Islamiyat · Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Question 5

Write about the main roles played by the Scribes of the Prophet (pbuh). Use the AO1 Levels of Response.

Candidates should include some of the following points. All other relevant points must be credited.

There were a number of Companions who acted as scribes of the Prophet (pbuh) and they each had different tasks, such as writing the revelation, recording public contracts and transactions, and writing letters sent from the Prophet (pbuh) to other leaders.

The Qur’an was written in its entirety during the Prophet’s time even though it was not compiled in one text. The scribes wrote down verses on a number of materials e.g., parchments, bone, dried leaves, amongst other things. The Prophet (pbuh) used to instruct the scribes about the sequence in which a revealed message was to be placed in a particular Sura (chapter). Zayd ibn Thabit reported, ‘We used to record the Qur’an from parchments in the presence of the Messenger of God.’

Zayd ibn Thabit was one of the most prominent scribes of the revelation, writing the revelation while the Prophet (pbuh) was alive, subsequently having most of the Qur’an in written form. He was also asked by the Prophet (pbuh) to learn Hebrew so he could respond on the Prophet’s behalf to the Jews who wrote to the Prophet (pbuh). In addition to this he learned Persian, Roman, Coptic and Ethiopian languages to be able to communicate with people from those areas. Zayd ibn Thabit also used to write letters to the kings on behalf of the Prophet (pbuh).

Some of the Companions were official scribes who wrote letters and treaties for the Prophet (pbuh). Ubayy ibn Ka’ab, had memorised the Qur’an and wrote portions of the Qur’an for his own use. He is one of the people the Prophet (pbuh) recited to and told others to learn Qur’an from him. Ubayy also wrote letters to heads of state for the Prophet (pbuh).

‘Ali was also an important scribe and wrote verses of the revelations, as well as writing treaties for the Prophet (pbuh). He was the main scribe in charge of writing the Treaty of Hudaybiyya on behalf of the Prophet (pbuh). Abdullah ibn Mas’ud was known for his knowledge of the Qur’an and the Prophet (pbuh) said about him, ‘Whoever wants to read the Quran as fresh as when it was revealed, then let him read according to the recitation of Ibn Umm Abd.’ He was someone who wrote portions of the Qur’an.

Candidates might mention other scribes but should say what their roles were.

To what extent is it easier to record Islamic knowledge now than in the time of the Prophet (pbuh)?

Use the AO2 Levels of Response.

Candidates can give other examples and all relevant answers should be credited.

Candidates may argue that it is easier to document knowledge now because literacy rates in the modern world are significantly higher than those in the time of the Prophet (pbuh), meaning that many more people are able to record Islamic knowledge. Writing tools are also more easily available to write information down from scholars and teachers, which means that Islamic knowledge is being preserved and documented more easily.

It could also be said that it is easier now because access to technology allows people to scan and store information in a way that could not have been done before, and so important documents can be kept for longer without them being lost or damaged.

However, it could be argued that it is not as easy from the point of view that it can become more difficult to verify the Islamic knowledge you want to preserve. This is especially true if it is online, as you do not know if it is authentic and there is a lot of information presented by people who may not be knowledgeable in the Islamic sciences.