Evaluation of the Quran's compilation and transcription in the context of recitations

With the commencement of its revelation, the preservation of the Qur'an was carried out both in written and oral forms. During the time of the Prophet, the Companions belonging to different tribes were allowed to recite the Qur'an according to their dialects, which later led to the emergence of variations in qirâ'ât. Although these differences did not initially pose a problem, over time, they became a potential source of disagreement in some regions. For this reason, the compilation of the Qur'an into a codex and its reproduction through transcription became important both for the preservation of the text and the safeguarding of qirâ'ât variations. In this context, the process of compilation initiated during the caliphate of Abû Bakr and the transcription activities carried out during the caliphate of 'Uthmân hald great significance in terms of the science of qirâ'ât. Rather than abolishing the various recitations entirely, these processes disciplined them around a unified text and played a crucial role in transmitting the authentic qirâ'ât to subsequent generations. This thesis aims to comprehensively examine the affects of the aforementioned compilation and transcription practices on the variations of qirâ'ât. In this regard, the purpose, scope, and relation to qirâ'ât of the codex first compiled during the time of Abû Bakr are addressed. Subsequently, the process of transcription undertaken during the caliphate of 'Uthmân and its role in distinguishing between the different qirâ'ât are analyzed.