The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

152 *OMAR [chap. XX.
A. II. 14 15. Mohammad's dictation. Many of the "Suras," or chapters,
were already used privately, and for the public services, in
a complete and settled form. In addition, Zeid now sought
out from every possible quarter whatever had at any time
emanated from the Prophet, in the way of revelation, from
the earliest period of his ministry— "whether in.scribed on
date-leaves, shreds of leather, shoulder-blades, stony tablets,
or the hearts of men." Having gathered exhaustively the
diverse and often fugitive materials, he carefully and with
reverent hand dovetailed them together, just as they were
found, in continuous form. A certain regard to time and
subject was no doubt observed in the pious task ;
but still
evidently with a good deal of haphazard collocation ; and to
this may be ascribed much of the obscurity and incoherence
that occasionally pervade the sacred text. The original
manuscript thus completed was committed to Hafsa, 'Omar's
daughter, one of the Prophet's widows, and continued to be
the standard text until the time of 'Othman.