Sunday, April 13, 2008

Banu Ummayah's some facts and figures...

Banu Ummaya’s oringin

The begining of Qabeelah-e-Quraish is from Qasi Ibne Kalaab, Who was from the family of Ka'ab.Qasi had 4 sons ,one them was Abd-Manaf.Hashim and Abdul-Shams were abd-Manaf's Sons.Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.w) and his "Aal" were from Hasim, and are called hashimi.While Umaya was from Abdul-Shams,umaya was a short heighted,small eyed and had and Ugly Face,'Nahoosat' and 'Sharaarat'(devil) was clear by his face.The meaning of Umaya is of "Younger/little Slave-girl"


Source:- Nasaa'eh Kafia - Page No. 95 and 110

Banu Ummayah the worst creatures

Bani Umaya were the worst (sab say Shareer) in Arab


Source:-Yanabial-Muwada- Page No. 148

Banu Ummayah and hatred for Ali(AS)

After the Khilaafat-e-Rash'da ,the age of Qabeelah-Bani Umaya started from Fitnah and Bida'ah.Which almost Destroyed the bases of Islamic Government

Source:-Al-Hureeyat Fil-Islam - Page No. 26 written by AbulKalaam Aazad.

Upon the orders of Mu'awiya, 'Ali was cursed during the reign of Banu Umayya from Mashrik (east) to Mughrib (west) from the Mosque Puplits..

Source:-Mu'jam al Buldan - Volume 1 page 191 By Allamah Yaqoot Hamawi

During Banu Umayya reign Ali was openly cursed, this tradition was started by Mu'awiya and continued until the reign of Umar bin Abdul Aziz"


Sources:-

Nifa Thafthee wa Islaal - page 42 By Maulana Abdul Hai


Tafseer Mazhari - Volume 5 - page 21 By Hanafi Scholar Qadhi Thanaullah Uthmanee


Tarikh Madhaib al Islameeeya - Volume 1 - page 38 By Abu Muhammad Abu Zahra


Tarikh Khamis - Volume 2 - page 316

"During the reign of Banu Umayya ,Banu Umayya would curse 'Ali in the Friday Sermon, when Umar bin Abdul Aziz became khalifa he brought an end to this horrible bidah that had been introduced by Mu'awiya".

Source:-Tarikh Abul Fida - Volume 1 - page 301 - "Dhikr Mu'awiya"

Traditions were first formed in book form in the days of Ummayads, who, for about 90 years, throughout their vast dominions stretching from the Indus in India to Asia Minor and Spain, insulted the descendants of Fatima and got Ali openly censured in Friday sermons at the mosques. They had hundreds of saying coined to eulogise Amir Muawiya."


Source:-Siratun Nabi - Vol.1 - page 60 by Allamah Shibli Numani

Banu Ummayah are like monkeys that afflicted Prohpet(Saww)

Prophet Mohammad (S.a.w.w) once saw in his dreams that Monkeys are Jumping on his(s.a.w.w) pulpit (Manmbar),Which hurted prophet mohammad's feelings, and in answer to that ,Soorah-e-AlQadr was revealed in which it was said :"Night of alQadr is better than the time of Bani Umaya's Rule"


Sources:-

Taareekh-ulKhafa'a - Page No. 8


Tafseer-NeeshaPoori - Related Topic

Banu Ummayah are for Islam

There is threat for every thing ,and For islam, Bani Umaya are the Threat.

Source:-tatheer-ul-Jinaan - Page No. 148

Banu Ummayah in the light of Quran

**Ayat 60 of Sura 17 (Bani Israel). Commentaries from sunni Ulema such as Tha'labi, Imam Fakhru'd-din Razi, and others say that the Holy Prophet saw in a dream that the Bani Umayya, like monkeys, ascended and descended his pulpit. Thereafter Gabriel brought this holy ayat: "And when We said to you: Surely your Lord encompasses men. And we did not create the vision which We showed you except as a trial for men and the cursed tree in the Qur'an as well. And we cause them to fear, but it only adds to their grievous transgression." (17:60)

Allah Almighty has called the Bani Umayya, whose leaders were Abu Sufyan and Mu'awiya, the "cursed tree" in the Holy Qur'an. Mu'awiya, who was a strong limb of this tree, was definitely accursed.


Again Allah Almighty says, "But if you held command, you would surely make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship. Those it is whom Allah has cursed so He has made them deaf and blinded their eyes." (47:22-23)

In this verse those who make mischief in the earth and sever the ties of kinship are cursed by Allah. Who was a greater mischief monger than Mu'awiya, whose caliphate was notorious for its evil practices. Besides this, he severed the ties of kinship.


Also Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: "Surely as for those who speak evil things of Allah and His Apostle, Allah has cursed them in this world and in the hereafter, and He has prepared them for a chastisement bringing disgrace." (33:57)


Certainly tormenting the Commander of the Faithful and the two grandsons of the Holy Prophet Hasan and Husain as well as Ammar-e-Yasir and other distinguished companions of the Holy Prophet was the equivalent of tormenting the Holy Prophet himself. Since Mu'awiya did torment these pious people, he was, according to the explicit wordings of the verse, definitely accursed in this world and in the hereafter.


In sura Mu'min (The Believer), Allah says: "The day on which their excuse shall not benefit the unjust, and for them is a curse and for them is an evil abode." (40:52)


In the sura Hud, He says: "Now surely the curse of Allah is on the unjust." (11:18)


In the sura Al-A'raf (The Elevated Places) Allah says: "Then a crier will cry out among them that the curse of Allah is on the unjust." (7:44)

Similarly, in many other verses revealed about the unjust ones, it is clear that every unjust one is accursed. I do not think any of you would deny the open injustices perpetrated by Mu'awiya. So the very fact that he was unjust, proves that he deserved both Allah's curse and the curse of Mola Ali AS..and so in the light of these clear indications **we too can curse the one who deserves Allah's curse**.


In the sura Nisa (The Women) Allah says: "And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is Hell; he shall abide in it, and Allah will send His wrath on him and curse him and prepare for him a painful chastisement." (4:93)

Banu Ummayah the worst enemy of Prohpet(Saww)

Prophet Mohammad (S.a.w.w) Said : "Our worst enemy is Bani Umaya"

Sources:-

tatheer-ul-Jinaan - Page No. 142


Nasaa'eh Kafia - Page No. 109

Banu Ummayah the Shajra-Malo’ona

"Shajra-Malo'ona fil'Quran" means bani Umaya.

Source:-roaza-tul-Manazir - Vol 2 - Page No. 85

Traits of the ladies of Banu Ummayah

Umaya did Zanah with a Jewish girl of "safooria/sifooria",From which a boy named "zaakoon" was born,who was known as Abu-Umro.The same Abu-Umro was the Grandfather of Aqba(The person whome Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.w) called "The Jew Of Safooria"


Source:-Nasaa'eh Kafia - Page No. 110

After Umaya's Death, Zakoon(abu-Umer) Married his own mother

Source:-tarjuma-e-Musafir - Page No. 8

Tehreef ul Quran reports in Ahle Sunnat texts



Some Sunni Reports on the Incompleteness of Quran

There are some traditions in Sihah Sittah (six authentic Sunni collections)
which are not accepted by Shia scholars. Among them, some are talking about
the changes made in Quran * after * the death of the Prophet. As I will
show, in some Sunnis report 345 verses, two chapters of Quran (one of which
is was as much as ch.9 in length) are missing from Quran. Here I give you
some references in Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, and other important
collections which falsely allege that Quran is incomplete. Let me first
start with Sahih Muslim.

============
Sahih Muslim
============
Muslim in the Seventh ( 7th ) part of his Sahih, in the book of Al
Zakat about the virtue of being satisfied with what ever God gives
about urging people to have that virtue, pp 139-140 (Arabic),
reported that Abu al-Aswad reported that his father said :

*(For English version of Sahih Muslim see)*
*(Chapter CCCXCI, p500, Tradition #2286)*

Abu Musa al-Ashari invited the Quran readers of Basra. Three
hundred ( 300 ) readers responded to his invitation. He told
them

You are the readers and the choice of the People of
Basra. Recite the Quran and don't neglect it. Other
wise a long time may elapse and your hearts will ne
hardened as the hearts of those who came before you
were hardened.

We used to read a Chapter from the Quran similar to
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^
Bara'ah in length and seriousness, but I forgot it.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I can remember from the Chapter only the following
words :

Should a son of Adam own two valleys full of wealth, he should
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^
seek a third valley and nothing would fill Ibn Adam's abdomen
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^
but the soil.
^^^^^^^^^^^^

We also used to read a chapter similiar to the Musabbihat and I
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^
forgot it. I only remember out of it the following:

"Oh you who believe, why do you say what you do not do? (which is
now in another place in Quran 61:2) Thus a testimony shall be
written on your necks and you will be questioned about it on the
day of judgment." (which is a little different than what is in
another place in Quran 17:13)

It is obvious that the above underlined words which Abu Musa mentioned are
not from the Quran nor they are similar to any of the Words of God in the
Quran. It is amazing that Abu Musa claims that two ( 2 ) chapters from the
Quran are missing one of them is similar to Bara'ah in length!!! The
following traditions are before the above tradition in Sahih Muslim:

Sahih Muslim (English), Chapter CCCXCI, Tradition #2282:
Anas reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: "If
the son of Adam were to possess two valleys of riches, he would long
for the third one. And the stomach of the son of Adam is not filled
but with dust. And Allah returns to him who repents."


Sahih Muslim (English), Chapter CCCXCI, Tradition #2283:
Anas b. Malik reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him) as saying this (the sentence of the above tradition),
but I do not know whether this thing was revealed to him or not,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
but he said so.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sahih Muslim (English), Chapter CCCXCI, Tradition #2284:
Anas b. Malik reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as
saying: If there were two valleys of gold for the son of Adam, he
would long for another one, and his mouth will not be filled with
dust, and Allah returns to him who repents.


Sahih Muslim (English), Chapter CCCXCI, Tradition #2285:
Ibn Abbas reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as
saying: If there were for the son of Adam a valley full of riches, he
would long to possess another one like it, and Ibn Adam does not feel
satisfied but with dust. And Allah returns to him who returns (to
Him). Ibn Abbas said: I do not know whether it is from Quran or not,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^
and in the narration transmitted by Zubair it was said: I do not know
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
whether it is from the Quran, and he made no mention of Ibn Abbas.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Muslim also reported in the book of nursing ( al-Ridha ), v10
pages 29 (Arabic), that Aisha said the following :

There was in what was revealed in the Quran that ten ( 10 ) times
of nursing known with certainty makes the nursing woman a mother
of the nursed child. This number of nursing would make the woman
'Haram' to the child. Then this verse was replaced by ' five ( 5 )
known nursing ' to make the woman forbidden to the child. The
Prophet died while these words were recorded and read in the Quran.

Also al-Zamakhshari recorded that Aisha said that the Quranic verse
enjoining stoning for adultery was written on a leaf, but the leaf
was accidentally eaten by a goat while the Prophet Muhammad was on his
death-bed, and thus the verse was lost.

Umar [reportedly] Said Chapter 33 Is Incomplete:

al-Muttaqi Ali Ibn Husam al-Din in his book ( Mukhtasar Kanz al-Ummal,
printed on the margin of Imam Ahmed's Musnad, v2, p2 ) in his Hadith about
chapter 33, that said Ibn Mardawayh
reported that Huthaifah said:

Umar said to me : How many verses are contained in the
Chapter al-Ahzab ? I said 72 ( seventy two ) or 73 ( seventy
three ) verses. He said : It was almost as long as the chapter
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
of the Cow, which contains 287 ( two eighty seven ) verses, and
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^
in it there was the verse of stoning.

If we take the report of Ibn Mardawayh which Huthaifah attributed to Umar
in which he said that the Chapter of al-Ahzab, which contained 72 ( Seventy
two ) verses, was as long as the Chapter of the Cow ( containing 287 ) and
take the report of Abu Musa which says that a chapter equal in length to
the Chapter of Bara'ah ( contains 130 ) was deleted from the Quran, then
the deletion in the Quran according to these reports would be 345 Verses.
^^^^^^^^^^^

================
Sahih al-Bukhari
================
Al-Bukhari recorded in his Sahih, v8, pp 209-210, that
Ibn Abbas reported that Umar Ibn al-Khattab said the following in
a discourse which he delivered during the last years of the caliphate.

*(For Arabic-English version of Sahih al-Bukhari see 8.817:)*

When Umar performed his last Hajj, he said:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Certainly Allah sent Muhammad with the truth and revealed
him the Book. One of the revelations which came to him
was the verse of stoning. We read it and understood it.

The Messenger of God stoned and we stoned after him. I am
concerned that if time goes on, some one may say ' By God
we do not find the verse of stoning in the Book of God ';
thus, the Muslims will deviate by neglecting a commandment
the Almighty revealed.

Again, we used to read in what we found in the Book of God :
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^
Do not deny the fatherhood of your fathers in contempt
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^
because it is a disbelief on your part to be ashamed of
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^
your fathers.
^^^^^^^^^^^^

More references of similar tradition:
- Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (in the Musnad of Umar under the caption of
the Hadith al-Saqeefah, pp 47,55)
- Sirah of Ibn Hisham (Pub. by Issa al-Babi al-Halabi of Egypt 1955),
v2, p658

The above Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari (Tradition 8.817 ) as well as
similar ones in Sahih al-Bukhari (Tradition 8.816 and 9.424(cool.gif) all say
"Umar's last Hajj". Would you tell us when this Hadith could have been
told originally? How long had it been passed by then from the death of
prophet? Or from the gathering of Quran?

Please also note that the above verse which was recited by Umar in the
above tradition, is not in present Quran.

The following Hadith is narrated without any Hadith number in Bukhari.
It is in the title of one of the chapter of Bukhari. Fortunately, it
was translated by the translator.

Sahih al-Bukhari, Arabic-English version, vol 9, p212:
{Between Traditions 9.281 and 9.282}

(21) CHAPTER. If a judge has to witness in favor of a litigant when
he is a judge or he had it before he became a judge (can he pass a
judgment in his favor accordingly or should he refer the case to
another judge before whom he would bear witness?). And the judge
Shuraih said to a person who sought his witness, "Go to the ruler so
that I may bear witness(before him) for you." And 'Ikrima said, "Umar
said to 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf, 'If I saw a man committing illegal
sexual intercourse or theft, and you were the ruler (what would you
do)?. 'Abdur-Rahman said, 'I would regard your witness as equal to the
witness of any other man among the Muslims. 'Umar said, 'You have
said the truth.' 'Umar added:

If I were not afraid of the fact that people may say that 'Umar has
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
added to the Quran extra (verses), I would have written the Verse al-
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Rajm (stoning to death of married adulterers) with my own hands.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
and Ma'iz confessed before the Prophet that he had committed illegal
intercourse, whereupon the prophet ordered him to be stoned to death.
It is not mentioned that the prophet sought witness of those who were
present there.

Hammad said, "If an adulterer confesses before a ruler once only, he
should be stoned to death." But al-Hakam said, "He must confess four
times.

My questions here are:

1)- Do you agree that Umar stated clearly that the verse famous as
Rajm was in Quran originally (or was revealed originally)?

2)- To discuss the second part, I have given it more closely below:

.-----------------------------------------------------------.
| If I were not afraid of the fact that people may say |
| that 'Umar has added to the Quran extra (verses), I |
| would have written the Verse Ar-Rajm (stoning to death |
| of married adulterers) with my own hands. |
|_____________________________________________
______________|

2.a)- Was Umar afraid of people talking behind him so and so?

2.cool.gif- Was he afraid of God MORE at the same time he was saying?
(Was he MORE fearful of God, or afraid of people MORE than
God?)

2.c)- Is anybody allowed to be afraid of people when revealing the
truth about Quran is more important?

3)-
3.1)- If Umar were NOT afraid of people, would he have been
writing the verse inside of Quran by his hand or not?

3.2)- If you were Umar, with the same knowledge and courage, would
you have been adding this verse to Quran by your hand or
not?

4)-
4.1)- Was Umar aware of abrogation or not?
4.2)- Was he aware of abrogation more than present scholars or
not?

5)- Did he know that he should (or should NOT) have been adding the
verse inside of Quran if it is abrogated or not? (This is not accepted
by Shia. I will explain this situation very shortly. Some Sunnis say
that it can be abrogated practically, and remained OUTSIDE of Quran.
My question is that

Did he know that he should NOT have been adding this verse
inside Quran since it is only practically abrogated? )

In other words, if he knew the rule, why he insisted on adding it, If he
did not know that, is the above rule an invention of some of Sunni
people who wanted to justify missing this verse?
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is another example, that after the death of Prophet its is
alleged that the phrase "Him who created" has been added to verse 92:3.

One of the narrator of this counterversy is Abdullah bin Masud. As I
mentioned, The prophet clearly indicated (by Sunni sources) that
Abdullah Ibn Masud is one of whom should be trusted on the matter of
Quran.

-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 6.468:
-------

Narrated Ibrahim:

The companions of 'Abdullah (Ibn Mas'ud) came to Abu Darda', (and
before they arrived at his home), he looked for them and found them.
Then he asked them,: 'Who among you can recite (Quran) as 'Abdullah
recites it?" They replied, "All of us." He asked, "Who among you knows
it by heart?" They pointed at 'Alqama. Then he asked Alqama. "How did
you hear 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud reciting Surat al-Lail (The Night)?"
Alqama recited:

'By the male and the female.' Abu Ad-Darda said, "I testify that I
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
heard me Prophet reciting it likewise, but these people want me to
^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
recite it:--

'And by Him Who created male and female.' but by Allah, I will not
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^
follow them."
^^^^^^^^^^^^


-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 5. 85:
-------

Narrated 'Alqama:

...Abu Darda further asked, "How does 'Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) recite the
Surah starting with, 'By the Night as it conceals (the light)." (92.1)
Then I recited before him:

'By the Night as it envelops: And by the Day as it appears in
brightness; And by male and female.' (91.1-3) On this Abu Ad-Darda'
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
said, "By Allah, the Prophet made me recite the Surah in this way while
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^
I was listening to him (reciting it)."


-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 5.105:
-------

Narrated Alqama:

I went to Sham and was offering a two-Rak'at prayer; I said, "O Allah!
Bless me with a (pious) companion." Then I saw an old man coming
towards me, and when he came near I said, (to myself), "I hope Allah
has given me my request." The man asked (me), "Where are you from?" I
replied, "I am from the people of Kufa." He said, "Weren't there
amongst you the Carrier of the (Prophet's) shoes, Siwak and the
ablution water container? Weren't there amongst you the man who was
given Allah's Refuge from the Satan? And weren't there amongst you the
man who used to keep the (Prophet's) secrets which nobody else knew?
How did Ibn Um 'Abd (i.e. 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud) use to recite
Surat al-Layl (The Night; ch. 92)?" I recited:--

"By the Night as it envelops By the Day as it appears in brightness.
And by male and female." (92.1-3) On that, Abu Darda said, "By Allah,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
the Prophet made me read the Verse in this way after listening to
him, but these people (of Sham) tried their best to let me say
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^
something different."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

-------------------------------------------
Comments:
Please read the Verse itself. It is
By Him Who created male and the female.' (92:3)

Do you see the word "Him who created" in that aayah?
If no, please verify the Quran that you have.

If yes, please tell us that these words are added to Quran or not?

As you see, what is written in the parentheses is missing in the
Hadith while it is in the Quran.

Do you think that the aayah is abrogated? If yes, please define
the word "abrogation " for us.

{Abrogation is to delete something from Quran by the order of the
prophet himself. For example, there is a rule for a while, then the
prophet brings God's order that the rule is extended and the previous
rule is not acceptable any more. Therefore, the previous rule is
abrogated. Now, do you think that "Him who created" is abrogated?
If yes, tell us what you understand from abrogation. Since these words
are added, there is no room for abrogation here. If something were
deleted, you could say that. Here, nothing is deleted from the present
Quran. Something is added already based on these traditions.}

Do you think that these words were explanatory words?

Your answer: Yes, they were:
Please tell us if the narrators of these traditions knew what is
aayah and what is explanatory(commentary) statement?
These narrators say that the people of their time did not recite
their way, however, THEY WILL NOT CHANGE ANYTHING, and THEY WILL
CONTINUE RECITING QURAN THAT WAY.
In addition, the commentary statements is not inside the Quran
itself. It is in tafsir. However, present Quran contains these
words "him who created" inside them. Now, please tell us that
the present Quran contains the commentary words of Sahabah or
not?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunnis narrated that after the death of prophet, Quran was gathered in
different ways, and by different people. Those who did not accept the
government' Quran (which was gathered by Abu-Bakr) kept their version
of Quran at home and did not show it publicly. However, they did
recite them as they wanted in public domain.

Abdullah Ibn Masud is one of famous narrators of sunni sources.

-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 6.521:
-------

Narrated Masriq:

'Abdullah bin 'Amr mentioned 'Abdullah bin Masud and said, "I shall
ever love that man, for I heard the Prophet saying, 'Take (learn) the
Quran from four: 'Abdullah bin Masud, Salim, Mu'adh and Ubai bin
Ka'b.' " ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^
^^^^^
The prophet clearly indicated (by sunni sources) that
Abdullah Ibn Masud is one of whom should be trusted on the matter of
Quran.

He, himself, says that:
-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 6.524:
-------

Narrated 'Abdullah (bin Mas'ud) : By Allah other than Whom none has
the right to be worshipped! There is no Sura revealed in Allah's Book
but I know at what place it was revealed; and there is no Verse
revealed in Allah's Book but I know about whom.

This man had a different Quran (based on Sunni sources) with a different
sequence of chapters and different set of aayaat. As I pointed out , he
narrated that one aayat inside the present Quran has an extra word
"Him Who created". and He told this to people in different area.

One of these differences are the last two chapters of Quran. He believed
that these two chapters are not Quranic chapters and they are only some
prayers (Du'aa).

Please read the following traditions very carefully.

-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 6.501:
-------

Narrated Zirr bin Hubaish:

I asked Ubai bin Ka'b, "O Abu AlMundhir! Your brother, Ibn Mas'ud said
so-and-so (i.e., the two Mu'awwidh-at do not belong to the Quran)."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^
Ubai said, "I asked Allah's Apostle about them, and he said, 'They
have been revealed to me, and I have recited them (as a part of the
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Quran)," So Ubai added, "So we say as Allah's Apostle has said."
^^^^^^

-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 6.500:
-------

Narrated Zirr bin Hubaish:

I asked Ubai bin Ka'b regarding the two Muwwidhat (Surats of taking
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
refuge with Allah). He said, "I asked the Prophet about them, He said,
'These two Surats have been recited to me and I have recited them (and
^^^^^^
are present in the Quran).' So, we say as Allah's Apostle said (i.e.,
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
they are part of the Quran"

%%%% %%%% %%%% Note: %%%% %%%% %%%%
The explanations inside the parentheses are from the translator (Muhammad
Muhsin Khan, University of al-Medina, Saudi Arabia). They are not mine.
%%%% %%%% %%%% %%%% %%%% %%%%

My comments:
1)- Do you agree that the speaker of these two traditions are "Ubai-ibn-
Ka'b"?

2)- Do you agree that he was talking about these two chapters of Quran?

3)- Do you agree that in the first Hadith, the subject is about "Ibn-
Masud"?

4)- Do you agree that Ubai-Ibn-Ka'b said that these two chapters are
inside of Quran, and Ibn-Masud thought that these two are not inside of
Quran?

5)- Do you trust Ubai-Ibn-Ka'b on this matter, or do you trust
"Ibn-Masud" on THIS matter?

6)- If you reject any of them, how do you justify your act with the
first Hadith in this article where both of them are trusted by the
prophet? How can you REMOVE and NOT remove these two chapters from
Quran? Please explain, bring evidences, and references for any Hadith
you may quote. Thanks. (I already know what you may quote, so please
be careful in quoting them.)

As I said, these traditions are REJECTED by Shia since they are clearly
illogical, and against the true content of Quran.

This man, Abdullah-Ibn-Masud, had a different set of Quran too.
Please read the following Hadith and explain to us whether the Quran
of Abdullah Ibn Masud was the same as your Quran.

-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 6.518:
-------

Narrated Shaqiq:

Abdullah said, "I learnt An-Naza'ir which the Prophet used to recite
in pairs in each Rak'a." Then Abdullah got up and Alqama accompanied
him to his house, and when Alqama came out, we asked him (about those
Suras). He said, "They are twenty Suras that start from the beginning
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^
of al-Mufassal, according to the arrangement done be Ibn Mas'ud, and
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
end with the Suras starting with Ha Mim, e.g. Ha Mim (the Smoke). and
"About what they question one another?" (78.1)

--------------------------------------------------------------

-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 6.514:
-------

Narrated 'Umar bin al-Khattab:

I heard Hisham bin Hakim reciting Surat al-Furqan during the lifetime
of Allah's Apostle and I listened to his recitation and noticed that
he recited in several different ways which Allah's Apostle had not
taught me. I was about to jump over him during his prayer, but I
controlled my temper, and when he had completed his prayer, I put his
upper garment around his neck and seized him by it and said, "Who
taught you this Surah which I heard you reciting?" He replied, "Allah's
Apostle taught it to me." I said, "You have told a lie, for Allah's
Apostle has taught it to me in a different way from yours." So I
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
dragged him to Allah's Apostle and said (to Allah's Apostle),

"I heard this person reciting Surat al-Furqan in a way which you
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
haven't taught me!" On that Allah's Apostle said, "Release him, (O
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
'Umar!) Recite, O Hisham!" Then he recited in the same way as I heard
him reciting. Then Allah's Apostle said, "It was revealed in this
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
way," and added, "Recite, O 'Umar!" I recited it as he had taught me.
^^^^
Allah's Apostle then said, "It was revealed in this way. This Quran
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite of
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
it whichever (way) is easier for you (or read as much of it as may be
^^^^^^^^^
easy for you)."


-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 6. 53:
-------

Narrated Ibn Az-Zubair:

I said to 'Uthman bin 'Affan (while he was collecting the Quran)
regarding the Verse:-- "Those of you who die and leave wives ..."
(2.240) "This Verse was abrogated by an other Verse. So why should you
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^
write it? (Or leave it in the Quran)?" 'Uthman said. "O son of my
^^^^^^^^
brother! I will not shift anything of it from its place."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

-------
Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith: 6. 60:
-------

Narrated Ibn Az-Zubair:

I said to 'Uthman, "This Verse which is in Surat-al-Baqara:

"Those of you who die and leave widows behind...without turning them
out." has been abrogated by another Verse. Why then do you write it
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
(in the Quran)?" 'Uthman said. "Leave it (where it is), O the son of
my brother, for I will not shift anything of it (i.e. the Quran) from
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^
its original position."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

My comments: If the previously mentioned verses which are alleged to be in
Quran as Sahih al-Bukhari claims, are abrogated, then why are they missing
in the Quran? How can we justify the last two traditions? More over, how
can something become abrogated after the death of Prophet?

If a verse is abrogated, there has to be an existing verse which
is better or equal than the previous one. This is what Quran testifies:

None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten,
but We substitute something better or similar Do you not know that
Allah has power over all things? (Quran 2:106)

Thus the abrogated and abrogating verses are always in pair.

As the above Sunni traditions confirm, the abrogated verse must be in
Quran. There are quite a few verses in present Quran which are clearly
stated in Tafaseer (of Sunni and Shia) that specific verses are abrogated
by such and such verses. The only abrogated verses which do not exist
in the Quran are those which Allah cause them to be "FORGOTTEN" (see
the above verse of Quran). Since the forgotten verses were not in the
mind of the prophet and the people, it is normal that these verses
are not in the present Quran, since nobody could remember them because
of Allah's will.

The traditions mentioned from Sihah Sittah claim that some verses in Quran
are missing and the companions not only * remember * them, but also recite
them in public. So it can not be abrogated since it is not forgotten nor
we have any similar verses (abrogating pairs) in Quran for them. Moreover,
the abrogation is only at the time of Prophet, and not after his death.

However some of the above traditions allege that some companions believed
that people after the death of Prophet have CHANGED the words of Quran,
however, THEY WILL NOT CHANGE ANYTHING, and THEY WILL CONTINUE RECITING
THEIR OWN VERSION OF QURAN. Abrogation can not be an answer for such
disputes.

Also al-Hakim An-Nisaboori in his book "Al-Mustadrak" in the section of
commentary on the Quran, part two, p224, reported that Ubai
Ibn Kaab (whom the Prophet called the leader of al-ansar), said
that the Messenger of God said to him:

Certainly the Almighty commanded me to read the Quran in
front of you, and he read "The unbelievers from the people
of the Book and the pagans will not change their way until
they see the evidence. Those who disbelieve among the people
of the scripture and the idolaters could not change until the
clear proof came unto them. A Messenger from Allah, reading
purified pages..." And of the very excellent part of it:

"Should Ibn Adam ask for a valley full of wealth and I grant it to
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
him, he would ask for another valley. And if I grant him that, he
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
would ask for a third valley. Nothing would fill the abdomen of Ibn
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Adam except the soil. God accepts the repentance of anyone who
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
repents. The religion in the eyes of God is the Hanafiyah (Islam)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
rather than Yahudiyya (Judaism) or Nasraniya (Christianity). Whoever
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
does good, his goodness will not be denied."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Sunni reference: al-Mustadrak by al-Hakim, section of commentary on the
Quran, v2, p224

Al-Hakim wrote: This is an authentic Hadith. al-Dhahabi also considered
it authentic in his commentary (on al-Mustadrak). al-Hakim reported that
Obei Ibn Kabb used to read:

"Those who disbelieved had set up in their hearts the
zealotry of the age of ignorance; and if you had had a similar
zealotry, the Sacred Mosque would have been corrupted, and God
[would have] brought down His peace of reassurance upon His Messenger"

When al-Hakim said this is authentic according to the standards of the two
sheikhs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)!!! and when al-Dhahabi also considered it
authentic in his Commentary on al-Mustadrak, v2, pp 225-226, and when
Muslim report similar to this from Abu Musa Ash'ari which I mentioned
earlier, then what will be the conclusion?

Those who claim that anyone who has recoded a tradition which implies the
incompleteness of Quran is Kafir, should first pass this verdict for
al-Bukhari, Muslim, al-Hakim, because they testified that such absurd
traditions are authentic and have named their book "Sahih"! This is
while the author of al-Kafi never claimed that his book is all-authentic,
and mentioned that those traditions which contradict Quran should be
rejected.





Tehreef ul Quran answers....Elucidation of Quran compiled by Maula Ali(AS)

The Holy Qur'an Arranged by Imam Ali (A.S.)
There is no dispute among Muslim scholars, whether they are Sunni or Shia, concerning the fact that the Commander of Believers, Ali (AS), possessed a special transcript of the text of Quran which he had collected himself, and he was THE FIRST who compiled Quran. There are a great number of traditions from Sunni and Shia which states that “After the death of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF), Imam Ali sat down in his house and said that he had sworn an oath that he would not put on his outdoor clothes or leave his house until he collects together the Quran.”
Sunni references:
- Fat'hul Bari fi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v10,
p386


- al-fihrist, by (Ibn) an-Nadim, p30


- al-Itqan, by al-Suyuti, v1, p165


- al-Masahif, by Ibn Abi Dawud, p10


- Hilyatul awliya', by Abu Nu'aym, v1, p67


- al-Sahibi, by Ibn Faris, p79


- 'Umdatul Qari, by al-Ayni, v20, p16


- Kanzul Ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, v15, pp 112-113


- al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 9, Section 4, p197


- Ma'rifat al-Qurra' al-kibar, by al-Dhahabi, v1, p31

There are also traditions from the Imams of Ahlul Bayt which tell us that this was done by Imam Ali by order of the Holy Prophet.

Source:-al-Bihar, v92,pp 40-41,48,51-52


This transcript of Quran which compiled by Imam Ali (AS) had the following unique specifications:
a) It was collected according to its revelation, i.e., in the order in
which it had been sent down. This is the reason that Muhammad Ibn Sireen
(33/653 - 110/729), the famous scholar and Tabi'i (disciples of the
companions of the Holy Prophet), regretted that this transcript had not
passed into the hands of the Muslims, and said: "If that transcript were in
our hands, we would found a great knowledge in it."


Sunni References:
- at-Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa'd, v2, part 2, p101


- Ansab al-ashraf, by al-Baladhuri, v1, p587


- al-Istiab, by Ibn Abd al-Barr, v3, pp 973-974


- Sharh Ibn Abi al-Hadid, v6, pp 40-41


- al-Tas'hil, by Ibn Juzzi al-Kalbi, v1, p4


- al-Itqan, by al-Suyuti, v1, p166


- al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 9, Section 4, p197


- Ma'rifat al-Qurra' al-kibar, by al-Dhahabi, v1, p32


It is according to this transcript that Sunni scholars relate that the first Chapter of Quran which was sent down to the Prophet (PBUH&HF) was
Chapter al-Iqra (al-Alaq, Ch. 96).


Sunni References:
- al-Burhan, by al-Zarkashi, v1, p259


- al-Itqan, by al-Suyuti, v1, p202


- Fathul Bari, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v10, p417


- Irshad al-sari, by al-Qastalani, v7, p454


As you know the Chapter al-Alaq is not at the beginning of the present Quran. Also Muslims agree that the verse (5:3) was among one of the last revealed verses of Quran (but not the very last one), yet it is not toward the end of the present Quran. This clearly proves that although the Quran that we have available is complete, it is not in the order that has been revealed. These few misplacements were done by some companions on purpose at worst, or out of ignorance at least. It was for this reason that the Commander of Believers, Ali (AS) frequently stated in his sermons: "Ask me before you lose me. By Allah, if you ask me about anything that could happen up to the Day of Judgment, I will tell you about it. Ask me, for, by Allah, you will not be able to ask me a question about anything without my informing you. Ask me about the Book of Allah, for by Allah, there is no verse about which I do not know whether it was sent down at night or during the day, or whether it was revealed on a plain or in a mountain."

Sunni References:
- al-Riyadh al-Nadhirah, by al-Muhib al-Tabari, v2, p198


- at-Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa'd, v2, part 2, p101


- al-Isabah, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v4, p568


- Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v7, pp 337-338


- Fathul Bari, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v8, p485


- al-Istiab, by Ibn Abd al-Barr, v3, p1107


- Tarikh al-Khulafa, by al-Suyuti, p124


- al-Itqan, by al-Suyuti, v2, p319

b ) This transcript contained commentary and hermeneutic interpretation (Tafsir and Ta'wil) from the Holy Prophet some of which had been sent down as revelation but NOT as a part of the text of Quran. A small amount of such texts can be found in some traditions in Usul al-Kafi. These pieces of information were the Divine commentary of the text of Quran which were revealed along with Quranic verses. Thus the commentary verses and Quranic verses could sum up to 17000 verses. As Sunnis know, Hadith al-Qudsi (the Hadith in which the speaker is Allah) is also direct revelation, but they are not a part of Quran. In fact Quran testifies that anything that Prophet said was (either direct or indirect) revelation (See Quran 53:3-4). The direct revelation includes the interpretation/commentary of the Quran. In addition, this unique transcript contained the information from the Holy Prophet about which verse was abrogated and which was abrogating, which verse was clear (Muhkam) and which was ambiguous (Mutashabih), which verse was general and which was specific.

c) This unique transcript also contained references to the persons, places etc., about which the verses were revealed, what is called "Asbab al- Nuzul". Since the Commander of Believers was aware of these facts, he frequently said: "By Allah, no verse has been sent down without my knowing about whom or what it was revealed and where it was revealed. My Lord has gifted me with a mind which has a quick and retaining understanding, and a tongue which speaks eloquently."

Sunni References:
- Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu'aym, v1, pp 67-68


- at-Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa'd, v2, part 2, p101


- Kanzul Ummal, by al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, v15, p113


- al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 9, Section 4, p197


After he compiled this transcript, Imam Ali (AS) took it and presented it to the rulers who came after the Holy Prophet, and said: "Here is the book of Allah, your Lord, in the order that was revealed to your Prophet." but they did not accept it and replied: "We have no need of this. We have with us what you possess." Thereupon, Imam Ali (AS) took the transcript back and informed them that they will never see it again. It is reported that Imam Ali recited the latter part of the following verse of Quran:
"And when Allah took a Covenant from the People of the Book to
clarify it to mankind and not to hide its (clarification); but
they threw it away behind their backs and purchased with it some
miserable gain! and what an evil was the bargain they made!"
(Quran 3:187)

By "its clarification", Imam Ali meant the unique divine commentaries. The Commander of Believers then concealed that transcript, and after him it was passed to the Imams who also kept it concealed. It remained concealed with the Imams, one after the other to this day, because they wished to be only one sequence of Quran among the Muslims. Because otherwise if people have had two different sequences, it might later result to some alteration in Quran by some sick-minded people. They wished people have strictly one sequence of Quran. The Quran and its commentary which were collected by Imam Ali (AS) is not available for any Shia in the world except to the Imam Mahdi (AS). If the transcript of the Commander of Believers had been accepted, that would have been the Quran with unique commentary in the hand of people, but it turned out to be otherwise. This gives the meaning of the traditions in Usul al-Kafi which say that no one but the Commander of Believers and the later Imams had the Quran in the order it was revealed, and that the Quran which they had contains "what can be understood of the heaven, etc." and "the Knowledge of the Book, all of it," because they were the commentaries and interpretations noted in the transcript of Imam Ali directly from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.). Allah, to whom belong Might and Majesty, said:
"And We have sent down on you a Book in which is the clarification of ALL the things." (Quran 16:89)
Sometimes the word "tahrif" is used in some traditions, and it must be made clear that the meaning of this word is changing of something from its proper place to another place, like changing the right position of sentence, or giving it a meaning other than its true or intended meaning. Therefore, it has absolutely nothing to do with addition or subtraction from the text. It is thus with this meaning that the Quran states:
"Some of the Jews distort (yuharrifuna) words from their meaning"
(Quran 4:46).
This meaning of "tahrif", i.e., changing of meaning or changing the context, as it appears in the Quran, has not only been applied in the Muslim community to the verses of the Quran but also to the ahadith of the Holy Prophet, even by rulers who have been prepared to use Islam to their own personal advantage. It is this "tahrif", with this meaning, that the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt have constantly sought to oppose. As one example, Imam al-Baqir (AS) complained about the situation of the Muslims and their corrupt rulers, and said:
"One of the manifestations of their rejecting the Book (of Allah behind their backs) (see Quran 2:101) is that they have fixed its words. but they have altered the limits (of its command) (harrafu hududah). They have (correctly) narrated it, but they do not observe (what) it (says). Ignorant people delight in their preservation of its narration, but the knowledgeable people deplore their ignoring to observe(what) it (says)."


Shi'i references:
- al-Kafi, v8, p53


- al-Wafi, v5, p274 and v14, p214


This use of "tahrif" is taken as a definition for the word wherever it appears in the ahadith of the Imams, similar to what Quran (4:46) has used.
It is necessary to emphasize here that all grand scholars of the Imami Shia are in agreement that the Quran which is at present among the Muslims is the very same Quran that was sent down to the Holy Prophet, and that it has not been altered. Nothing has been added to it, and nothing is missing from it. The Quran which was compiled by Imam Ali (excluding the commentaries) and the Quran that is in the hand of people today, are identical in terms of words and sentences. No word, verse, chapter is missing. The only difference is that the current Quran (collected by the companions) is not in the order that was revealed.
The completeness of Quran is so indisputable among Shia that the great Shia scholar, Abu Ja'far Muhammad Ibn Ali Ibn al-Husain Ibn Babwayh, known as
"Shaikh Saduq" (309/919-381/991), wrote:
"Our belief is that the Quran which Allah revealed to His Prophet Muhammad is (the same as) the one between the two covers (daffatayn). And it is the one which is in the hands of the people, and is not greater in extent than that. The number of Surahs as generally accepted is one hundred and fourteen...And he who asserts that we say that it is greater in extent than that, is a liar."


Shi'i reference: Shi'ite Creed (al-I'tiqadat al-Imamiyyah), by Shaikh
Saduq, English version, p77


It should be noted that Shaikh Saduq was the greatest scholars of Hadith among the Imami Shia and was given the name of Shaikh al-Muhaddithin (i.e., the most eminent of the scholars of Hadith). And since he wrote the above in a book with the name of "The beliefs of the Imami Shia," it is quite impossible that there could be any authentic Hadith in contrary to it. It is noteworthy that Shaikh Saduq lived at the time of minor occultation of Imam Mahdi (AS)and he is one of the earliest Shia scholars. He had the honor that he was born with the prayer of Imam Mahdi (AS). For a more detailed discussion of completeness of Quran as well as the opinion of the Shia, interested readers may look at "al-Bayan,"


Some ignorant opponents of the Shia mentioned that we apply al-Taqiyya(dissimulation) and we do not release our actual belief on Quran. These people never tried to understand that Taqiyya is for the time when my life or the life of the other fellow is in danger. There is no need to conceal my belief here since I am not under prosecution. The above article is witness to what I say. Taqiyya is not a good excuse for these people in front of Allah to disregard what Shia present. They have liberty to check the traditions which we have mentioned in different articles, or they can else ask their "honest" scholars to do that.
And the truth is the best to be followed...

Source:- "al-Bayan," by Abul Qasim al-Khoei, pp 214-278.



السؤال: هل القران الکريم الموجود عندنا وبين ايدينا هو القران الکامل من غير تحريف او تدنيس

؟الجواب: القرآن الموجود بأيدينا هو القرآن النازل علی رسول الله (صلی الله عليه وآله) من غير تغيير أو تحريف.

q: is the koran we have today is the whole koran without any change or alteration??

A: the koran we have today is the koran revealed to the prophet(saw) without any change or alteration(tahrif)

Link:- http://sistani.org/local.php?modules=nav&a...=274&page=3


Tehreef-ul-Quran in Shia literature....Its kinds and some answers of enfeeble reports

This is through collecting information from the threads we had about Quran and its protection from tahreef


The 1st proof is from Quran:

The Quran's testimony regarding it's perfectness:

The existence of Surahs:

2:23 And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true.
This shows that one of the aspects of the Quran is the 'surah'. If Allah has preserved the Quran, then he has preserved the 'surahs', otherwise Allah's challenge is destroyed.

The Quran's acceptance of the fact that the verses were revealed in stages:

Another thing the Quran shows is that the ayaat were revealed in stages, as issues popped up. So, if an issue of talaq popped up, an ayah was revealed. If an issue of jihad popped up right after that, it was revealed. Therefore, the order of the verses in the Quran were never MEANT to be in the order of their revelation.

17: 106 And it is a Quran which We have revealed in portions so that you may read it to the people by slow degrees, and We have revealed it, revealing in portions.

The ordering of the Quran's verses is Allah's duty:

Allah took it upon Himself to decide the ordering of the verses that were revealed in portions.

75:17 It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it

Allah's promise to preserve the Quran:

15:9 Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its guardian.


In summary:

Falsehood shall not come to it from before it nor from behind it, a revelation from the Wise, the Praised One. (41:42)

This is exactly what Tabatabai said a famous mufasar of Quran

Protection from any alteration

The transmission of the Qur'an, from the day of its revelation up to the present day, is flawless. The chapters and verses have been in constant use amongst Muslims and have been passed on perfectly intact from one generation to the other. The Qur'an we know today is the same Qur'an which was revealed to the Prophet some fourteen centuries ago.
The Qur'an does not stand in need of historical proof for its identity or authenticity, (although history too confirms its validity). Since a book which claims to be the actual unalterable word of God and attests to this in its own text, does not need to resort to others to prove its authenticity. The clearest proof that the Qur'an we have with us today is the same that was revealed to the Prophet and that no alteration has taken place in its text is that very superiority which the Qur'an claimed for itself at the time of its revelation and which still exists.
The Qur'an says that it is a book of light and guidance, a book which shows man the truth and reality of existence; it says that it explains all things, that is, everything necessary for man to live in accordance with his own natural character; it says that it is the word of God and challenges man and jinn to produce similar words; -it invites them to find someone like the Prophet, who could neither read nor write and grew up in an age of ignorance as an orphan without instruction; the Qur'an challenges them to find any inconsistency in its method, Sciences, or laws, such as one might find in any ordinary book. They obviously cannot for the superiority of the Qur'an remains after its revelation.
Likewise, the guidance for man contained in the Qur'an is still valid; it still expounds a complete world view which is in accord with the purest of intellectual proofs and is the source of man's well being in this world and in the next. By the benevolence and care shown by the Creator for His creation in the Book, it still invites man to belief. The Qur'an cares for the needs of man by giving him a vision of reality based on Divine Unity. All knowledge and belief spring from this view of reality. At no point does the Qur'an fail to explain in the most comprehensive fashion the reality of this oneness. It devotes much attention to explaining the behavior and transactions expected of the individual in society and shows how correct action is that which accords with the natural character and capability (fitrah) of man.
The Qur'an leaves the detailed description of man's behaviour to the Prophet whose daily life was an example of how man was to apply what was contained in the Qur'an. Together the Book of God and the example (or Sunnah) of the Prophet delineated an astoundingly comprehensive life-pattern for man, namely, the way of living in tune with the reality which is Islam. The Qur'an deals precisely with all aspects of individual and social life and, despite having been revealed in another age, does not contain the slightest inconsistency or in- compatibility even today. It describes a din, a comprehensive way of life, whose programme of living is beyond the imagination of the world's most capable lawyers and sociologists.
The miracle of the Qur'an has in it clarity and eloquence, rooted, as it is, in the language of a nation famed for the purity and power of its language. The Qur'an is a miraculous sun whose light shines far brighter than the finest poetry of the time, indeed of any age. During the Islamic conquests of the first century after Hijra, the resulting admixing of non-Arabic words with the Arabic lessened the purity of Arabic language used in the Qur'an causing it to disappear from the every-day speech of the people. The Qur'an does not merely challenge man by the use of its language but also by the depth of its meaning. Those familiar with the Arabic language (both prose and verse writings) are reduced to silence and astonishment when they attempt to describe it. The Qur'an is neither poetry nor prose but rather seems to draw qualities from both; it is more attractive and dazzling than poetry and clearer and more flowing than prose.
A single verse or phrase from the Qur'an is more illuminating, more penetrating, and more profound than the complete speech of most eloquent speakers. The profundity of meaning in the Qur'an remains as miraculous as ever; its complex structure of beliefs, morals and laws stands as proof that the Qur'an is the word of God. Man, and in particular someone who was born and raised in circumstances similar to those of the Prophet, could never have created such a system; the Qur'an is a harmonious whole despite having been revealed during twenty-three years in greatly varying circumstances. God Himself confirms that the Qur'an has been preserved from change; in chapter XV:9 He says,
"Indeed We, even We, reveal the Reminder and indeed We are truly its guardian," and in chapter (XLI:41-42)
He says, 'for indeed it is an unassailable Book. Falsehood cannot come to it from before or behind it. (It is) a revelation from the Wise, the Praise one." Only a divine Book could remain preserved for fourteen centuries in a world where the enemies of truth and of Islam are numerous. * * *
(Allamah Tabatabai, The Qur'an in Islam, p. 101-103)

The Book of Allah is among you. It speaks and its tongue does not falter. It is a house whose pillars do not fall down, and a power whose supporters are never routed.

Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali(AS)
We did not make humans rulers, but we made the Qur’an the ruler over humans. This Quran is free from change but does not speak on its own accoard, an interpreter is needed for this task.

Source:-Nahjul Balagha part 6 page 7, Publishers Rehmania Egypt

Hadhrath Imam Jafar Sadiq(AS)
Ali bin Salam narrates from his father who asked Imam Jafer Sadiq(AS),O descendant of Prophet (S). What are your views on the Quran? Imam Jafer(AS) replied and ;the Quran is Allah ;s book; it contains commands of Allah; sent by Allah. It is not subject to alteration, neither can anyone claim that it has been changed, nor has anyone ever made such a claim.


Source:-Amali-al-Shaykh Saduq, Page 545, Published Iran


Hadhrath Imam Ali Naqi (AS)

The whole Ummah agrees on the authenticity of the Quran. No sect in the Ummah denies this fact, and this claim is true.


Source:-Ehtijaj-e-Tabrisi, Page 234, Published Iran

read this du'a from saheefa sajadiya http://www.duas.org/sajjadiya/s42.htm

which Thou sent down as a light and appointed as
a guardian over every book Thou hast sent down,
preferring it over every narrative
which Thou hast recounted


...

O God,
just as Thou hast appointed our hearts
as its carriers
and made known to us through Thy mercy
its nobility and excellence,
so also bless Muhammad, its preacher,
and his Household, its guardians,
and place us among those who confess that it has come from Thee,
lest doubt about attesting to it assail us,
or deviation from its straightforward path shake us!




Comments of Shia scholars refuting these lies


Shaykh Saduq (R.A)

The greatest Shia scholar of Hadith, Abu Jafar Muhammad Ibn Ali Ibn al-Husain Ibn Babwayh, known as "Shaykh Saduq" (309/919 - 381/991), wrote:

"Our belief is that the Quran which Allah revealed to His Prophet Muhammad is (the same as) the one between the two covers (daffatayn). And it is the one which is in the hands of the people, and is not greater in extent than that. The number of surahs as generally accepted is one hundred and fourteen ...And he who asserts that we say that it is greater in extent than that, is a liar."

Sources:-

  1. Etikadat Shaykh Saduq 93, Published Iran)


2. Awail-el-Mukalat, Page 55-56, Published Najaf


3. Shi'ite Creed (al-I'tiqadat al-Imamiyyah), by Shaykh Saduq, English version, p77


Allamah Muhammad Ridha Mudhaffar


"We believe that the Holy Quran is revealed by Allah through the Holy Prophet of Islam dealing with every thing which is necessary for the guidance of mankind. It is an everlasting miracle of the Holy Prophet the like of which cannot be produced by human mind. It excels in its eloquence, clarity, truth and knowledge. This Divine Book has not been tampered with by any one. This Holy Book which we recite today is the same Holy Quran which was revealed to the Holy Prophet. Any one who claims it to be otherwise is an evil-doer, a mere sophist, or else he is sadly mistaken. All of those who have this line of thinking have gone astray as Allah in Quran said:

"Falsehood can not reach the Quran from any direction (41:42)"


Source:-The Beliefs of Shi'ite School, by Muhammad Ridha Mudhaffar, English version, p50-51

Allamah Muhammad Hussein Tabatabai


This renowned scholar of the Quran writes in his very famous exegesis, Tafseer-ul-Meezan, 12th edition, page 109, Published Iran:

The Quran, which Almighty Allah descended on Prophet Muhammad (S), is protected from any change.

Scholars of Ahlul Sunnah that have vouched for the Shia viewpoint


Despite the belated efforts of these Nasibis in spreading lies, there are true humble Sunni Ulema that have looked beyond these lies and have confirmed that the Shia believe that the Quran is the uncorrupted Word of Allah (swt).

Imam of Ahlul Sunnah Allamah Shaykh Ghazzali of Egypt

Whilst addressing the allegation that the Shia ascribe tahreef to the Quran. He said:

In one gathering I heard a man say that Shi’as have a different Quran, which is unlike the Quran we have. I asked him, and Where is that Quran? Islam is being practiced on three continents. Since the demise of the Holy Prophet (S) until today, a passing of fourteen hundred years, the Ummah has known of the existence of only the one Quran, we possess knowledge of where the chapters begin and end, end as well as the number of verses that they contain. Where is this other Quran? During this long passage of time how is it that any man or jinn have not located this and other Quran? These lies cause dissention between brothers and cause dissention about the Book. There is only one Quran, if it is published in Cairo, it is considered holy in Najaf and Tehran as well, they will hold it in their hands and keep it in their homes. They have nothing but respect for the Creator that sent it, and the person through whom it was revealed. Why then are such rumors and lies spread about people and this message?


Source:-Wafa an Al aqida wa Al Shariah, Page 265-266, Publishers Al kutub Al hadisia, Egypt, 1985


Principal of the Shariah Department of Al Azhar University, Allamah Shaykh Muhammed-al-Madani
To state that the Shia Imamia believe that the Quran on account of traditions that can be located in their texts, is just the same as reaching the conclusion on the basis of such references in our books and but both Shia and Sunni scholars have refuted these claims. None amongst the Imamia Shia and Zaidia believe in this lie, in the same way that none of the adherents of Ahlul Sunnah do. Whoever accuses the Shia of ascribing to tahreef of the Quran, should read books such as Allamah Suyutis Tafseer Itqan; and objectively look at the traditions that point to tahreef of the Quran. Although we do not accept these sorts of traditions, one Egyptian scholar in 1948 wrote a book titled Al Furqan, in which he copied many of these traditions from the works of Ahlul Sunnah. Should we on this basis conclude that the Ahlul Sunnah do not believe that the Quran is complete? Or should we on account of these traditions which were copied by someone or written in such and such book by such and such a person, adopt the viewpoint that the Ahlul Sunnah believe that the Quran is incomplete? The same conclusion could likewise be reached about the Shia, as like us they also have similar traditions in their books.


Source:-Risalahthul-Islam, 11th Edition, Pages 382-383, 4th Part


Imam of Ahlul Sunnah Shah Abdul Aziz Muhadith Dehalvi
Shah Abdul Aziz Muhadith Dehlavi an anti shia scholar , while acknowledging that the Shia do not believe that the Quran had been altered states:

It is proven from all the traditions of the Imamia that the Ahl’ul bayt used to recite this same Quran and based their decisions in accordance with it. The commentary of Quran by Imam Hasan Askari is the commentary of this (same) Quran. All his children, relatives and servants studied ‘this’ Quran, and he used to order them to recite this Quran when praying. It is due to this fact that Shaykh Ibn-e-Bawia in his book Al Aqidath, denied that Quran had been altered.


Source:-Tuhfa Ithna Asharia, Page 281, Published Istanbul

The shia ahadith that states about Tehreef Al-Quran:-.
Regarding the shi'i 'hadiths' that suggest a corruption of some sort of the Quran (any of the different forms discussed above), here's what some of them say:
- that only Ali compiled the Quran in the correct order
- that no one but Ali had the true Quran
- that tahrif was done (exoteric)
- that the placement of some ayaat is wrong.


They have been rejected by the ijma' of the shia scholars.
There are approximately 300 narrations in Al-Kafi that suggest tahrif of some sort, and interestingly, they all pass through one of these four people (may Allah's curse be upon them):


Abu Ubaydalllah as-Syari:
Al-Ghada'iri said he is weak, and from the ghulat (extremists). An-Najashi said he is weak and his aqidah is corrupted.


Yunus bin Dhubyan:
An-Najashi says he is very weak, and that his ahadith are rejected. His books are nothing but corruption. Al-Ghada'iri says he is a liar, a fabricator, and from the ghulat.


Mankhal Al-Kufi:
Hashim al-Husaini says that all the muhadditheen unanimously denounced him as being from the ghulat.


Muhammad bin Hasan bin Jahoor:
Ibn Mutahhir al-Hilli says that he is weak, an extremist, and currupted in his narrations. His narrations are rejected and not relied upon.

Having now shot down all the narrations that suggest any form of tahrif, let us now look at what the shia scholars believe about the Quran. And who knows the official shia position better than the scholars?

The official shia vew:


Sheikh Sudooq:

Our belief is that the Qur’an is what is between the two covers and it is what is in people’s hands, nothing more. Whosoever attributes to us that we say rather than this is a liar.


Syed Murtadha:

The Qur’an was, during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), compiled and arranged until the Prophet (peace be upon him) assigned a group of Companions (Sahaba) to memorize it. It was displayed and recited before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and some Companions as Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood and Ubai Ibn Ka’b recited the whole Qur’an many times before the Prophet (peace be upon him). All this indicates that it was compiled and arranged, neither amputated nor scattered ……. Who disagreed among the Imamiyyah and Al-Hashawiyyah (two Shi’ite sects) are not to be considered for disagreement is attributed to some traditionists who related weak reports whom they believed to be true. However, such reports cannot refute what is already known and agreed upon its authenticity.
Other scholars agreed with his view.


Sheikh Tusi:

An irrefutable tradition is reported on authority of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he says: “I’m leaving in you the two weights (Ath-Thuqlain) by whom if you hold by, you will never be lost: Allah’s Book and my family, the inhabitants of my house. They will never separate till they join me in the Hawd”. This indicates that it is present every time because he cannot command us to hold by it if it is corrupted.

Sources:-
Sheikh Saduq: l-I'tiqadat al-Imamiyyah, under our belief about the Quran.


Syed Murtadha: Majma'ul-Bayan v1. p.15


At-Tabarasy: Majma'ul-Bayan v.1 p.15


Sheikh Tusi: Tafsir As-Safi, v.1 p.55.


Some other old scholars that believe that Ma bayna ad-Daffayn (the Quran between the two covers) is exactly what was revealed: Ibn Babawayh, Ibn Tawoos, Al-Kashani, Muhammad al-Baha'i, Zain ad-Din al-Bayadi.And some contemporary scholars: Kashiful-Ghita, Tabatabai, Muhsin Al-Amili, Muhammad Mehdi Shizari, Khomeini, and others.

1) Abdul-Hussain Sharafuddin: And the Quran was compiled during the days of the Prophet(saww) and is the same as what we have today with regards to the order and (inter-) coordination of its verses and chapters and all its words and letters, without any excess or deficiency, without taqdeem and ta'khir, and without ANY change

Source:-Ajoobah Masa'il Jarallah, p.28-37


2) Ayatollah Khomeini: ..and the final position regarding the compilation, preservation and its robustness (Dhabtahu?), and its reading and its written form is that we reject the alleged riwayaat that suggest this (alteration). And whatever has been narrated about it - which they (the erring party) have clung to - they are WEAK and are not used as daleel.
(He then goes on to say these riwayaat are ghareeb, dha'eef, and makes one wonder with surprise. And that the correct opinion is that the ONLY kind of 'alteration' in the Quran is the ta'wil or the esoteric understanding of some of the verses.

Source:-Tahdhib al-Usool 2:165


3) Ayatollah Khu'i: And the accepted between the Muslimeen is the absence of any alteration in the Quran, and that the Quran between our hands is the exact same Quran that was revealed to the Prophet (saww), and many a scholar has declared this, from them is Sheikh Saduq, ....

Source:- Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran: 200


He also stated: Every hadith that states any alteration of the Quran is a myth and a whim, and only the weak-minded stick to them, or those who do not seriously contemplate the implications of such a claim, or those that have been deceived by those who hold this belief, and this beliefs makes one blind. As for the wise and the fair-minded, he does not doubt the invalidity of this myth.

Source:- Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran: 259

Tehreef-ul-Quran explained (Answers of wrong allegations against us)

The victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran appalled global unbelief and arrogance. As this revolution gained more and more momentum each day, the panic and fear of the unbelievers and the arrogance escalated.

In the beginning of the glorious Islamic Revolution of Iran, the criminal superpowers, who had divided the interests of the world among themselves, believed that they could subjugate and control this revolution and bring it into their own orbit, so that the Islamic Revolution of Iran would pose no threat to their interests.

However, these superpowers came to realize that this revolution is truly Islamic and aims at the revival of Islam not only in Iran but also all over the world, including Islamic and non-Islamic countries. They even realized that the long-term objective of this revolution is the liberation of all the oppressed people of the world from the yoke of the world-devouring colonialists.

The interest and eagerness that the Muslim people and the oppressed of all the world displayed toward this liberating revolution served to enhance the consternation of the colonialists and their devoted agents. For this very reason, they sought to confront this revolution. Every day they hatched plots to overwhelm the Islamic Revolution of Iran.

Their satanic conspiracies were channelled through the canals of politics and religion, in a manner that new ideas sprang up in their minds daily. By engineering these plots, they poured their poison into the newly-established roots of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Among their most important political plots, one can name their numerous plans for coup d'etat, their fostering and bolstering of political grouplets both in Iran and abroad, their attempts to sow discord among the political and religious leaders, and tens of other intrigues, at the top of which should be considered the Iraqi-imposed war. This destructive war inflicted heavy losses on the lives and properties of the people. The enormous expenses of this war could have been used to improve the conditions of the poor and destitute Muslims of Islamic countries, especially in areas such as Africa and the like.

The conspiracies channelled through religion have not been less important and weaker than their political schemes. In this regard, one of the most important and tried ploy of theirs was to revive the differences between the Sunnis and the Shi'ah. As the overwhelming majority of the Muslim people of Iran unanimously follow the school of thought of the Ahl al-Bayt (A) (the members of the Household of the Holy Prophet-peace be upon them all), the superpowers tried to isolate this vast majority of Muslims from the Islamic Ummah in order to brand this Islamic Revolution as a sectarian revolution. The mercenary mullas, the hirelings who laud the reactionary regimes ruling over Islamic countries, played the most crucial role in this regard. These mercenaries rendered the best services to international kufr (infidelity) and arrogance by means of instigating Islamic sects against Shi'ism and by reviving age-old differences which have always served the tactics of the colonialists. They have done so under the name of Islam and sympathizing with Islam.

In the meantime, the Wahhabis, who are, at present, ruling over the holy land of Hijaz and the principal base of Islam and al-Haramayn al-Sharifayn (the holy shrines at Mecca and Medina), have created more trouble than all others. Every day, they publish books and leaflets all over the world and in different languages which are full of falsehood, fabrications, and accusations against the teachings of the members of the Household of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon them all).

Of course, it is not surprising that the Saudi Wahhabism, which has been sponsored by colonialism and is hated by all Islamic sects, and in whose condemnation Sunni `ulama' have written a large number of books, should embark on sowing discord and exciting sedition. This is because the Wahhabis safeguard the interests of the criminal United States in the region and have bartered Islam for kufr.

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran which resulted in cutting off the hands of foreigners and unbelievers, especially the U.S. imperialism, from this country and which led to the awakening and awareness of the Muslims all over the world, pitifully, these so called Islamic elements and rulers of Islamic countries, instead of cooperating with this revolution and turning to Islam and their nations, turned their backs on both and looked toward the global arrogance, thus initiating their stratagems against the Islamic Ummah by reliance on kufr. This point has been stressed by the Holy Qur'an where it says:

... and Allah will by no means glue the unbelievers a way against the believers. (4:141)

and the Qur'an also says:

They make their oaths a shelter, and thus turn away from Allah's way; surely evil is that which they do. (63:2)

In any case, the issue of tahrif of the Holy Qur'an was one of the issues on which they manoeuvred very much and spared no efforts in propagating all kinds of falsehood and fabrication in this connection. Without offering any rational proof, they attributed belief in tahrif of the Holy Qur'an to the Shi'ah. They believed that by doing so they could make the Muslims pessimistic toward the teachings of the school of thought of the Ahl al-Bayt (A).

These conspiracies prompted for the preparation of this article. Although the colonialists have always contrived to engage the Muslims in conflicts and to keep them busy with mutual polemics and debates with a view to rule over them. Since this matter has not been sufficiently dealt with in the form of short articles for public benefit, this article has been designed to enter into this discussion very briefly, so as to enlighten the minds of all Muslims. Of course, in this respect, detailed books have been written and comprehensive research has been conducted, to which those interested in investigations into this subject can refer for further information. Among the best books on this subject is "al-Bayan", written by Ayatullah al-`Uzma al-Sayyid Abu al-Qasim al-Khu'i. This book's discussion pertaining to absence of tahrif in the Holy Qur'an has been separately published in English.

Tahrif of the Qur'an as Viewed by Traditions:

For those who have a slight familiarity with the books of both sects concerning ahadith (traditions), that is, the Sihah of the Sunnis and the various compilations of the traditions of the Shi'ah, it is manifestly clear that there are numerous traditions on the changes in the Holy Qur'an. Perhaps the traditions on this issue included within the books of the Sunnis are more in number than those of the Shi'ah. Nevertheless, those who have bandied about this issue out of spite and not as an objective and unbiased scientific and scholarly discussion, have always avoided the slightest reference to the traditions included in the books belonging to the Sunnis. They have only zoomed their cameras upon few weak narrations given in the books by Shi'ah. These are the narrations that are not acceptable to the Shi'ah `Ulama' and based on these traditions, they have not issued their views and verdicts.

At this stage, before continuing the discussion, it is necessary to draw the attention of the readers to the fact that, from the viewpoint of Shi'ism, traditions related to the Holy Prophet (S) and Ahl al-Bayt (A) generally fall within one of the following four categories based on their degree of reliability:

1. Veracious (sahih)

2. Good (hasan )

3. Authentic (muwaththaq)

4. Weak [1] (da'if)

This classification has been based on the types of narrators and transmitters of the traditions. This means that if a tradition possesses a veracious isnad and if it is narrated by truthful and trustworthy narrators possessing all other necessary conditions, it is correct and reliable and can be used by the `ulama' and the jurisprudents. Otherwise, in the absence of any one of the necessary requirements, the degree of the validity of the narration comes down until it becomes a "da'if" narration that cannot be considered and put to effect and that cannot serve as a document or proof for a view or verdict.

As the books on ahadith comprise all kinds of traditions, one of the prerequisites for every `alim (theologian) and faqih (jurisprudent) in making judgements and issuing verdicts is to identify and distinguish the traditions in terms of their verity and untruth.

Therefore, upon seeing a tradition, even in a worthy Shiite book, one cannot judge what the view of the Shi'ah on such and such a subject is.

Keeping this in view, it becomes evident that by seeing traditions in Shiite books, whether in the four principal books such as al-Kafi [2], al Tahdhib [3], al-'Istibsar [4], and Man la yahduruhu al-faqih [5] or in other books such as Wasa'il al-Shi`ah [6], Bihar al-'anwar [7], and others, one cannot ascribe to the Shiites a view and judgement based on their contents.

None of the few traditions concerning alterations in the Holy Qur'an included within the aforesaid books possesses a veracious isnad; therefore, the Shiite `ulama' have not given attention to them. Similar traditions existing in authentic Sunni books have also been disregarded by the Sunni `ulama'. Some of these traditions have been included in the following sources:

Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. V, p. 35; vol. VI, pp. 211, 221.

Sahih Muslim, vol. II, p. 736; vol. III, p. 100; vol. IV, pp. 167-168.

Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, vol. V, pp. 131-133; vol. VI, p. 55; vol. VI, pp. 449-451.

For more information in this field, researchers can refer to the books such as al-'Itqan and al-Durr al-manthur both by al-Suyuti, al Masahif by Abu Dawud, Ruh al-ma`ani by al-'Alusi, and others.

In any case, such traditions in Shi'ah and Sunni books have not been used by the `ulama' of Islam and no attention has been paid to them.

Immunity of the Qur'an from Tahrif:

Now that the traditions on the alteration in the Qur'an included in the Shi'ah and Sunni books are not authentic, reference must be made to the Holy Qur'an itself where it explicitly says:

Surely We have revealed the Reminder and We will most surely be its preserver. (15:9)

Regarding this holy verse, the Shi'ah and Sunni `ulama' of Islam have indicated that the word dhikr (Reminder) refers to the Holy Qur'an and the word hifz (preserving) refers to the fact that Allah the Almighty will preserve the Holy Qur'an from any alteration and mutilation. Shaykh Abu 'Ali al-Tabarsi, a Shi'ah `alim of the olden times, has stated that this holy verse reflects the fact that the Qur'an is immune from any addition, loss, mutilation, and alteration. With respect to this holy verse, `Allamah Tabataba'i has stated:

... therefore, the Qur'an is a living and eternal Reminder which will never die and fall into oblivion. It is immune from any addition and loss. It is immune from and secure. against any alterations in form and style which could affect its character and role, that is, as, "the Reminder of Allah which expresses divine truth and knowledge". For this reason, the aforesaid verse indicates that the Divine Book has always been and will continue to be guarded against any mutilation and alteration.

In the book entitled al-Bayan, Ayatullah al-`Uzma al-Khu i states the following:

This verse is indicative of the fact that the Holy Qur'an is guarded against alteration (tahrif) and that the oppressors do not have the power ever to use it as a plaything.

From amongst the Sunni `ulama', al-Zamakhshari with regard to this verse states: "Allah is the preserver and protector of the Qur'an against all addition, loss, corruption and alteration in all times. In contrast, the other Divine Books have not remained unaltered. The same verse is also a proof that the Holy Qur'an is the Book which has been revealed by Allah and has not been a compilation and production of human beings - because if that had been the case, like all similar books, it would have been certainly subjected to alteration and corruption.

Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi also states:

In this holy verse, hifz (preserving) means that the Qur'an is immune from and guarded against corruption, addition, and loss.

Here, we do not intend to point out the statements of the `ulama' of Islam in proof of absence of tahrif in the Holy Qur'an, for this will take much space. We only desire to make mention of the statements of a few great 'Ulama' of Islam (as an example) whose opinions are valid and valuable for the Muslims.

(3) The Care Exercised in Preserving the Text and Recording of the Holy Qur'an:

Among matters scrupulously observed by the Muslims are the calligraphy, comparison, and memorization of the Holy Qur'an. In addition to taking utmost care in calligraphy, words, letters, and the diacritical marks in the verses of the Holy Qur'an, the Muslims including Shi'ah and Sunnis have also written independent books on these issues, lest the slightest alteration should take place in the Holy Qur'an as a result of the lapse of time.

For this very reason, we can see that they have reckoned and recorded the total number of the verses of the Holy Qur'an, the number of words and letters, and even the total number of the dots used in the Holy Qur'an. [8]

Some of the `ulama' of Islam have even counted the total number of the alphabetic letters which are contained in the Holy Qur'an and have said:

The letter "Alif" has occurred 48,940 times; the letter "Ba"' (the second Arabic alphabetic letter) has occurred 11,420 times; and the letter "Ta "' (the third alphabetic letter) has occurred 1,404 times; and so on.

They have reckoned the total number of dots used in the Holy Qur'an and recorded them as 1,520,030 in number.

The `ulama' of Islam have always demonstrated matchless precision in regard to the script of the Holy Qur'an. For example, as for the word ni'mah which can either be written by or of which are correct, the `ulama' of Islam have stated that the above mentioned word has occurred eleven times with the letter and in the remaining instances with the letter . Refer to the following verses in which this word has been written with the letter (2:231; 3:103; 5:11; 14:28 and 34; 16:72, 83, and 114; 31:31; 35:3; 52:29). The same word has been written with the letter in the remaining verses such as in (2:211: 3:171 and 174; 5:7) and so on.

Also the word "likayla" connected which can be written either in connected or disconnected form has occurred four times in connected form and, in other cases, in disconnected form. Refer to the following verses in which the word has occurred in connected form: (3:153; 22:5; 33:50; 57:23). However, the same word has been written in disconnected form in the following verses: (16:70; 33:37).

Similar precise calculations have been made by the `ulama' of Islam in the connected and disconnected forms of other words in the Holy Qur'an such as f'ima

Now it is to be seen whether with all this exactitude employed by the `ulama' of Islam in recording the Holy Qur'an from time immemorial till now, can one accuse a group of Muslims of the charge of making alterations in the Holy Qur'an and mutilating it or believing in its corruption?

(4) The Extant Holy Qur'an Available to the Shi'ah and the Sunnis:

Another interesting point is, have those who accuse the Shi'ah of believing in the tahrif of the Holy Qur'an ever tried to investigate the copies of Holy Qur'an printed by the Shi'ah in various countries of the world to find out whether they contain the slightest discrepancy with other editions of the Holy Qur'an or not? Which Qur'an contains these forged chapters and verses that are ascribed to the Shi`ah Qur'an? Which Qur'an contained these that not a single person has ever seen them? Instead of spending so much time in finding a weak tradition or quotation in unauthentic books in a bid to accuse the Shi'ah of believing in the tahrif of the Holy Qur'an, wouldn't it have been better for the mercenary `ulama', who embark on sowing the seeds of discord among the Islamic Ummah, to obtain and see numerous copies of the Holy Qur'an of different editions printed by the Shi'ah to discover whether such an accusation is fair or not?

At present, the antiquated hand-written manuscripts of the Holy Qur'an by the Shi'ah from the early days of Islam until now are kept in museums of Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, etc. Some of these manuscripts are, once in a while, precisely reprinted in the same form and exposed to public view. Those who entertain the slightest doubt concerning this matter can personally refer to these manuscripts.

In the museum of the Qur'an in the holy city of Mashhad, I have personally seen some copies of the Holy Qur'an written on parchment made of deer skin. The period of writing of these copies of Qur'an dates back to more than one thousand years. Some of them are attributed to Imam `Ali (A), al-'Imam al-Sajjad (the fourth Imam), and some others are attributed to other Imams, Shi'ah 'Ulama' and pious men. Similarly, in other museums and libraries, there are also some copies of the Qur'an which are very ancient, but so far no one has been able to claim that even a single word of these manuscripts of the Qur'an differs from what is now available to the Shi'ah and to the Muslims of the world.

Thus it is advisable for one to think realistically and not be influenced by these kind of propagandistic hue and cry and not to pay attention to the mental fabrications of malicious individuals and of those who attempt to disunite the people. We, certainly, do not believe that such propaganda will ever have any influence on the minds of the Muslims; however, this subject was worth mentioning lest some simple-minded people might be deceived by these futile statements.

(5) At this stage, it is necessary to review the words and statements of the Shi'ah `ulama' from the beginning until now to unveil the ignorance and malice of some of the so-called 'ulama' of Islam who are nowadays sowing the seeds of discord among the Islamic Ummah through their poisonous writings.

Unfortunately, the celebrated personality of the Sunnis, Abu al Hasan 'Ali Nadwi, who claims to be the leader of the Muslims of India and who is one of the renowned Islamic writers, has explicitly claimed in his recent book called Islam and the Earliest Muslims: Two Conflicting Portraits, published in English, Arabic, Urdu, and Persian with wide circulation all over the world, that with the exception of four Shi'ah `ulama', all others maintain that the Qur'anic text has been mutilated. His exact statement in this regard on page 45 of the book is as follows:

They hold that the Qur'anic text was mutilated; there is almost a consensus among their scholars on this point.'

Then he says in footnote of the same page:

1. Only four Shiite doctors, Saduq, Sharif Murtaza, Abu J'afar Tusi and Abu 'Ali Tabrasi are exceptions to this agreed view of Shiite theologians. But some of them are reported to have recanted their views. Anyway, them is always a doubt that they might have expressed their opinion in favour of purity of the Qu'ran because of their accepted principle of taqaiyya or dissimulation of one's faith.

We see that following his claim, propagandistic publications run by consuming the funds of the treasury of the Muslims-which is nowadays controlled by the Wahhabis and others in the form of petro-dollars also publicize the same allegation in the farthest reaches of the world without conducting any research to confirm its veracity. As an example, a propagandistic publication issued in South Africa under the title of The Truth about Shi'ism, Part 2, states the following on page 20:

The truth about Shi'ism in relation to the Qur'an is summarized in the undermentioned facts.

1. Besides the difference of opinion of only four Shiah theologians in all the centuries of Shi'ism's history, all Shiah authorities unanimously proclaim that the Qur'an which we have in our possession is a fabricated Qur'an.

2. Even the four Shi'i theologians - i.e. four in the entire history of Shi'ism - who dissented with the teaching of Shi'ism in this regard, do not believe that those who reject the Qur'an are kafir. Thus, although all Shi'i authorities unanimously proclaim the belief of the fabrication of the Qur'an, these four dissenters accept all such deniers of the Qur'an to be Muslims. Thus, their dissent and difference are of no real significance. They remain Shiahs who treat lightly the Shi'i teaching of a fabricated Qur'an.

Now the following statements made by great Shi'ah `ulama' are quoted, in chronological order:

(1) Al-Fadl ibn Shadhan, one of the great Shi'ah 'ulama' of the third century of Hijrah, states the following in his book al-'Idah in rejecting some of his contemporary Sunni 'ulama's statements who, by relying on some traditions, believed in the corruption of the Holy Qur'an:

But those who, by quoting such traditions, hold that the Qur'anic text has been corrupted, are definitely making a mistake.

(2) Abu Ja'far Mubammad ibn `All ibn Babawayh al-Qummi, known as al-Shaykh al-Saduq, (died 381/991), states the following in his book entitled al- 'I'tiqadat (Beliefs):

With respect to the Holy Qur'an which Allah Almighty has revealed to His Prophet Muhammad (S), we believe that this is that very Qur'an which is between the two covers and is in the possession of the people, and that there is not anything more than this. Whoever charges us with believing in excess, has lied.

(3) In reply to the questions of `Tarabulusiyyat', al-Sayyid al Murtada `All ibn al-Husayn al-Musawi al-`Alawi, (died 436/1044), states:

Knowledge and certainty on the validity of the narration of the Holy Qur'an are like the knowledge and certainty on the existence of countries, cities, famous historical events, popular books, and the poems compiled by the Arabs. This is because the specific regard and attention and the strong motive for the narration of the text of the Holy Qur'an and its upkeeping had been much stronger than the precision and attention given to the above-cited items .... During the time of the Messenger of Allah (S), the Holy Qur'an had been a compiled collection exactly as it is now. The Holy Prophet (S) had even charged a group of his Companions with the responsibility of memorizing and safeguarding the Holy Qur'an. At that time, it was customary for the people to recite the Holy Qur'an before the Holy Prophet (S) to ensure the accuracy of the text. The Holy Prophet (S), too, listened to their recitation. A group of the Companions, such as `Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud, Ubayy ibn Ka'b, and others read the whole text of the Holy Qur'an several times in the presence of the Holy Prophet (S).

With a little attention, one comes to realize that all these matters indicate that the Holy Qur'an has been a compiled collection. No one takes into account the opponents of this belief, be they from Imamiyyah (Twelver Shi'ah or Hashwiyyah, for their view is derived from a group of akhbariyyun (or ashab al-hadith, i.e., followers of the traditions) who had narrated weak ahadith on the subject, thinking that they had related reliable and valid ahadith. Whereas such weak ahadith have no power to challenge something based on definitive knowledge and certainty.

(4) Shaykh al-Ta'ifah Abu Ja'far Mubammad ibn al-Hasan al-Tusi d. 460/1067), states:

The remarks about addition and loss in the Qur'anic text are not worthy of respect the Holy Qur'an possesses; as (meaning that the text of the Holy Qur'an is today more than what it was before), there is a consensus among the `ulama' regarding the invalidity of this matter.

Regarding the deficiency of the Holy Qur'an (meaning that some parts of the Qur'anic text have been deleted), apparently the consensus of the Muslim sects also proves the contrary. The same holds true in our school of faith. This is exactly the belief that has been confirmed and proven by al-Sayyid al Murtada (may Allah be pleased with him). This belief has been clearly expressed in the narrations and traditions.

However, there are a number of traditions from the Shi'ah and Sunnis concerning the deficiency of many verses of the Holy Qur'an and regarding the interchange of some of the verses. All these traditions are "akhbar al-'ahad", i.e. traditions which are not mutawatir and cannot cause certainty. Thus, one should turn away and keep away from these sorts of ahadith and should not engage oneself in them. Moreover, these traditions are paraphrasable; had these traditions been correct, they would not have marred the Holy Qur'an which is presently available between the two covers, because knowledge and certainty prove the validity of this Qur'an and no one from among the Islamic Ummah has any objection to or complaint against it, nor does anyone reject it.

(5) Al-Shaykh Abu `Ali al-Tabarsi, who passed away in 548/1153, states the following in the tafsir entitled Majma` al-bayan:

There is a consensus and unanimity among the Muslims that there is not any `excess' in the Holy Qur'an. But with regard to the deficiency of the text of the Holy Qur'an, a group of Imamiyyah and a group of Hashwiyyah who are Sunnis have said that there are alterations and deficiencies in the Holy Qur'an, but the true belief accepted by the Imamiyyah holds otherwise.

(6) Al-Sayyid Ibn Tawus, (died 664/1265), states the following in the book called Sa`d al-su `ud

In truth, the Imamiyyah believe in the absence of tahrif in the Holy Qur'an.

Then, in the refutation of some Sunnis who maintain that the Qur'anic text has been corrupted, he states:

I am surprised at those who, while believing that the Holy Qur'an has been preserved by the Messenger of Allah (S) and has been compiled by the Prophet (S) himself, have narrated the differences of the people of Makkah and at-Madinah and of the people of Kufah and Basrah. They have also believed that ("In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful) is not an integral part of the surahs (chapters) of the Holy Qur'an. It is more surprising that they have reasoned that if ("In the Name of Allah...") had been an integral part of the surah, then it could have been preceded by something else also. Surprisingly enough! When it is believed that the Holy Qur'an is immune from and guarded against any excess and deficiency, and when such a belief is supported by man's wisdom and by religion, how could it be said that what had been revealed before the surahs has not been included as a part of the Holy Qur'an? Is such a thing possible?"

These were opinions of the great Shi'ah `ulama' of the past whose statements are authentic and valid for all other `ulama' of the subsequent centuries. Thus, there is no necessity to lengthen the discussion and to quote the statements made by the `ulama' of the subsequent centuries. Hereunder, it will only suffice to mention their names along with the titles of their books in which this discussion has been incorporated.

(7) Al-Muhaqqiq Zayn al-Din al-Bayadi (died in 877/1472), in al Sirat al-mustaqim.

(8) Muhammad Baha' al-Din al-`Amili, known as al-Shaykh al-Baha'i (died in 1031/1622), quoted in tafsir Ala' al-Rahman.

(9) Mulla Muhsin, known as Fayd al-Kashani (died in 1091/1680), in tafsir al-Safi

(10) Al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Hurr al-`Amili (died in 1104/1692), in his treatise entitled Risalah fi ithbat `adam al-tahrif (a treatise on absence of corruption in the Qur'an).

(9) Al-Qadi al-Sayyid Nur Allah al-Shushtari (d. 1019/1610), the contemporary of al-Shaykh al-Baha'i, quoted in Ala' al-Rahman.

(12) Al-Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi ibn al-Sayyid Murtada al Tabataba'i, known as Bahr al-`Ulum (died in 1212/1797), in Fawa'id al-'usul.

(13) Al-Shaykh Ja'far ibn al-Shaykh Khidr al-Janahi al-Najafi, known as Kashif al-Ghita' (died in 1228/1813), in Kashf al-ghita' `an mubhamat al-Shari`at al-gharra'.

(14) Al-Shaykh Muhammad Hasan ibn al-Mawla `Abd Allah al Mamaqani (died in 1323/1905), in Tanqih al-maqal.

(15) Al-Shaykh Muhammad Jawad al-Balaghi (died in 1352/1933), in Ala' al-Rahman.

(16) Mulla Fath Allah al-Kashini (died in 988/1588), in the commentary of Manhaj al-sadiqin.

(17) Mirza Hasan al-'Ashtiyani (died in 1319/1901), in Bahr al fawa'id.

(18) Ayatullah Sayyid Husayn Kuhkamari (died in 1299/1882), in Bushra al-wusul ila `ilm al-'usul.

(19) Al-Sayyid `Abd al-Husayn Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi al-`Amili (died in 1377/1957), in Ajwibat masa'il Musa Jar Allah.

(20) Ayatullah al-`Uzma al-Sayyid Abu al-Qasim al-Khu'i, contemporary, in al-Bayan.

These were the names of the great Shi'ah ulama' who wrote books confirming the absence of any kind of tahrif in the text of the Holy Qur'an. Surely, there may be comments by other `ulama' whose books are presently not within our reach.

It should be also noted that making mention of the names of these `ulama' does not necessarily mean that the other `ulama' do not believe in this point. It rather means that since they had not compiled any books in this field, we could not quote their relevant views and opinions.

It is hoped that this brief paper would remove all doubts and accusations made on the teachings of the school of thought of the Ahl al-Bayt (A), and would serve as a basis for further investigations by the researchers and investigators.

Wa al-Salam `ala man ittaba`a al-Huda (and peace be on him who follows the guidance).

NOTES:

[1] For more study in this field see Al-Tawhid journal, vol. 1, Nos. 1 to 3.

[2] Al-Kafi, al-Shaykh Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ya'qub al-Kulayni al-Razi (died 329/941).

[3] Al-Tahdhib, Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Tusi (died 460/1068).

[4] Al-'Istibsar, Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Tusi(died 460/1068).

[5] Man la yahduruhu al-faqih, al-Shaykh al-Saduq Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn 'Ali ibn Babawayh al-Qummi (died 381/991).

[6] Wasa'il al-Shi'ah, al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Hurr al-'Amili (died 1114/1702).

[7]. Bihar al- anwar, 'Allamah Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi (died 1111/1699).

[8]. Refer to the book called "Funun al-'afnan fi 'ulum al-Qur'an"compiled by Jamal al-Din Abu al-Faraj 'Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Jawzi.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arabic

  1. Ayatullah al `Uzma Abu al-Qasim al-Khu'i, al-Bayan fi tafsir al-Qur'an.
  2. Allamah Tabataba'i, al-Mizan fi tafsir al-Qur'an, vol. 12.
  3. Al-Suyuti, al-'Itqan fi 'ulum al-Qur'an.
  4. Zarkashi, al-Burhan fi 'ulum al-Qur'an.
  5. Abu Dawnd al-Sijistani, al-Masahif.
  6. Ibn al-Jawzi, Funun al-'afnan fi 'ulum al-Qur'an.
  7. Ibn al-Khatib, al-Furqan.
  8. Ibn al-Jazzi, al-Tashil fi 'ulum al-tanzil.
  9. Abu 'Abd Allah al-Zanjani, Tarikh al-Qur'an.
  10. Dr. 'Abd al-Sabur Shahin, Tarikh al-Qur'an.
  11. Hadi Ma'rifah, al-Tamhid fi 'ulum al-Qur an.
  12. Rasul Ja'fariyan, Ukdhubat tahrif al-Qur'an.
  13. Allamah Tabataba'i, al-Qur'an fi al-Islam.
  14. Al-Shaykh Aqa Buzurg al-Tehrani, al-Naqd al-latif fi nafy al-tahrif.
  15. Abd al-Husayn al-Rashti al-Ha'iri, Kashf al-'ishtibah.
  16. Al-Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahim al-Tabrizi, Ala' al-Rahim.

English

  1. Allamah Tabataba'i, The Qur'an in Islam (1985).
  2. Ayatullah Dr. S.M.H. Beheshti, Understanding the Qur'an (1985).
  3. R. Bell, Introduction to the Qur'an (1953).