George Sale, The Koran, commonly called the Alcoran of Mohammed, translated into English immediately from the original Arabic; with Explanatory Notes, taken from the most approved Commentators. To which is prefixed A Preliminary Discource (1734)
revealed it to Mohammed by parcels, some at Mecca, and some at Medina, at different times, during the space of twenty three years, as the exigency of affairs required; giving him however the consolation to shew him the whole (which they tell us was bound in silk, and adorned with gold and precious stones of paradise) once a year; but in the last year of his life he had the favour to see it twice. They say that few chapters were delivered entire, the most part being revealed peace-meal, and written down from time to time by the prophet’s amanuenses in such or such a part of such or such a chapter till they were compleated, according to the directions of the angel 1. The first parcel that was revealed, is generally agreed to have been the first five verses of the ninety sixth chaprer 2.
After the new revealed passages had been from the prophet’s mouth taken down in writing by his scribe, they were published to his followers, several of whom took copies for their private use, but the far greater number got them by heart. The originals when returned, were put promiscuously into a chest, observing no order of time, for which reason it is uncertain when many passages were revealed.
When and by whom digested into the present form.
When Mohammed died, he left his revelations in the same disorder I have mentioned, and not digested into the method, such as it is, which we now find them in. This was the work of his successor Abu Becr, who considering that a great number of passages were present committed to the memory of Mohammed’s followers, many of whom were slain in their wars, ordered the whole to be collected, not only from the palm leaves and skins on which they had been written, and which were kept between two boards or covers, but also from the mouths of such as had gotten them by heart. And this transcript when compleated he committed to the custody of Hafsa the daughter of Omar, one of the prophet’s widows 3.
From this relation it is generally imagined that Abu Becr was really the compiler of the Korân; tho’ for ought appears to the contrary Mohammed left the chapters compleat as we now have them, excepting such passages as his successor might add or correct from those who had gotten them by heart; what Abu Becr did else being perhaps no more than to range the chapters in their present order, which he seems to have done without any regard to time, having generally placed the longest first.
1 Therefore it is a mistake of Dr. Prideaux to say it was brought him chapter by chapter. Life of Mahomet, p. 6. The Jews also say the Law was given to Moses by parcels. V. Millium, de Mohammedismo ante Moham. p. 365.
2 Not the whole chapter, as Golius says. Append. ad Gr. Erp. p. 180.
3 Elmacin. in Vita Abu Becr. Abulfeda.
