Written Pages

There are a number of references in the Quran showing that the Quran was revealed in written form.

The first example discusses the pages of the Quran being written.

[80:11] Indeed, this is a reminder. [80:12] Whoever wills shall take heed. [80:13] In pages honorable. [80:14] Exalted and pure. [80:15] (Written) by the hands of messengers ( سَفَرَةٍ ). [80:16] Who are honorable and righteous.

كَلَّآ إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَةٌ فَمَن شَآءَ ذَكَرَهُۥ فِى صُحُفٍ مُّكَرَّمَةٍ مَّرْفُوعَةٍ مُّطَهَّرَةٍۭ بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍ كِرَامٍۭ بَرَرَةٍ

The use of the term suhuf ( صُحُفٍ ) is directly in reference to pages and calls out that these pages are by the hand of travelers who write, safaratin ( سَفَرَةٍ ).

The next example references the Quran as written and published on parchment.

[52:0] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful [52:1] Mt. Sinai. [52:2] The recorded scripture. [52:3] Published in books.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلطُّورِ وَكِتَـٰبٍ مَّسْطُورٍ فِى رَقٍّ مَّنشُورٍ

52:2:1	وَكِتَـٰبٍ	By (the) book / scripture	wakitābin
52:2:2	مَّسْطُورٍ	written / recorded	masṭūrin
52:3:1	فِى	In	fī
52:3:2	رَقٍّ	sheet / folio / parchment / scroll	raqqin
52:3:3	مَّنشُورٍ	unrolled / unfolded / published.	manshūrin

The next example not only addresses the prophet while he was alive but also references the scripture as written. It would be particularly strange if the Quran referenced itself as written when it was revealed, yet we are to believe that it wasn’t written and compiled until after the death of the prophet.

[33:6] The prophet is closer to the believers than they are to each other, and his wives are like mothers to them. The relatives ought to take care of one another in accordance with GOD’s scripture. Thus, the believers shall take care of their relatives who immigrate to them, provided they have taken care of their own families first. These are commandments of this written scripture.

ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًا كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًا

25	kāna	كَانَ	[It] was
26	dhālika	ذَٰلِكَ	that
27	fī	فِى	in
28	l-kitābi	ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ	the book / scripture
29	masṭūran	مَسْطُورًا	written.

The last example is probably the most indisputable example that the Quran was not only written but it was recited from written pages by the prophet himself. In Sura 98, we are informed that the messenger was reciting from pages purified. Since the word “ṣuḥufan” ( صُحُفًا ) means physical pages, it again shows that the messenger was reading from something written and not just holding them and reciting from some memory.

[98:2] A messenger from GOD is reciting to them sacred pages.

رَسُولٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ يَتْلُوا۟ صُحُفًا مُّطَهَّرَةً

1	rasūlun	رَسُولٌ	Messenger
2	mina	مِّنَ	from
3	l-lahi	ٱللَّهِ	God,
4	yatlū	يَتْلُوا۟	he recites
5	ṣuḥufan	صُحُفًا	scriptures / writings / instructions
6	muṭahharatan	مُّطَهَّرَةً	purified / sacred.