Was the mushaf with Hafsah, and she was a single woman, so is there no doubt in that?

The questioner : There is another point of difficulty, which is that the pages were with Hafsah, and she is a woman. And there is a distinction. I mean, is it not possible that there is doubt in that? Rather, it was first with Abu Bakr, then 'Umar, then Hafsah. Is it not possible that there is doubt in this? Or what? I mean, shirk (associating partners with Allah) is such that there is no distortion or addition. And as for it being with

The Shaykh : and it being with the two caliphs.

The questioner : Or take a wife.

The Shaykh : More trustworthy and more careful, yes.

The questioner : And as for it being with Umm Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her), the preservation by the Companions, and their large number, and the Muslims' concern for the Qur'an, prevent any addition from the prayer.

The Shaykh : Yes, because the people have memorized the Qur'an. It is not only with Hafsah. What is with Hafsah is the one that was compiled, and it is known to the Companions, written down, so there is no doubt in this,

The questioner : that it was 'Umar's will, as passed to us yesterday, that 'Umar made a will regarding it.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : I mean, so there is no difficulty because it is the will of a caliph.

The Shaykh : No, it is not a difficulty. The difficulty is whether she took it by right or did her right. There is no doubt she took it by right, but the difficulty is that it remained with a woman. Is it not possible that there is change in it because she is a woman and does not have the protection that a man has? We mentioned yesterday that she has the trustworthiness, honesty, intellect, and knowledge that make her qualified to have this page. Yes, it is 'Umar's will, no doubt, but the consideration remains: did he will it to her regarding this or not? Because it is 'Umar's will regarding the endowment he established in Khaybar, as is well known.