Holes in the Narrative

Holes in the Narrative: Examining the Quran's TransmissionFor centuries, the Quran has been revered as a divine revelation. Muslims around the world believe it has been preserved exactly as it was first given. But what do the earliest Islamic sources themselves tell us about how the Quran came to be the book we know today?How was the Quran first recorded, and by whom? What role did memory, written fragments, and political authority play in shaping its final form? What do accounts of multiple recitations, lost passages, and differing manuscripts reveal about its early history? How did the process of collection and standardization unfold, and why were certain versions destroyed? What can we learn from the testimonies of Muhammad's companions and early Muslim leaders about the transmission of the text? And how does the Quran's own description of earlier Scriptures fit into this story?In Holes in the Narrative, George Anthony Paul guides readers through Islam's most trusted historical records-hadith collections, classical commentaries, and early manuscript accounts-inviting careful examination of the Quran's transmission. Along the way, readers will encounter striking moments of decision, preservation, and change, and will be challenged to consider what these moments mean for understanding a text that has shaped civilizations.