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Islamiyat IGCSEPDF 165

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Standard Compilation of Quran • During ‘Uthman’s time as caliph, Islam had spread to other areas. Hazrat Khuzaifa bin Yamaan reported to Hazrat ‘Usman that people in different areas, in particular in Armenia and Azerbaijan, were reciting the Qur’an in a different dialect. He requested him to take immediate action for the removal of these differences; otherwise it might create a rift among the Muslims. • Accordingly, Hazrat Usman acquired the copy of the Quran prepared by Zaid Bin Sabit from Hazrat Hafsa. He appointed Zaid Bin Sabit along with three other knowledgeable Muslims , Abdur Rehman bin Harris, Abdullah bin Zubair and Saad bin Aas, who assisted to make copies of the Quran from the original text. They were told to follow the dialect of the Quraish in case of differences over the language, as the Quran had been revealed in that dialect. • The Quran was read out loudly from the beginning to the end in the Prophet (P.B.U.H) mosque from these copies of the Quran, so that not a shadow of doubt remained in the mind of anyone that changes had been introduced in the Quran. • These copies were then dispatched to the capital city of every Province of the Muslims States with instructions that in future copies should be made only from the official authentic text. Hazrat Usman also ordered that if anyone had a copy with a different text, it was to be Byzantine (Roman) Empire: In the first year of Hazrat Usman caliphate Egypt also flared up in revolt supported by a bold counter-attack by the Byzantine Empire which dispatched a fleet of 300 ships into Alexandria’s great harbour. The Greek-speaking population of the city rose in support and massacred 1000 soldiers of the Muslim garrison. Hazrat Usman had replaced Amr ibn Aas with his cousin Abdullah bin Saad as the governor of Alexandria however, he was unable to bring the situation under control. Hazrat Usman then reinstated Amr ibn Aas, who once again able to enter Alexandria as a conqueror in 646. After this victory the governorship of Alexandria was once more given to Abdullah bin Saad. In the following year 647, Hazrat Usman ordered an assault on North Africa in which Abdullah gained some military glory by defeating the Byzantine governor of Tunisia and returned with a massive tribute and an improved reputation. After the African campaign, Muawiyah set about the construction of a large fleet in the dockyards of Egypt and Syria to stop Byzantines harassment from the sea during the Muslim-Byzantine wars. The Navy became operational in 649. The first joint naval attack led by Abdullah and Muawiyah proved to be success and the island of Cyprus was occupied in 649. It is said that during Hazrat Usman’s rule the Muslim Naval fleet comprised of 500 vessels. As a result, besides defending its borders the Muslim Empire was able to expand its influence in the Mediterranean capturing Cyprus and Crete and raiding as far away as Sicily. Persia was effected by local rebellions so that from 644 to 649 the two great Muslim armies at Kufa and Basra were fighting in a series of internal campaigns. The more distant areas in the mountain territories of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Caucasus quickly repossessed their dominion. They fought off the determined counter attacks of the Muslim forces destroying at least two of their armies. Five years of campaign and counter-campaign at last re-established Muslims authority in the Persian Empire. By 650, the Muslim armies were once more on the offensive and had pushed the frontier into Central Asia with ancient cities of Herat, Merv, Balkh and Kabul occupied by Muslim outposts. Two years later, Yazdegird the heir of the Persians was killed.