Incident of 33:23
9:128-129 Is Not Mutawatir
Some individuals attempt to downplay the history of 9:128-129 and point to a hadith regarding verse 23 of Sura 33, Al-Ahzab, where a similar incident occurred, but these two events are not comparable.
The reason the Hadith regarding 33:23 is not comparable to that of 9:128-129 is that in the Hadith regarding 33:23, it is clear that Zaid bin Thabit already had the verse memorized as it specifies that he recalled remembering the messenger reciting it. This was not the case with 9:128-129, where not even Zaid bin Thabit had this verse memorized or written.
Secondly, this Hadith was during the reign of ‘Uthman during the transcription of the mus’hafs and not during the original compilation commissioned by Abu Bakr like that of the Hadith for 9:128-129. This is significant because, during the incident of 33:23, the compilation of the Quran from the time of Abu Bakr was already complete and available. Therefore, it isn’t that Zaid bin Thabit was looking to confirm the validity of this verse like he was for 9:128-129, but instead, he was looking for the actual folio for this verse for the compilation of the mus’haf. This is confirmed in the following Sahih hadith from Bukhari.