The traditions which ascribe to Mahomet a prejudice against writing, appear to
have no good foundation. They originated, no doubt, in the circumstance that
he himself had little,, if any, knowledge of the art. It was the pious fashion
to follow his example and practice, to the minutest particular; hence Ibn
Masûd, Abu Horeira, and others of the more scrupulous believers, hesitated to
commit the Prophet's sayings to writing, and the report of his having
forbidden the practice thus gained currency. On the other hand, we have
evidence which makes it highly probable that even during the lifetime of
Mahomet there were persons who kept up memoranda of his utterances. At any
rate, there is frequent notice of the custom shortly after his death. Thus we
find mention of the son of Abbâs (the uncle of Mahomet) having left behind
him a camel load of manuscripts, from which both Ikrima and Ibn Ocba made
copious extracts. Aly copied out certain precepts of the Prophet regarding the
ransom of prisoners, etc.; and, in order to have them constantly at hand, tied
the roll round the handle of his sword. Another hero made use of his boot as a
receptacle for the same purpose. It is related of an early Collector of
tradition, that he carried about with him a portfolio filled with pages of
leather; and the famous Zohri, when other material failed, made notes of what
was told him upon his yellow boots, and copied them out in order afterwards.
The practice increased so rapidly, that towards the end of the first century,
Omar II. (with a view analogous to that which induced Abu Bekr to direct the
collection of the Coran) issued orders for a complete compilation of all
recorded traditions; but he died before the work was accomplished. According
to the strict canon of the Sunna, the object of written collections was not to
supersede, but only to assist, the memoriter preservation of tradition; for
oral repetition was still the inexorable rule. Indeed, the prejudice against
recorded collections even yet ran so high, that instances are given of
Collectors committing their treasures to the flames (not without regret when
the loss was found irreparable), or leaving instructions to their executors to
destroy them after
