How did the Qur’an become Islam’s sacred scripture?

According to Islamic tradition, the Qur’an became the sacred scripture of Islam through a series of divine revelations delivered by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad between 610 and 632 CE. Muslims believe the text is the literal speech of God and an earthly reproduction of an eternal, heavenly original.12

Initially, these revelations were preserved through oral recitation and recorded on various materials, such as palm branches and stones. Following the Prophet’s death, concerns arose that the knowledge of the Qur’an might be lost as many who had memorized it were killed in battle. Consequently, a formal collection was initiated under the direction of the caliphs.34

To ensure consistency and prevent divergences in recitation, the third caliph, ‘Uthman, ordered the creation of an official, standardized version of the text. Copies of this recension were distributed throughout the Islamic realm, establishing the Qur’an as the definitive, authoritative scripture for the Muslim community.35