John Rodwell, The Koran: Translated from the Arabic, the Suras Arranged In Chronological Order: With Notes and Index. (1861)

Preface

It is necessary that some brief explanation should be given with reference to the arrangement of the Suras, or chapters, adoped in this translation of the Koran. It should be premised that their order as it stands in all Arabic manuscripts, and in all hitherto printed editions, whether Arabic or European, is not chronological, neither is there any authentic tradition to shew that it rests upon the authority of Muhammad himself. The scattered fragments of the Koran were in the first instance collected by his immediate successor Abu Bekr, about a yeard after the Prophet's death, at the suggestion of Omar, who forsaw that, as the Muslim warriors, whose memories were the solo depositaries of large portions of the revelations, died off or were slain, as had been the case with many in the battle of Yemâma, A. H. 12, the loss of the greater part, or even of the whole, was imminent.

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John Rodwell, The Koran: Translated from the Arabic, the Suras Arranged In Chronological Order: With Notes and Index., Williams and Norgate, London, Consulted online at “Quran Archive - Texts and Studies on the Quran” on 29 Mar. 2024: http://quran-archive.org/explorer/john-rodwell/1861?page=5