12-26-2012, 07:56 AM
Bismillah
Praise be to Allah, King of the Kings and Creator of all creations, prayer and peace be upon His Messenger Mohamed Ibn Abdullah.
To continue on the Ayah:" "Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Reminder (i.e. the Qur'an) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption)." (Quran 15:9)
Was the Quran subject to distortion or falsification?
When we say distortion or falsification, here we refer to changing, hiding or adding a text of the book of Allah in a way that makes it part of it. As such, the falsification would be established and recited as part of the Quran which Allah Revealed and continue to be so. Actually, this situation is impossible when it comes to Quran. It didn’t and will not occur till the Day After. Rational and historical evidences stand strongly behind this judgment that makes this situation impossible. However, as for errors which may occur due to the erosion of printing molds or typos, it is a potential issue which is usually quickly discovered. In such cases, the faulted copies are immediately drawn off the market and burnt.
Not only the enemies of Islam were behind the claims of the falsification of Quran, but the first group who initiated these lies were a deviated sect of Shia who claim themselves to be Muslims at the early stages of Islam. They alleged that the Quran which was revealed to the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam was triple the size of what we have in hand today. Adding to the lies, they claimed that Quran continued to be revealed to Fatima Azzahraa (the Prophet's daughter) for forty days after the death of the Messenger. According to them, Abu Bakar and Omar plotted to omit two thirds of the Quran which was devoted to praising Ali and his household may Allah be pleased with all of them.
Refuting this claim is very easy as Ali himself was present in Medina during the time of Abu Bakr and Omar may Allah be pleased with all of them as well as scribes of the revelation along with hundreds of the companions who memorized the Quran through direct reception from the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. Never this group of people would plot to omit just one word from the Quran leave alone two thirds. It is also irrational that Allah Dedicates two third of His final message to mankind to praise and commend Ali and his household while Allah Didn’t commend His Messenger who is best among mankind and to whom Quran was revealed. Only few Ayahs talk well about him as in:
" You (O Muhammad) are not, by the Grace of your Lord, a madman" (Quran 68:2)
" O Prophet (Muhammad)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner," (Quran 33:45)
" but if you help one another against him (Muhammad), then verily, Allah is his Maula (Lord, or Master, or Protector, etc.), and Gabriel, and the righteous among the believers, and furthermore, the angels are his helpers." (Quran 66:4)
As for the allege that Jebreel peace be upon him came to Fatima with revelation after her father's death, it is a claim that is not even worth effort to refute. None of the Messenger's salla Allah a`lhyee wa sallam household never mentioned such a thing. Additionally, Prophet hood is never assigned to women regardless of their high position.
As for the question posed by the enemies of Islam: What makes you certain that Quran throughout the past centuries was not subjected to any falsification? This is the point worth to be addressed.
Quran, since the inception of its revelation, was reserved in two forms concurrently, memorization in the hearts of the companions as well as written texts. Both lines, memorization and written forms protect one another against any mistakes. In case one who memorized (Hafez) the Quran was doubtful about an Ayah or Ayahs were similar, he would just look into the written documents. While in case one who reads in the written text finds discrepancy with what he memorized, would correct the written text accordingly.
It was also proved that strong measures were taken to handle the differences of recitations which were discovered after the death of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam. Such measure was to copy the authenticated copies of Quran (Mushaf Iamam) and burn the rest in order to protect Quran against any discrepancies. Each Muslim, using what he/she memorize of Quran, shoulders the responsibility to ensure the correct recitation of his/her fellow Muslims as well as the contents of Mushaf. For example, if the Imam made a mistake during Salah even in the signs used to determine pronunciation of a word (Harakah or Tashkeel), those who pray behind him must correct the mistake. For example if the Imam recited the Ayah:
Wa 'idhā Ra'ayta thamma Ra'ayta Na`īmāan wa Mulkāan kabīrāan.
As:
Wa 'idhā Ra'ayta thumma Ra'ayta Na`īmāan wa Mulkāan kabīrāan. (which is only a change of the sing put over the tha), would certainly find someone who makes the correction immediately.
Or if recited: Ĥaqīqun `aláya 'an Lā 'aqūla `alá Allāhi 'illā al-Ĥaqqa qad Ji'tukum bibayyinatin min Rabbikum fa'arsil ma`ī banī 'isrā'īla.
Instead of Ĥaqīqun `alá 'an Lā 'aqūla `alá Allāhi 'illā al-Ĥaqqa qad Ji'tukum bibayyinatin min Rabbikum fa'arsil ma`ī banī 'isrā'īla.
Again would find one who corrects
Allah may He be Glorified actually put the love of memorization Quran into the heart of the Ummah of Quran. You will see in each generation a large number of individuals who memorize full Quran and larger number who memorize parts of it. Hafez of Quran (ones who memorize Quran) include all ages ranging between childhood to elderly. Even in our present time and regardless of wide spread of printed material which makes copies of Mushaf available in reasonable prices to all, yet we still find those who like very much to recite Quran from memory. To attain this, they spare no effort in order to be able to memorize. Thus, anyone who changes even one letter from Quran can be easily identified for the proper measures to be taken.
Narrated Ibn Abbass may Allah Be Pleased with both of them that the Messenger of Allah salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam said:
The Prophet prayer and peace be upon him taught us tashahud (part of salah) just as he taught us Quran. He said: Attaheyyatul mobarakatu assalawatu attayyebatu lelah, assalam a`layka ayoha annabi wa rahamatu Allahe wa barakatuh, assalam a`liana wa a`la e`badellahe ssaleheen, Ashhadu alla ilaha ila Allah. In another narration, he added wahadhu la shareeka lahu wa ashhadu anna Mohamadan rasullah. (reported by Muslim, Abi Daoud, Termidhi and Nassai)