The  Quran al-Karim is the Kalam al-Ilahi (Divine Speech, Word of Allahu  Taala). Allahu Taala sent the Quran al-Karim to Muhammad (alaihi-salam)  through an angel named Jebrail (Gabriel, alaihi-salam). The words in the  Quran al-Karim are in the Arabic language, and they descended in ayats  (verses), letters and words arranged together by Allahu Taala. The  meanings carried by these letters and words convey the Kalam al-Ilahi.  These letters and words are called the Quran al-Karim. The meanings that  disclose the Kalam al-Ilahi are the Quran al-Karim as well. This Quran  al-Karim which is the Kalam al-Ilahi is not a creature. It is eternal  and everlasting, like the other Attributes of Allahu Taala. Once every  year Jebrail (alaihi-salam) would visit to recite, in the same order as  they had been recorded in the Lawh almahfudh (where all matters have  been inscribed, in Paradise), the part of the Quran al-Karim that had  already been revealed, and our Prophet would repeat it. In the year when  he was about to honor the Hereafter, Jebrail (alaihi-salam) visited  twice, reciting the entire Quran al-Karim. Our blessed Prophet and most  of the Sahaba had memorized the Quran al-Karim wholly. In the year when  he honored the Hereafter with his blessed being, Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, the  Caliph, brought together those who had memorized the Quran al-Karim and  having gathered those parts that had already been written, had a  committee write down the entire Quran al-Karim. Thus a written copy  called the mus’haf came about. Thirty-three thousand Sahabis reached a  consensus that every letter of that copy of the mus’haf was in its right  place.