The Mushaf of the Quran refers to the written or physical copy of the Quranic text. It is the sacred scripture of Islam, believed to be the literal word of God as revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) over a span of 23 years. The term Mushaf itself comes from the Arabic word meaning "book" or "manuscript," and it distinguishes the Quran in its written form from the oral recitation, which has been the primary means of transmission since the time of the Prophet.

The Quran was originally revealed orally, with the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reciting the verses, and his companions memorized them or wrote them down on various materials like parchment, leaves, or bones. However, after the death of the Prophet, it became necessary to compile all the revealed texts into a single, standardized book to preserve it accurately for future generations. This task was undertaken by Uthman ibn Affan, who ordered the creation of several copies of the Quran, known as Mushafs, and distributed them across the Islamic empire to maintain uniformity in recitation and interpretation. The text is written in classical Arabic, and its script has evolved over time, especially in the way it is written and punctuated. Modern Mushafs are meticulously printed and often include vowel marks to aid in correct pronunciation, as well as additional explanations and commentary (Tafsir) to help readers understand the context of the verses.