The Difference Between Abu Bakr’s Compilation of the Qur’an and Uthman’s Compilation

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: Is there a difference between Abu Bakr al-Siddiq’s compilation of the Qur’an and Uthman’s?

The Shaykh:
Uthman compiled the Qur’an in the sense that he standardized it on a single recitation. The Companions used to recite in different recitations; they used to recite in different recitations. Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) feared for them that they would divide and disagree, so he came to Uthman and advised him to gather the Companions on a single recitation, fearing division.

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Some of the Sufis permit the celebration of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) birthday.

The Shaykh:
Or do not say that now the Qur’an is recited in the recitation of Hafs and the recitation of Warsh, and all of these are one recitation, but they differ in form or vowel marks, not in meaning or in wording. Yes, they are aspects of the recitation, aspects of the single recitation. Yes.

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success.

The Shaykh:
One person uses imalah (vowel softening) and another does not, and one person extends a vowel to a certain degree while some do not extend it to that degree. This is not a difference in wording; this is a difference in the aspects of the recitation only. So he (may Allah be pleased with him) gathered them on a single recitation. Yes.