who was one of those who used to write the Divine Revelation: Abu Bakr sent for me after the (heavy) casualties among the warriors (of the battle) of Yamama (where a great number of Qurra' were killed). ʿUmar was present with Abu Bakr who said, ʿUmar has come to me and said, The people have suffered heavy casualties on the day of (the battle of) Yamama, and I am afraid that there will be more casualties among the Qurra' (those who know the Qur'an by heart) at other battle-fields, whereby a large part of the Qur'an may be lost, unless you collect it. And I am of the opinion that you should collect the Qur'an." Abu Bakr added, "I said to ʿUmar, 'How can I do something which Allah's Apostle has not done?' ʿUmar said (to me), 'By Allah, it is (really) a good thing.' So ʿUmar kept on pressing, trying to persuade me to accept his proposal, till Allah opened my bosom for it and I had the same opinion as ʿUmar." (Zaid bin Thabit added:) ʿUmar was sitting with him (Abu Bakr) and was not speaking. me). "You are a wise young man and we do not suspect you (of telling lies or of forgetfulness): and you used to write the Divine Inspiration for Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Therefore, look for the Qur'an and collect it (in one manuscript). " By Allah, if he (Abu Bakr) had ordered me to shift one of the mountains (from its place) it would not have been harder for me than what he had ordered me concerning the collection of the Qur'an. I said to both of them, "How dare you do a thing which the Prophet has not done?" Abu Bakr said, "By Allah, it is (really) a good thing. So I kept on arguing with him about it till Allah opened my bosom for that which He had opened the bosoms of Abu Bakr and ʿUmar. So I started locating Qur'anic material and collecting it from parchments, scapula, leaf-stalks of date palms and from the memories of men (who knew it by heart). I found with Khuzaʿima two Verses of Surat-at-Tauba which I had not found with anybody else, (and they were):-- "Verily there has come to you an Apostle (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty He (Muhammad) is ardently anxious over you (to be rightly guided)" (9.128) The manuscript on which the Qur'an was collected, remained with Abu Bakr till Allah took him unto Him, and then with ʿUmar till Allah took him unto Him, and finally it remained with Hafsa, ʿUmar's daughter.  

أَرْسَلَ إِلَىَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَقْتَلَ أَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ وَعِنْدَهُ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّ عُمَرَ أَتَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ يَوْمَ الْيَمَامَةِ بِالنَّاسِ وَإِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْتَحِرَّ الْقَتْلُ بِالْقُرَّاءِ فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ فَيَذْهَبَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَجْمَعُوهُ وَإِنِّي لأَرَى أَنْ تَجْمَعَ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ قُلْتُ لِعُمَرَ كَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ هُوَ وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ عُمَرُ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِيهِ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ لِذَلِكَ صَدْرِي وَرَأَيْتُ الَّذِي رَأَى عُمَرُ قَالَ زَيْدُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ وَعُمَرُ عِنْدَهُ جَالِسٌ لاَ يَتَكَلَّمُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّكَ رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ وَلاَ نَتَّهِمُكَ كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُ الْوَحْىَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَتَتَبَّعِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاجْمَعْهُ فَوَاللَّهِ لَوْ كَلَّفَنِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ أَثْقَلَ عَلَىَّ مِمَّا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ مِنْ جَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلاَنِ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هُوَ وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ أَزَلْ أُرَاجِعُهُ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ اللَّهُ لَهُ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ فَقُمْتُ فَتَتَبَّعْتُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الرِّقَاعِ وَالأَكْتَافِ وَالْعُسُبِ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ مِنْ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ آيَتَيْنِ مَعَ خُزَيْمَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ لَمْ أَجِدْهُمَا مَعَ أَحَدٍ غَيْرِهِ {لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ} إِلَى آخِرِهِمَا وَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ الَّتِي جُمِعَ فِيهَا الْقُرْآنُ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ  

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq sent for me when the people of Yamama had been killed (i.e., a number of the Prophet's Companions who fought against Musailima). (I went to him) and found ʿUmar bin Al- Khattab sitting with him. Abu Bakr then said (to me), "ʿUmar has come to me and said: "Casualties were heavy among the Qurra' of the Qur'an (i.e. those who knew the Qur'an by heart) on the day of the Battle of Yamama, and I am afraid that more heavy casualties may take place among the Qurra' on other battlefields, whereby a large part of the Qur'an may be lost. Therefore I suggest, you (Abu Bakr) order that the Qur'an be collected." I said to ʿUmar, "How can you do something which Allah's Apostle did not do?" ʿUmar said, "By Allah, that is a good project." ʿUmar kept on urging me to accept his proposal till Allah opened my chest for it and I began to realize the good in the idea which ʿUmar had realized." Then Abu Bakr said (to me). 'You are a wise young man and we do not have any suspicion about you, and you used to write the Divine Inspiration for Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So you should search for (the fragmentary scripts of) the Qur'an and collect it in one book." By Allah If they had ordered me to shift one of the mountains, it would not have been heavier for me than this ordering me to collect the Qur'an. Then I said to Abu Bakr, "How will you do something which Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do?" Abu Bakr replied, "By Allah, it is a good project." Abu Bakr kept on urging me to accept his idea until Allah opened my chest for what He had opened the chests of Abu Bakr and ʿUmar. So I started looking for the Qur'an and collecting it from (what was written on) palme stalks, thin white stones and also from the men who knew it by heart, till I found the last Verse of Surat at-Tauba (Repentance) with Abi Khuzaima Al-Ansari, and I did not find it with anybody other than him. The Verse is: 'Verily there has come unto you an Apostle (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty..(till the end of Surat-Baraa' (at-Tauba) (9.128-129). Then the complete manuscripts (copy) of the Qur'an remained with Abu Bakr till he died, then with ʿUmar till the end of his life, and then with Hafsa, the daughter of ʿUmar.  

أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ إِنَّ عُمَرَ أَتَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ يَوْمَ الْيَمَامَةِ بِقُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ وَإِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْتَحِرَّ الْقَتْلُ بِالْقُرَّاءِ بِالْمَوَاطِنِ فَيَذْهَبَ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَإِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ تَأْمُرَ بِجَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قُلْتُ لِعُمَرَ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ عُمَرُ هَذَا وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ عُمَرُ يُرَاجِعُنِي حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرِي لِذَلِكَ وَرَأَيْتُ فِي ذَلِكَ الَّذِي رَأَى عُمَرُ قَالَ زَيْدٌ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّكَ رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ لاَ نَتَّهِمُكَ وَقَدْ كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُ الْوَحْىَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَتَتَبَّعِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاجْمَعْهُ فَوَاللَّهِ لَوْ كَلَّفُونِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ أَثْقَلَ عَلَىَّ مِمَّا أَمَرَنِي مِنْ جَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلُونَ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ هُوَ وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُرَاجِعُنِي حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ لَهُ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ ؓ فَتَتَبَّعْتُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الْعُسُبِ وَاللِّخَافِ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ مَعَ أَبِي خُزَيْمَةَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ لَمْ أَجِدْهَا مَعَ أَحَدٍ غَيْرَهُ {لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ} حَتَّى خَاتِمَةِ بَرَاءَةَ فَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ حَيَاتَهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ ؓ  

Abu Bakr sent for me owing to the large number of casualties in the battle of Al-Yamama, while ʿUmar was sitting with him. Abu Bakr said (to me), ʿUmar has come to my and said, 'A great number of Qaris of the Holy Qur'an were killed on the day of the battle of Al-Yamama, and I am afraid that the casualties among the Qaris of the Qur'an may increase on other battle-fields whereby a large part of the Qur'an may be lost. Therefore I consider it advisable that you (Abu Bakr) should have the Qur'an collected.' I said, 'How dare I do something which Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do?' ʿUmar said, By Allah, it is something beneficial.' ʿUmar kept on pressing me for that till Allah opened my chest for that for which He had opened the chest of ʿUmar and I had in that matter, the same opinion as ʿUmar had." Abu Bakr then said to me (Zaid), "You are a wise young man and we do not have any suspicion about you, and you used to write the Divine Inspiration for Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So you should search for the fragmentary scripts of the Qur'an and collect it (in one Book)." Zaid further said: By Allah, if Abu Bakr had ordered me to shift a mountain among the mountains from one place to another it would not have been heavier for me than this ordering me to collect the Qur'an. Then I said (to ʿUmar and Abu Bakr), "How can you do something which Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do?" Abu Bakr said, "By Allah, it is something beneficial." Zaid added: So he (Abu Bakr) kept on pressing me for that until Allah opened my chest for that for which He had opened the chests of Abu Bakr and ʿUmar, and I had in that matter, the same opinion as theirs. So I started compiling the Qur'an by collecting it from the leafless stalks of the date-palm tree and from the pieces of leather and hides and from the stones, and from the chests of men (who had memorized the Qur'an). I found the last verses of Sirat-at-Tauba: ("Verily there has come unto you an Apostle (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves--' (9.128-129) ) from Khuzaʿima or Abi Khuzaʿima and I added to it the rest of the Sura. The manuscripts of the Qur'an remained with Abu Bakr till Allah took him unto Him. Then it remained with ʿUmar till Allah took him unto Him, and then with Hafsa bint ʿUmar.  

بَعَثَ إِلَىَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِمَقْتَلِ أَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ وَعِنْدَهُ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّ عُمَرَ أَتَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ يَوْمَ الْيَمَامَةِ بِقُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ وَإِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْتَحِرَّ الْقَتْلُ بِقُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ كُلِّهَا فَيَذْهَبَ قُرْآنٌ كَثِيرٌ وَإِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ تَأْمُرَ بِجَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ هُوَ وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ عُمَرُ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ لَهُ صَدْرَ عُمَرَ وَرَأَيْتُ فِي ذَلِكَ الَّذِي رَأَى عُمَرُ قَالَ زَيْدٌ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَإِنَّكَ رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ لاَ نَتَّهِمُكَ قَدْ كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُ الْوَحْىَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَتَتَبَّعِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاجْمَعْهُ قَالَ زَيْدٌ فَوَاللَّهِ لَوْ كَلَّفَنِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ بِأَثْقَلَ عَلَىَّ مِمَّا كَلَّفَنِي مِنْ جَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلاَنِ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هُوَ وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَحُثُّ مُرَاجَعَتِي حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ اللَّهُ لَهُ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَرَأَيْتُ فِي ذَلِكَ الَّذِي رَأَيَا فَتَتَبَّعْتُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الْعُسُبِ وَالرِّقَاعِ وَاللِّخَافِ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ فَوَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ {لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ} إِلَى آخِرِهَا مَعَ خُزَيْمَةَ أَوْ أَبِي خُزَيْمَةَ فَأَلْحَقْتُهَا فِي سُورَتِهَا وَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَيَاتَهُ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ﷻ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ حَيَاتَهُ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ اللِّخَافُ يَعْنِي الْخَزَفَ  

"From 'Ubaid bin As-Sabbaq, that Zaid bin Thabit narrated to him, he said: 'Abu Bakr As-Siddiq sent for me - (regarding) those killed at Al-Yamamah - and 'Umar bin Al-Khattab was with him. He (Abu Bakr) said: "'Umar came to me and said: The fighting inflicted many casualties among the reciters of the Qur'an on the Day of Al-Yamamah, and I fear that there will be more casualties among the reciters in other parts of the land, such that much of the Qur'an may be lost. In my view, you should order that the Qur'an be collected.'" Abu Bakr said to 'Umar: "How can I do something which was not done my the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" 'Umar said: 'By Allah! It is something good.' 'Umar continued trying to convince me until Allah opened up my chest to that which He had opened the chest of 'Umar, and I saw it as he saw it." Zaid said: 'Abu Bakr said: "You are a young wise man, and we have no suspicions of you. You used to write down the Revelation for the Messenger of Allah as the Qur'an was revealed." He (Zaid) said: 'By Allah! If they had ordered to move one of the mountains it would have been lighter on me than that.' He said: 'I said: "How will you do something which was not done by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" Abu Bakr said: "By Allah! It is something good." Abu Bakr and 'Umar continued trying to convince me, until Allah opened up my chest for that, just as He had opened their chests, the chest of Abu Bakr and the chest of 'Umar. So I began searching for Qur'anic material from parchments, leaf stalks of date-palms and Al-Likhaf - meaning stones - and the chests of men. I found the end of Surah Bara'ah with Khuzaimah bin Thabit: Verily, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is eager for you; for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful. But if they turn away, say: "Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god but He, in Him I put my trust, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne (9:128 & 129).'"  

إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ بِقُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ يَوْمَ الْيَمَامَةِ وَإِنِّي لأَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْتَحِرَّ الْقَتْلُ بِالْقُرَّاءِ فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ كُلِّهَا فَيَذْهَبَ قُرْآنٌ كَثِيرٌ وَإِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ تَأْمُرَ بِجَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِعُمَرَ كَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ هُوَ وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ لَهُ صَدْرَ عُمَرَ وَرَأَيْتُ فِيهِ الَّذِي رَأَى قَالَ زَيْدٌ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّكَ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ لاَ نَتَّهِمُكَ قَدْ كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْوَحْىَ فَتَتَبَّعِ الْقُرْآنَ قَالَ فَوَاللَّهِ لَوْ كَلَّفُونِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ أَثْقَلَ عَلَىَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلُونَ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هُوَ وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِي ذَلِكَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ صَدْرَهُمَا صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ فَتَتَبَّعْتُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الرِّقَاعِ وَالْعُسُبِ وَاللِّخَافِ يَعْنِي الْحِجَارَةَ الرِّقَاقَ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ فَوَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ بَرَاءَةَ مَعَ خُزَيْمَةَ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ ( قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنِتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ * فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ )  

‘Umar has come to me and told me that casualties were heavy at al-Yamamah among the Muslims who knew the Qur'an by heart, and I am afraid that more heavy casualties may take place among the Muslims who know the Qur'an by heart on other battlefields and a large part of the Qur’an may be lost. I ['Umar] think that you [Abu Bakr should issue instructions that the Qur'an be collected. I said to ‘Umar. How can I do anything that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do? He said: By Allah, it is a good thing. And he kept urging me to do that until Allah opened my heart to it and I came around to 'Umar's point of view. Zaid said: And ‘Umar was sitting with him, not speaking. Abu Bakr said: You are a wise young man and we trust you. You used to write down the revelation for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, so collect it. Zaid said: By Allah, if they had ordered me to move a mountain, that would not have been more difficult for me than what they instructed me to do of collecting the Qur'an. I said: How can you do anything that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do?  

أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ مَقْتَلَ أَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ فَإِذَا عُمَرُ عِنْدَهُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّ عُمَرَ أَتَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ بِأَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ مِنْ قُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَأَنَا أَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْتَحِرَّ الْقَتْلُ بِالْقُرَّاءِ فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ فَيَذْهَبَ قُرْآنٌ كَثِيرٌ لَا يُوعَى وَإِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ تَأْمُرَ بِجَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ فَقُلْتُ لِعُمَرَ وَكَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ بِذَلِكَ صَدْرِي وَرَأَيْتُ فِيهِ الَّذِي رَأَى عُمَرُ قَالَ زَيْدٌ وَعُمَرُ عِنْدَهُ جَالِسٌ لَا يَتَكَلَّمُفَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّكَ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ لَا نَتَّهِمُكَ وَقَدْ كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُ الْوَحْيَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَاجْمَعْهُ قَالَ زَيْدٌ فَوَاللهِ لَوْ كَلَّفُونِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ بِأَثْقَلَ عَلَيَّ مِمَّا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ مِنْ جَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ فَقُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلُونَ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟  

"From 'Ubaid bin As-Sabbaq, that Zaid bin Thabit narrated to him, he said: 'Abu Bakr As-Siddiq sent for me - (regarding) those killed at Al-Yamamah - and 'Umar bin Al-Khattab was with him. He (Abu Bakr) said: "'Umar came to me and said: The fighting inflicted many casualties among the reciters of the Qur'an on the Day of Al-Yamamah, and I fear that there will be more casualties among the reciters in other parts of the land, such that much of the Qur'an may be lost. In my view, you should order that the Qur'an be collected.'" Abu Bakr said to 'Umar: "How can I do something which was not done my the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" 'Umar said: 'By Allah! It is something good.' 'Umar continued trying to convince me until Allah opened up my chest to that which He had opened the chest of 'Umar, and I saw it as he saw it." Zaid said: 'Abu Bakr said: "You are a young wise man, and we have no suspicions of you. You used to write down the Revelation for the Messenger of Allah as the Qur'an was revealed." He (Zaid) said: 'By Allah! If they had ordered to move one of the mountains it would have been lighter on me than that.' He said: 'I said: "How will you do something which was not done by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" Abu Bakr said: "By Allah! It is something good." Abu Bakr and 'Umar continued trying to convince me, until Allah opened up my chest for that, just as He had opened their chests, the chest of Abu Bakr and the chest of 'Umar. So I began searching for Qur'anic material from parchments, leaf stalks of date-palms and Al-Likhaf - meaning stones - and the chests of men. I found the end of Surah Bara'ah with Khuzaimah bin Thabit: Verily, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is eager for you; for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful. But if they turn away, say: "Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god but He, in Him I put my trust, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne (9:128 & 129).'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 3103)   

لِي إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ بِأَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْتَحِرَّ الْقَتْلُ فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ فَيَذْهَبُ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ لَا يُوعَى وَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ تَأْمُرَ بِجَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ هُوَ وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي بِذَلِكَ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ لِذَلِكَ صَدْرِي وَرَأَيْتُ فِيهِ الَّذِي رَأَى عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ» وَعُمَرُ جَالِسٌ عِنْدَهُ لَا يَتَكَلَّمُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ «إِنَّكَ رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ لَا نَتَّهِمُكَ وَكُنْتَ تُكْتَبُ الْوَحْيَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَاتَّبِعِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاجْمَعْهُ» قَالَ قَالَ زَيْدٌ فَوَاللَّهِ لَوْ كَلَّفُونِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ بِأَثْقَلَ عَلَيَّ مِمَّا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ مِنْ جَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ وَكَيْفَ تَفْعَلُونَ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «هُوَ وَاللَّهِ خَيْرٌ» فَلَمْ يَزَلْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُرَاجِعُنِي حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ لَهُ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ قَالَ فَقُمْتُ أَتَتَبَّعُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الرِّقَاعِ وَالْأَكْتَافِ وَالْعُسُبِ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ مَعَ خُزَيْمَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ لَمْ أَجِدْهَا مَعَ غَيْرِهِ {لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ} وَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ الَّتِي جَمَعْتُ فِيهَا الْقُرْآنَ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَيَاتَهُ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ  

"From 'Ubaid bin As-Sabbaq, that Zaid bin Thabit narrated to him, he said: 'Abu Bakr As-Siddiq sent for me - (regarding) those killed at Al-Yamamah - and 'Umar bin Al-Khattab was with him. He (Abu Bakr) said: "'Umar came to me and said: The fighting inflicted many casualties among the reciters of the Qur'an on the Day of Al-Yamamah, and I fear that there will be more casualties among the reciters in other parts of the land, such that much of the Qur'an may be lost. In my view, you should order that the Qur'an be collected.'" Abu Bakr said to 'Umar: "How can I do something which was not done my the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" 'Umar said: 'By Allah! It is something good.' 'Umar continued trying to convince me until Allah opened up my chest to that which He had opened the chest of 'Umar, and I saw it as he saw it." Zaid said: 'Abu Bakr said: "You are a young wise man, and we have no suspicions of you. You used to write down the Revelation for the Messenger of Allah as the Qur'an was revealed." He (Zaid) said: 'By Allah! If they had ordered to move one of the mountains it would have been lighter on me than that.' He said: 'I said: "How will you do something which was not done by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" Abu Bakr said: "By Allah! It is something good." Abu Bakr and 'Umar continued trying to convince me, until Allah opened up my chest for that, just as He had opened their chests, the chest of Abu Bakr and the chest of 'Umar. So I began searching for Qur'anic material from parchments, leaf stalks of date-palms and Al-Likhaf - meaning stones - and the chests of men. I found the end of Surah Bara'ah with Khuzaimah bin Thabit: Verily, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is eager for you; for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful. But if they turn away, say: "Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god but He, in Him I put my trust, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne (9:128 & 129).'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 3103)   

لِي إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ بِأَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ مِنْ قُرَّاءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْتَحِرَّ الْقَتْلُ بِالْقُرَّاءِ فِي مَوَاطِنَ فَيَذْهَبُ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ لَا يُوعَى وَإِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ تَأْمُرَ بِجَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ فَقُلْتُ لِعُمَرَ كَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ عُمَرُ هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرِي بِذَلِكَ وَرَأَيْتُ فِيهِ الَّذِي رَأَى عُمَرُ فَقَالَ لِزَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ وَعُمَرُ جَالِسٌ عَنْدَهُ لَا يَتَكَلَّمُ إِنَّكَ رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ لَا أَتَّهِمُكَ وَكُنْتَ تُكْتَبُ الْوَحْيَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَتَتَبَّعِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاجْمَعْهُ فَقَالَ زَيْدٌ فَوَاللهِ لَوْ كَلَّفُونِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ أَثْقَلَ عَلَيَّ مِمَّا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ مِنْ جَمَعِ الْقُرْآنِ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلُونَ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُرَاجِعُنِي حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ لَهُ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ فَقُمْتُ فَتَتَبَّعْتُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الرِّقَاعِ وَالْأَكْتَافِ وَالْأَقْتَابِ وَالْعُسُبِ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ مَعَ خُزَيْمَةَ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ لَمِ أَجِدْهَا مَعَ أَحَدٍ غَيْرِهِ {لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ} «وَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ ؓ حَيَاتَهُ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللهُ ﷻ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ ؓ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ حَتَّى جَمَعَ عُثْمَانُ الْقُرْآنَ مِنْهَا فِي الْمَصَاحِفِ»  

"From 'Ubaid bin As-Sabbaq, that Zaid bin Thabit narrated to him, he said: 'Abu Bakr As-Siddiq sent for me - (regarding) those killed at Al-Yamamah - and 'Umar bin Al-Khattab was with him. He (Abu Bakr) said: "'Umar came to me and said: The fighting inflicted many casualties among the reciters of the Qur'an on the Day of Al-Yamamah, and I fear that there will be more casualties among the reciters in other parts of the land, such that much of the Qur'an may be lost. In my view, you should order that the Qur'an be collected.'" Abu Bakr said to 'Umar: "How can I do something which was not done my the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" 'Umar said: 'By Allah! It is something good.' 'Umar continued trying to convince me until Allah opened up my chest to that which He had opened the chest of 'Umar, and I saw it as he saw it." Zaid said: 'Abu Bakr said: "You are a young wise man, and we have no suspicions of you. You used to write down the Revelation for the Messenger of Allah as the Qur'an was revealed." He (Zaid) said: 'By Allah! If they had ordered to move one of the mountains it would have been lighter on me than that.' He said: 'I said: "How will you do something which was not done by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" Abu Bakr said: "By Allah! It is something good." Abu Bakr and 'Umar continued trying to convince me, until Allah opened up my chest for that, just as He had opened their chests, the chest of Abu Bakr and the chest of 'Umar. So I began searching for Qur'anic material from parchments, leaf stalks of date-palms and Al-Likhaf - meaning stones - and the chests of men. I found the end of Surah Bara'ah with Khuzaimah bin Thabit: Verily, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is eager for you; for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful. But if they turn away, say: "Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god but He, in Him I put my trust, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne (9:128 & 129).'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 3103)   

لِي إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ بِأَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ مِنْ قُرَّاءِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْتَحِرَّ الْقَتْلُ بِالْقُرَّاءِ فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ فَيَذْهَبُ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ لَا يُوعَى وَإِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ تَأْمُرَ بِجَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ فَقُلْتُ لِعُمَرَ كَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ عُمَرُ هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ بِذَلِكَ صَدْرِي وَرَأَيْتُ فِيهِ الَّذِي رَأَى عُمَرُ وَعُمَرُ جَالِسٌ عَنْدَهُ لَا يَتَكَلَّمُ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّكَ رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ وَلَا نَتَّهِمُكَ وَكُنْتَ تُكْتَبُ الْوَحْيَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَاتَّبِعِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاجْمَعْهٌ قَالَ زَيْدٌ «فَوَاللهِ لَوْ كَلَّفَنِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ أَثْقَلَ عَلَيَّ مِمَّا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ مِنْ جَمَعِ الْقُرْآنِ» قَالَ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلُونَ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُرَاجِعُنِي حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ بِهِ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ قَالَ فَقُمْتُ فَتَتَبَّعْتُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الرِّقَاعِ وَالْأَكْتَافِ وَالْأَقْتَابِ وَالْعُسُبِ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ آيَتَيْنِ مَعَ خُزَيْمَةَ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ لَمْ أَجِدْهُمَا مَعَ أَحَدٍ غَيْرِهِ {لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ} فَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ الَّتِي جَمَعْتُ فِيهَا الْقُرْآنَ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَيَاتَهُ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ  

"From 'Ubaid bin As-Sabbaq, that Zaid bin Thabit narrated to him, he said: 'Abu Bakr As-Siddiq sent for me - (regarding) those killed at Al-Yamamah - and 'Umar bin Al-Khattab was with him. He (Abu Bakr) said: "'Umar came to me and said: The fighting inflicted many casualties among the reciters of the Qur'an on the Day of Al-Yamamah, and I fear that there will be more casualties among the reciters in other parts of the land, such that much of the Qur'an may be lost. In my view, you should order that the Qur'an be collected.'" Abu Bakr said to 'Umar: "How can I do something which was not done my the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" 'Umar said: 'By Allah! It is something good.' 'Umar continued trying to convince me until Allah opened up my chest to that which He had opened the chest of 'Umar, and I saw it as he saw it." Zaid said: 'Abu Bakr said: "You are a young wise man, and we have no suspicions of you. You used to write down the Revelation for the Messenger of Allah as the Qur'an was revealed." He (Zaid) said: 'By Allah! If they had ordered to move one of the mountains it would have been lighter on me than that.' He said: 'I said: "How will you do something which was not done by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?" Abu Bakr said: "By Allah! It is something good." Abu Bakr and 'Umar continued trying to convince me, until Allah opened up my chest for that, just as He had opened their chests, the chest of Abu Bakr and the chest of 'Umar. So I began searching for Qur'anic material from parchments, leaf stalks of date-palms and Al-Likhaf - meaning stones - and the chests of men. I found the end of Surah Bara'ah with Khuzaimah bin Thabit: Verily, there has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is eager for you; for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful. But if they turn away, say: "Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god but He, in Him I put my trust, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne (9:128 & 129).'" (Using translation from Tirmidhī 3103)   

أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَقْتَلَ أَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ فَإِذَا عُمَرُ جَالِسٌ عَنْدَهُ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّ عُمَرَ جَاءَنِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ بِأَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ بِقُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَكَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ صَدْرَ عُمَرَ وَرَأَيْتُ فِي ذَلِكَ الَّذِي رَأَى عُمَرُ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ لِزَيْدٍ إِنَّكَ رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ لَا نَتَّهِمُكَ قَدْ كُنْتَ تُكْتَبُ الْوَحْيَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَتَتَبَّعِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاجْمَعْهُ قَالَ زَيْدٌ «فَوَاللهِ لَوْ كَلَّفُونِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ أَثْقَلَ مِمَّا أَمَرَنِي بِهِ مِنْ جَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ» قَالَ قُلْتُ وَكَيْفَ تَفْعَلُونَ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ يُرَاجِعُنِي حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ قَالَ فَتَتَبَّعْتُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الرِّقَاعِ وَالْعُسُبِ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ حَتَّى وَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ مَعَ خُزَيْمَةَ أَوْ أَبِي خُزَيْمَةَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ لَمْ أَجِدْهَا مَعَ أَحَدٍ غَيْرِهِ {لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ} حَتَّى خَاتِمَةِ بَرَاءَةَ «وَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ حَيَاتَهُ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ»  

[Machine] "Abu Bakr sent a message to me regarding the killing of the people of Yamamah. So I went to him and 'Umar was with him. Abu Bakr said, 'Indeed, 'Umar came to me and said, "The killing during the Battle of Yamamah was severe among the reciters of the Quran, and I think you should order the compilation of the Quran." So I said, "How can I do something that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do?" 'Umar said, "By Allah, it is a good thing." And he continued to argue with me until Allah opened my heart to what He opened the heart of 'Umar to.' Then Abu Bakr said, 'You are a young man who is knowledgeable, and we do not suspect you. You used to write down revelations for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , so gather the Quran.' So I said, 'How can we do something that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do?' Abu Bakr said, 'By Allah, it is a good thing.' And he continued to argue with me until Allah opened my heart to what He opened the heart of Abu Bakr and 'Umar to. By Allah, if they had ordered me to move a mountain from its place, it would not have been heavier upon me than what they had ordered me to do. So I started to gather the Quran from palm stalks, pieces of leather, and the hearts of men.'"  

أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مَقْتَلَ أَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَعِنْدَهُ عُمَرُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ عُمَرَ أَتَانِي فَقَالَ «إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ اسْتَحَرَّ يَوْمَ الْيَمَامَةِ بِقُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ وَإِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ تَأْمُرَ بِجَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ» فَقُلْتُ «كَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟» فَقَالَ عُمَرُ «هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ لَهُ صَدْرَ عُمَرَ» ثُمَّ قَالَ «إِنَّكَ غُلَامٌ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ لَا نَتَّهِمُكَ قَدْ كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُ الْوَحْيَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَتَتَّبَعِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاجْمَعْهُ» فَقُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلَانِ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ «هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ لَهُ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَاللهِ لَوْ كَلَّفَانِي نَقْلَ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ أَثْقَلَ عَلَيَّ مِنَ الَّذِي كَلَّفَانِي ثُمَّ تَتَبَّعْتُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الْعُسُبِ وَالرِّقَاعِ وَالصُّحُفِ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ»  

Abu Bakr sent for me owing to the large number of casualties in the battle of Al-Yamama, while ʿUmar was sitting with him. Abu Bakr said (to me), ʿUmar has come to my and said, 'A great number of Qaris of the Holy Qur'an were killed on the day of the battle of Al-Yamama, and I am afraid that the casualties among the Qaris of the Qur'an may increase on other battle-fields whereby a large part of the Qur'an may be lost. Therefore I consider it advisable that you (Abu Bakr) should have the Qur'an collected.' I said, 'How dare I do something which Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do?' ʿUmar said, By Allah, it is something beneficial.' ʿUmar kept on pressing me for that till Allah opened my chest for that for which He had opened the chest of ʿUmar and I had in that matter, the same opinion as ʿUmar had." Abu Bakr then said to me (Zaid), "You are a wise young man and we do not have any suspicion about you, and you used to write the Divine Inspiration for Messenger of Allah ﷺ. So you should search for the fragmentary scripts of the Qur'an and collect it (in one Book)." Zaid further said: By Allah, if Abu Bakr had ordered me to shift a mountain among the mountains from one place to another it would not have been heavier for me than this ordering me to collect the Qur'an. Then I said (to ʿUmar and Abu Bakr), "How can you do something which Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not do?" Abu Bakr said, "By Allah, it is something beneficial." Zaid added: So he (Abu Bakr) kept on pressing me for that until Allah opened my chest for that for which He had opened the chests of Abu Bakr and ʿUmar, and I had in that matter, the same opinion as theirs. So I started compiling the Qur'an by collecting it from the leafless stalks of the date-palm tree and from the pieces of leather and hides and from the stones, and from the chests of men (who had memorized the Qur'an). I found the last verses of Sirat-at-Tauba: ("Verily there has come unto you an Apostle (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves--' (9.128-129) ) from Khuzaʿima or Abi Khuzaʿima and I added to it the rest of the Sura. The manuscripts of the Qur'an remained with Abu Bakr till Allah took him unto Him. Then it remained with ʿUmar till Allah took him unto Him, and then with Hafsa bint ʿUmar. (Using translation from Bukhārī 7191)   

بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَبُو بَكْرٍ ؓ مَقْتَلَ أَهْلِ الْيَمَامَةِ وَعِنْدَهُ عُمَرُ ؓ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ إِنَّ عُمَرَ أَتَانِي فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْقَتْلَ قَدِ اسْتَحَرَّ يَوْمَ الْيَمَامَةِ بِقُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ وَإِنِّي أَخْشَى أَنْ يَسْتَحِرَّ الْقَتْلُ بِقُرَّاءِ الْقُرْآنِ فِي الْمَوَاطِنِ كُلِّهَا فَيَذْهَبَ قُرْآنٌ كَثِيرٌ وَإِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ تَأْمُرَ بِجَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ أَفْعَلُ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ عُمَرُ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ لَهُ صَدْرَ عُمَرَ وَرَأَيْتُ فِي ذَلِكَ الَّذِي رَأَى عُمَرُ قَالَ زَيْدٌ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ وَإِنَّكَ رَجُلٌ شَابٌّ عَاقِلٌ لَا نَتَّهِمُكَ قَدْ كُنْتَ تَكْتُبُ الْوَحْيَ لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَتَتَبَّعِ الْقُرْآنَ فَاجْمَعْهُ قَالَ زَيْدٌ فَوَاللهِ لَوْ كَلَّفَنِي بِنَقْلِ جَبَلٍ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ مَا كَانَ بِأَثْقَلَ عَلَيَّ مِمَّا كَلَّفَنِي مِنْ جَمْعِ الْقُرْآنِ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ تَفْعَلَانِ شَيْئًا لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ؟ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ هُوَ وَاللهِ خَيْرٌ فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يُرَاجِعُنِي فِي ذَلِكَ حَتَّى شَرَحَ اللهُ صَدْرِي لِلَّذِي شَرَحَ لَهُ اللهُ صَدْرَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَرَأَيْتُ فِي ذَلِكَ الَّذِي رَأَيَا قَالَ فَتَتَبَّعْتُ الْقُرْآنَ أَجْمَعُهُ مِنَ الْعُسُبِ وَالرِّقَاعِ وَاللِّخَافِ وَصُدُورِ الرِّجَالِ فَوَجَدْتُ آخِرَ سُورَةِ التَّوْبَةِ {لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ} [التوبة 128] إِلَى آخِرِ السُّورَةِ مَعَ خُزَيْمَةَ أَوْ أَبِي خُزَيْمَةَ فَأَلْحَقْتُهَا فِي السُّورَةِ وَكَانَتِ الصُّحُفُ عِنْدَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ حَيَاتَهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ عُمَرَ حَيَاتَهُ حَتَّى تَوَفَّاهُ اللهُ ثُمَّ عِنْدَ حَفْصَةَ بِنْتِ عُمَرَ