Question: What is the oldest written record of the Qur’an? How old is it? Do we have a complete written parchment/ paper/ anything Qur’an from the time of 'Uthman (rta) or the Prophet Muhammad (sws)?  
    Answer: The first manuscript of the Qur'an compiled by the Prophet (sws) was copied and recopied by thousands of his companions in his time and this process is going on ever since with millions and millions of copies coming into existence. Once a large number of its copies had been made and circulated among the Muslims, the original Qur'an compiled by the Prophet(sws) was wisely destroyed by Marwan Ibn Hakam the Umayyid Caliph lest it should become a source of trial and commotion for the Ummah. He had ordered Abdullah Ibn 'Umar (rta) to recover it from Hafsah (rta) the Prophet's wife with whom it remained after the Prophet's death. It was brought to his court, where it was torn apart by him since it was not needed any more.  
    The countless copies of the original Qur'an which today lie with the Ummah are the copies of the original Qur'an as is testified by the consensus of the Ummah in every subsequent period of time. Nothing can be said with certainty about the oldest surviving copy of  the Qur'an -- and in the light of the above mentioned facts, perhaps discussion on this topic would only be an academic exercise.