Part II: Shaping Orthodoxy: Power, Politics, and Preservation
Once the Qur'anic text was compiled, the next challenge was defining its authority and meaning within a rapidly expanding empire. This section explores how sacred scripture was wielded—and transformed—across dynasties, theological schools, and political agendas. From Umayyad monuments to Abbasid scholarship to the great inquisition over the nature of the Qur'an itself, the text became both religious foundation and political tool. Whether through architectural inscription, scholarly debate, or imperial decree, the preservation of orthodoxy became a powerful editorial force—one that shaped not only what the Qur'an said, but how generations understood its divine authority.