Moving Mountains: The Crisis and Canonization of the Quran

Episode Summary: How did a collection of palm leaves, white stones, and human memories become the unified book known as the Quran today? In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the first official Quranic compilation. We examine the testimony of Zaid ibn Thabit, the young scribe who claimed that being ordered to collect the Quran was more burdensome than moving a mountain.

We explore the two major waves of canonization: the first under Caliph Abu Bakr following the bloody Battle of Yamama, and the second under Caliph Uthman, who faced a growing crisis of regional variations. We discuss the "Missing Verse of Surah 33," the editorial revisions made to favor the Quraysh dialect, and the controversial command to burn all rival manuscripts. Join ...