Grand Ayatollah Shirazi: Holy Quran Was Completed During Time of Holy Prophet in Its Current Form

In a daily scholarly session held on Saturday night, the 14th of the blessed month of Ramadan, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Hussaini Shirazi addressed various jurisprudential questions posed by attendees, shedding light on the compilation and completion of the Holy Quran.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi refuted the popular notion that the usurper Caliph Uthman compiled and organized the Quran. The Supreme Marja stated, “This is an incorrect claim. Uthman merely collected the manuscripts that were in the possession of the companions of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure family) and burned them.”

His Eminence emphasized that the Holy Quran was completed during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure family) and was transmitted to us through his companions and others. He added, “The Quran’s authenticity is proven through tawatur (mass transmission), in which justice, reliability, or maturity of the transmitters does not hold importance. If a report is transmitted widely, it leads to certainty.”

The Grand Marja further explained that the Quran was revealed to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure family) in two ways: as a complete revelation at once, which the Prophet memorized in its entirety, and gradually, with verses being revealed in response to specific events and circumstances.

Reiterating the completion of the Quran during the Prophet’s lifetime, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi said, “Narrations from the Prophet (peace be upon him and his pure family) regarding the rewards of completing the recitation of the Quran confirm that it was already complete during his time.”