"Dating the Narrations of Ibn Mas'ud's Reaction to the Incident of Uthman's Compilation (of the Quran)."

Narrations concerning Abdullah ibn Mas'ud's objection to the appointment of Zayd ibn Thabit for the compilation of the Quran during Uthman's era, and Ibn Mas'ud's refusal to hand over his own codex, have been transmitted in Sunni hadith sources through various chains (ṭuruq) and texts (mutūn). This research employs different methods of dating hadiths (Isnad analysis and Isnad-cum-Matn analysis) to explain the historical and geographical origins, as well as the gradual evolution, of these narrations.



The findings of the Isnad analysis indicate that Ibn Mas'ud is the common link of these narrations, and at least seven individuals transmitted his report. This report was stated and disseminated in Kufa before the year 30 AH and reached Basra in the following generation. The most important secondary common links (ḥalaqāt mushtarak farʿī), who played a significant role in its dissemination, are Abu Ishaq al-Sabi'i, al-A'mash, and Ibrahim ibn Sa'd. The first two are Kufan, and Ibrahim is from Medina.



The most important results of the Isnad-cum-Matn analysis are as follows:



All versions (taḥrīr) mention the exalted status of Ibn Mas'ud during the time of the Prophet (PBUH), the fact that Zayd ibn Thabit was a child at that time, and that he "had two braids" (dhū'ābatān).



Furthermore, all versions include Ibn Mas'ud's refusal to hand over his codex and his encouragement to the Kufans to do the same.



In the versions transmitted by Shuqayq ibn Salamah, a claim of Ibn Mas'ud's superiority in knowledge of the Quran has been added.



In the versions transmitted by Ibrahim ibn Sa'd, the phrase "two braids"—which alluded to Zayd's Jewish background—has been removed, and Ibn Mas'ud's distress at being sidelined from the compilation has been added.