We know that during the lifetime of the Prophet (s.a.w.), scribes and other companions used to write down verses of the Quran. But by the time the Prophet (s.a.w.) died, did all the verses of the Quran exist in written form?
I was told that during the lifetime of the Prophet (s.a.w.), not all verses were written down. Only some verses were written down while other verses were only memorized.
Please provide sources/evidences for your answer.
Yes, they were.
The Prophet chose the scibes and under his supervision they would copy word for word. Known scribes were: Ali ibn Abi Talib, Abdullah b. Masud, Abu Dardah, Zayd b. Thabit, Ma'adh b. Jabal and Salim Mawla Abi Hudayfah.
Ibn Nedeem (Al-Fihrist, p. 41) recorded 41 companions who had written the entire Qur'an with their own hands during the lifetime of the prophet.
In the Holy Qur'an there are many Verses which talk about the Qur'an as a book.
It is (recorded) in those scripts (of the Preserved Tablet) that are honoured, exalted, purified, in the hands of those scribes who are honorable, righteous. (80:13-16)
And they said, .(These are) the tales of the ancients he (the messenger) has caused to be written, and they are read out to him at morning and evening.(25:5)
Additionally , the famous hadith of the Prophet, about the two weighty things he would leave behind, says:"I leave among you two valuable things, the book of Allah and my progeny".
The word `book' denotes existence of a collection and not of scattered scribbles, nor of things which are in the memory but not written. https://www.al-islam.org/the-collection-and-preservation-of-the-quran
Salamou alaikoum,
Yes, because the first "aya" in the quran was : "بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم إقرأ باسم ربك الذي خلق" And the last "aya" was : "بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم اليوم أكملت لكم دينكم و أتممت عليكم نعمتي و رضيت لكم الإسلام دينا " And allah know the best.
No they weren't written. Almost of all of the Quran was memorized by companions of Prophet(PBUH). When the number of companions started decreasing as they died in battles, during the caliphate of Usman(r.a), Usman (r.a) compiled the Holy Quran in written form as we see now.
