (RA) to lead a committee consisting of ʿAbdullāh ibn al-Zubayr, Saʿīd ibn al-ʿĀṣ, and ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ḥārith ibn Hishām.
“ʿUthmān said to the three Quraysh men and Zayd: ‘If you disagree about anything in the Qur’an, write it in the dialect of Quraysh, for it was revealed in their language.’”
(al-Bukhārī, 4987)
The resulting Uthmānic Muṣḥaf was the standard copy from which all later Qur’ans were reproduced and distributed to major Islamic centers like Kufa, Basra, and Damascus. This monumental effort ensured the preservation of the Qur’an exactly as it was revealed — a task for which Zayd ibn Thābit (RA) holds immense credit.
Scholarship and Legal Expertise
Beyond his service as a scribe, Zayd was among the leading jurists and scholars of the companions. The Prophet ﷺ personally instructed him in the laws of inheritance (ʿilm al-farāʾiḍ), saying:
“The most knowledgeable of you concerning inheritance is Zayd ibn Thābit.”
(al-Tirmidhī, 3790; Ibn Mājah, 2710)
ʿUmar (RA) and ʿUthmān (RA) frequently consulted him on legal matters. He also served as a qāḍī (judge) in Madinah during ʿUthmān’s caliphate, and his rulings became a foundation for early Islamic jurisprudence.
Zayd was also among the teachers of great scholars such as ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās, Abū Hurayrah, and Ibn ʿUmar, influencing the next generation of Islamic scholarship.
Character and Later Life
Zayd (RA) was known for his humility, wisdom, and devotion. When ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (RA) once held the reins of his camel out of respect, Zayd said, “Let go, O cousin of the Messenger of Allah.” Ibn ʿAbbās replied, “This is how we honor our scholars.” Zayd responded, “This is how we honor the family of our Prophet.”
He passed away in Madinah around 45 AH (665 CE), during the caliphate of Muʿāwiyah ibn Abī Sufyān (RA). When he died, Abū Hurayrah (RA) wept and said:
“Today, the scholar of this Ummah has passed away.”
Legacy
Zayd ibn Thābit (RA) was a genius of the early Muslim community — the compiler of the Qur’an, the master of inheritance law, and the Prophet’s personal scribe. His contributions safeguarded the Qur’an for all generations, fulfilling Allah’s promise:
“Indeed, We have sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will be its Guardian.”
(Qur’an, 15:9)
Through Zayd’s meticulous scholarship and devotion, the words of revelation were preserved with perfect accuracy — a legacy that continues to shape the faith and worship of over a billion Muslims today.
