After the demise of Holy Prophet (PBUH), no official copy of Quran existed.

During the caliphate of Abu

Bakr (R.A), some people declared themselves as prophets. In order to put down this false prophecy, war
was fought against them and in this, many Huffaz (people who had committed Quran) were martyred.
This battle was known as the Battle of Yamama. Hazrat Umar (R.A) realized the tragedy that would occur
in future if more memorizers would die. For this purpose, he suggested Abu Bakr (R.A) that Quran must
be written down and compiled for safety. Abu Bakr (R.A) was reluctant, upset, and interrogated: “How
can I do anything that Prophet (PBUH) himself did not do?” after much persuasion from Umar (R.A) he
understood the need of compilation and formed a committee under the scribes of Divine Revelations
which included Zain bin Thabit and about 25 trustworthy companions. Zaid (R.A) used extremely
cautious techniques in verifying the verses. He would not accept any verse unless two reliable witnesses
were there to tell that the verse was written under the supervision of Prophet (PBUH). He collected the
Quranic verses from parchments, stones, leaves, bones and from those who had memorized the Quran.
Zaid (R.A) said: “If Abu Bakr had ordered me to shift one of the mountains, it would not have been
harder for me than what he ordered me concerning the collection of Quran.” The script prepared by
Zaid bin Thabit (R.A) was called Umm and it remained with Abu Bakr (R.A). After his demise, it was
transferred to the custody of Hazrat Umar (R.A), the second Caliph. After his death, it was transferred to
Hazrat Hafsa (R.A) and it came to be known has Mushaf-e-Hafsa.

During the caliphate of Umar (R.A), the Islamic state expanded. People in various places recited
the Quran in their local dialects and there arose a possibility of confusion and misunderstanding. The
need for final collection of Quran became imminent when there was a dispute between Muslim forces
from Iraq and Syria over the correct way of reciting it during communal prayers. While on an expedition
to Azerbaijan, General Huzaifah (R.A) reported this problem to caliph Usman (R.A). He foresaw the
danger and asked a single genuine and authentic copy of Quran to be made. Accordingly, he appointed
Zaid bin Thabit (R.A) along with three other companions. This group painstakingly prepared several
copies of Umm and these copies were sent to different provinces of Islamic state including Basra, Kufa,
Makka, and Jerusalem. The copies were also sent to Iraq and Syria along with a teacher who could teach
them how to recite Quran in proper dialect of Quraish. After all this, Hazrat Usman (R.A) had four copies
of Umm, which were circulated, and further copies of them were made. Usman (R.A) got all the other
copies of Quran and burnt them to ensure uniformity. He is also known as Jami al-Quran (the compiler
of Quran).