Qualitative and Temporal Rereading of the Collection and Compilation of the Quran

The issue of collection and compilation of the Quran has been a matter of heated debated among Muslims from the early period of Islam as of now with exegetical works and textual reports referring to this at great lengths. Generally speaking, the importance of this topic is due, mainly, to the fact that some individuals and groups have exploited it as an excuse to claim that the present Quran has been tampered with and altered. This article using a descriptive analytical method has examined Allamah Tabatabai's and Ayatollah Javadi Amoli's opinions on the collection and compilation of the holy Book. The findings of this study is that Allamah Tabatabai makes reference to a historical event in which it is said that the Quran was collected and compiled by Zayd at the behest of Abu Bakr. On the whole he is of the view that the verses and chapters of the Quran were collected in three stages: 1- In the lifetime of the Prophet (S); 2. Following the demise of the Prophet (S) by Imam Ali (AS); 3. During the period of Uthman. However, Ayatollah Javadi Amoli rejects these narrations and events saying that that the Quran was collected in the lifetime of the Prophet (S). He presents his justifications to reject the other two stages.