Textual History of the Qur'an: Difference between revisions

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Textual History of the Qur'an (view source)

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His followers must solely take the credit of the Qur'an's existence today and its spreading to people beyond those which Muhammad had initially subjugated. Muslims however would argue that the Qur'an was preserved by Allah as he had promised.<ref>"''We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).''" - {{Quran|15|9}}</ref>
His followers must solely take the credit of the Qur'an's existence today and its spreading to people beyond those which Muhammad had initially subjugated. Muslims however would argue that the Qur'an was preserved by Allah as he had promised.<ref>"''We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).''" - {{Quran|15|9}}</ref>
==The Evidence from Within==
We can find evidence that suggests the Qur'an was corrupted through many sources, but what is most striking is the evidence from the Qur'an itself. The Qur'an tells us "There were some among the Jews who ''pervert'' words from their proper places..."<ref>{{Qtt|4|46}}</ref>
The word "pervert" in [[Arabic]] is ''Yuharifoon'', which means "corrupt". Therefore, according to the Qur'an, ''al-Tahreef'' (corruption) is achieved through changing words from their proper places.
Has the Qur'an been subjected to such changes? Beyond a shadow of doubt, it has. If we read [[surah]] 5:3, it says "This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion."<ref>{{Quran|5|3}}</ref>
This was quoted from chapter 5, and the Qur'an contains 114 chapters in total. How can the religion of Islam be completed by chapter 5, when there are 109 chapters yet to come? If it was completed in chapter 5, then there is no need for the 109 chapters ahead.
Some Muslims argue that this verse was the last verse revealed. If that is so, was the revelation imperfect until this verse was revealed? Also, why then is it not placed at the conclusion? This proves that Muslims have changed the words from their right places, and according to the Qur'an, that is ''Tahreef'' (Corruption).
The first surah to be revealed was al-Alak, yet it is surah [[al-Fatiha]] which we find at the beginning of the Qur'an. Instead, Muslims have placed the first chapter to be revealed (al-Alaq), as chapter 96, towards the end of the Qur'an.
How is this ''not'' the changing of words from their right places? This is indeed 'Tahreef'. Muslims have not arranged the [[Chronological Order of the Qur'an|surahs chronologically]]. They took it upon themselves to organize the [[revelations]] instead of Allah completing this task himself.


==Could the Qur'an have Been Preserved through Memorization?==  
==Could the Qur'an have Been Preserved through Memorization?==  
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He had stated "I started looking for the Qur'an and collecting it from (what was written on) palm-leaf stalks, thin white stones, and also from the men who knew it by heart, till I found the last verse of Surat at-Tauba (repentance) with Abi Khuzaima al-Ansari, and I did not find it with anybody other than him."<ref name="Zaid bin Thabit">"''...I started looking for the Qur'an and collecting it from (what was written on) palm-leaf stalks, thin white stones...''"{{Bukhari|6|61|509}}</ref>
He had stated "I started looking for the Qur'an and collecting it from (what was written on) palm-leaf stalks, thin white stones, and also from the men who knew it by heart, till I found the last verse of Surat at-Tauba (repentance) with Abi Khuzaima al-Ansari, and I did not find it with anybody other than him."<ref name="Zaid bin Thabit">"''...I started looking for the Qur'an and collecting it from (what was written on) palm-leaf stalks, thin white stones...''"{{Bukhari|6|61|509}}</ref>


Had the companions fully memorized it, why then would they look for verses in leafs and stones? Surah al-Taubah was found with one person only.
Had the companions fully memorized it and there was full agreement, why then would they look for verses in leafs and stones? The last two verses of Surah al-Taubah were found in written form with only one person, though some others recalled hearing it.
 
The fact that in more recent times there have been many memorizers (huffaz) of the complete Qur'an is not a helpful analogy because they have the benefit of choosing a standard qira'at (recitation) and standard written Qur'an as a complete book to help them or their teachers in the learning process.


==Disagreements on the Qur'an and its Burning==  
==Disagreements on the Qur'an and its Burning==  
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Surah at-Tawba was originally equal to the length of al-Baqara, losing about 157 verses.<ref>"''Malik says that several verses from chapter 9 (Sura of Repentance) have been dropped from the beginning. Among them is, ‘In the name of God the compassionate, the Merciful’ because it was proven that the length of Sura of Repentance was equal to the length of the Sura of the Cow.''" -  "The Itqan" by Suyuti Part 3, Page 184</ref>
Surah at-Tawba was originally equal to the length of al-Baqara, losing about 157 verses.<ref>"''Malik says that several verses from chapter 9 (Sura of Repentance) have been dropped from the beginning. Among them is, ‘In the name of God the compassionate, the Merciful’ because it was proven that the length of Sura of Repentance was equal to the length of the Sura of the Cow.''" -  "The Itqan" by Suyuti Part 3, Page 184</ref>


Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, one of the early authorities on the Qur'an text and a companion of Muhammad, claimed a surah which resembled at-Tawba in length and severity was forgotten and lost.<ref>"''We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bara'at. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this which I remember out of it: "If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust.''" - Sahih Muslim, Vol. 2, p.501</ref>
The lost verse of Rajm ([[stoning]]) which read "The fornicators among the married men (ash-shaikh) and married women (ash-shaikhah), stone them as an exemplary punishment from Allah, and Allah is Mighty and Wise,"<ref>As-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fii Ulum al-Qur'an, p.524</ref> was originally found in Surah al-Ahzab<ref>"''Umar said to me ‘How many verses are contained in the chapter of al-Ahzab?’ I said, ‘72 or 73 verses.’ He said it was almost as long as the chapter of the Cow, which contains 287 verses, and in it there was the verse of stoning.''" - Al-Muttaqi ‘Ali bin Husam al-Din in his book “Mukhtasar Kanz al-’Ummal” printed on the margin of Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Volume 2, page 2, in his hadith about chapter 33</ref>.


According to Abu Waqid al-Laithii, Muhammad recited to him the verse on "the greed of man" which read, "We sent down wealth to maintain prayer and deeds of charity, and if the son of Adam had a valley he would leave it in search for another like it and, if he got another like it, he would press on for a third, and nothing would satisfy the stomach of the son of Adam but dust, yet Allah is relenting towards those who relent."<ref>"''Abu Waqid al-Laithii said, "When the messenger of Allah (saw) received the revelation we would come to him and he would teach us what had been revealed. (I came) to him and he said 'It was suddenly communicated to me one day: Verily Allah says, ...''" - As-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fii Ulum al-Qur'an, p.525</ref> This verse is not found in today's Qur'an.
This verse, along with verses regarding adult suckling, were written on a piece of paper and were lost when a goat ate them.<ref>Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal. vol. 6. page 269; Sunan Ibn Majah, page 626; Ibn Qutbah, Tawil Mukhtalafi 'l-Hadith (Cairo: Maktaba al-Kulliyat al-Azhariyya. 1966) page 310; As-Suyuti, ad-Durru 'l-Manthur, vol. 2. page 13</ref> The loss of the stoning verse is confirmed by Caliph Umar in [[sahih]] hadith.<ref>"''...Umar b. Khattab sat on the pulpit of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Verily Allah sent Muhammad (may peace be upon him) with truth and He sent down the Book upon him, and the verse of stoning was included in what was sent down to him. We recited it, retained it in our memory and understood it. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) awarded the punishment of stoning to death (to the married adulterer and adulteress) and, after him, we also awarded the punishment of stoning, I am afraid that with the lapse of time, the people (may forget it) and may say: We do not find the punishment of stoning in the Book of Allah, and thus go astray by abandoning this duty prescribed by Allah. stoning is a duty laid down in Allah's Book for married men and women who commit adultery when proof is established, or it there is pregnancy, or a confession....''" - {{Muslim|17|4194}}</ref>


The lost verse of Rajm ([[stoning]]) which read "The fornicators among the married men (ash-shaikh) and married women (ash-shaikhah), stone them as an exemplary punishment from Allah, and Allah is Mighty and Wise,"<ref>As-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fii Ulum al-Qur'an, p.524</ref> was originally found in Surah al-Ahzab<ref>"''Umar said to me ‘How many verses are contained in the chapter of al-Ahzab?’ I said, ‘72 or 73 verses.’ He said it was almost as long as the chapter of the Cow, which contains 287 verses, and in it there was the verse of stoning.''" - Al-Muttaqi ‘Ali bin Husam al-Din in his book “Mukhtasar Kanz al-’Ummal” printed on the margin of Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Volume 2, page 2, in his hadith about chapter 33</ref>.
===The Missing Surah with the Two Valleys===
 
Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, one of the early authorities on the Qur'an text and a companion of Muhammad, claimed a surah which resembled at-Tawba (also known as Bara'at) in length and severity was forgotten and lost, but included a passage on the greed of man, which is not in today's Qur'an.
 
{{Quote|{{Muslim|5|2286}}|Abu Harb b. Abu al-Aswad reported on the authority of his father that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari sent for the reciters of Basra. They came to him and they were three hundred in number. They recited the Qur'an and he said:
You are the best among the inhabitants of Basra, for you are the reciters among them. So continue to recite it. (But bear in mind) that your reciting for a long time may not harden your hearts as were hardened the hearts of those before you. '''We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bara'at. I have, however, forgotten it with the exception of this which I remember out of it:"''' If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust." And we used so recite a surah which resembled one of the surahs of Musabbihat, and I have forgotten it, but remember (this much) out of it:" Oh people who believe, why do you say that which you do not practise" (lxi 2.) and" that is recorded in your necks as a witness (against you) and you would be asked about it on the Day of Resurrection" (xvii. 13).}}
 
Even ibn Abbas was unsure whether it was part of the Qur'an or not:
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|8|76|445}}|Narrated Ibn `Abbas: I heard Allah's Messenger (pbuh) saying, "If the son of Adam had money equal to a valley, then he will wish for another similar to it, for nothing can satisfy the eye of Adam's son except dust. And Allah forgives him who repents to Him." '''Ibn `Abbas said: I do not know whether this saying was quoted from the Qur'an or not. `Ata' said, "I heard Ibn AzZubair saying this narration while he was on the pulpit."'''}}
 
Ubai said that it was considered as a saying from the Qur'an for a while during Muhammad's lifetime. This cannot be excused simply as abrogation because it would still be a saying (and part of a whole surah) from the Qur'an if it was merely considered to be abrogated by later verses:
 
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|8|76|446}}|Narrated Sahl bin Sa`d: I heard Ibn Az-Zubair who was on the pulpit at Mecca, delivering a sermon, saying, "O men! The Prophet used to say, "If the son of Adam were given a valley full of gold, he would love to have a second one; and if he were given the second one, he would love to have a third, for nothing fills the belly of Adam's son except dust. And Allah forgives he who repents to Him." '''Ubai said, "We considered this as a saying from the Qur'an till the Sura (beginning with) 'The mutual rivalry for piling up of worldly things diverts you..' (102.1) was revealed."'''}}


This verse, along with verses regarding adult suckling, were written on a piece of paper and were lost when a goat ate them.<ref>Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal. vol. 6. page 269; Sunan Ibn Majah, page 626; Ibn Qutbah, Tawil Mukhtalafi 'l-Hadith (Cairo: Maktaba al-Kulliyat al-Azhariyya. 1966) page 310; As-Suyuti, ad-Durru 'l-Manthur, vol. 2. page 13</ref> The loss of the stoning verse is confirmed by Caliph Umar in [[sahih]] hadith.<ref>"''...Umar b. Khattab sat on the pulpit of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Verily Allah sent Muhammad (may peace be upon him) with truth and He sent down the Book upon him, and the verse of stoning was included in what was sent down to him. We recited it, retained it in our memory and understood it. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) awarded the punishment of stoning to death (to the married adulterer and adulteress) and, after him, we also awarded the punishment of stoning, I am afraid that with the lapse of time, the people (may forget it) and may say: We do not find the punishment of stoning in the Book of Allah, and thus go astray by abandoning this duty prescribed by Allah. stoning is a duty laid down in Allah's Book for married men and women who commit adultery when proof is established, or it there is pregnancy, or a confession....''" - {{Muslim|17|4194}}</ref>
As-Suyuti records the recollection by Abu Waqid al-Laithii of the occasion when the lost passage about the valleys was revealed. He says that Muhammad claimed it as a revelation from Allah, just like when he received other revelations.<ref>"''Abu Waqid al-Laithii said, "When the messenger of Allah (saw) received the revelation we would come to him and he would teach us what had been revealed. (I came) to him and he said 'It was suddenly communicated to me one day: Verily Allah says, ...''" - As-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fii Ulum al-Qur'an, p.525</ref>


==Alhajjaj changes the Uthmanic Qur'an==  
==Alhajjaj changes the Uthmanic Qur'an==  
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Visit [http://web.archive.org/web/20070309000028/http://www.geocities.com/pentaur2001/index.html this] site to see the differences between Samarqand Codex and Uthmans Codex.
Visit [http://web.archive.org/web/20070309000028/http://www.geocities.com/pentaur2001/index.html this] site to see the differences between Samarqand Codex and Uthmans Codex.
==Differences in the Qira'at (readings of the Qur'an)==
According to some hadith literature, the Qur'an was revealed in seven ahruf, or modes of recitation. The nature of these ahruf generated a wide range of theories, some more plausible than others. A popular, though problematic theory is that these were 7 Arabic dialects of different Arab tribes, and only one, that of the Quraysh was retained by Uthman.
What we have today are seven or ten Qira'at, which are slightly different early recitations or readings of the Qur'an by famous readers. According to the most common explanation of the ahruf, these qira'at are based on the Quraysh ahruf. There were once many more qira'at, which were reduced to twenty-five in number two centuries after Muhammad's death, and down to seven after three centuries by Abu Bakr Ibn Mujahid. A futher three qira'at make up a second tier held in less high regard.
Each of the Qira'at has two transmissions (riwayat) named after its transmitters, one of which is the basis for any particular text (mushaf) of the Qur'an. For example, the mashaf used mainly in North Africa is based on the riwayah of Warsh from Nafi (the reading of Nafi transmitted by Warsh).
Muslims are commonly told that the differences between the Qira'at can be explained away as styles of pronunciation or dialects and spelling. Yet in many cases the variations added or ommitted words, or are completely different words or contradict each other in meaning. The Corpus Coranicum database<ref>[http://corpuscoranicum.de/lesarten/index/sure/1/vers/1 Corpus Coranicum - Lesarten tab]</ref> can be used as a neutral online source for verifying the existence of such variations in the Qira'at. An interesting example is given below, and more of them are listed in the next section about the popular Hafs and Warsh transmissions.
In {{Quran|18|86}}, Dhu'l Qarnayn finds the sun setting in a '''muddy''' spring, according to the Qira'at used by today's most popular transmissions of the Qur'an. However, in around half of the various Qira'at the sun intead sets in a '''warm''' spring. The latter variant is even used in some English translations. It is easy to see how the corruption arose (whichever one is the variant). The arabic word حَمِئَة (hami'atin - muddy) sounds very similar to the completely different word حَامِيَة (hamiyyatin - warm). Al-Tabari records in his tafseer for this verse the differing opinions on whether the sun sets in muddy or warm water.
The reading of ibn Amir, which is one of those qira'at containing hamiyyah instead of hami'ah, is still used in some parts of Yemen, and used to be more widespread.<ref>Leemhuis, F. 2006, 'From Palm Leaves to the Internet' in McAuliffe J. D. (ed.) ''The Cambridge Companion to the Qur'an'', Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.150 [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=F2oLiXT_66EC&pg=PA150&lpg=PA150#v=onepage&q&f=false Google books preview]</ref>. In written form this difference is not just a matter of vowel marks. Even the consonantal text with dots is different. A scan of a printed Qur'an containing the mushaf of Hisham's transmission from ibn Amir's reading can even be read online and it can be seen that حَامِيَة (warm) is used in verse 18:86<ref>[http://read.kitabklasik.net/2010/12/mushaf-al-quran-al-karim-riwayat-hisyam.html kitabklasik.net] Click one of the links labelled download to view in pdf format and see page 307 of the 630 page pdf</ref>.


==Differences in the Hafs and Warsh Texts==
==Differences in the Hafs and Warsh Texts==


Apart from other earlier variant text, there are two different texts of the Qur'an currently in print, named after their respective 2nd-century transmitters Hafs (from Kufa) and Warsh (from Medina).  
Apart from other earlier variant texts, and the riwayats of al-Duri from Abu Amr used in Sudan, and of Hisham from ibn Amir used in parts of Yemen, there are two different texts (mushaf) of the Qur'an currently in print, named after their respective 2nd-century transmitters Hafs (from Kufa) and Warsh (from Medina).  


The Hafs text is the more common and used in most areas of the Islamic world. Warsh is used mainly in West and North-West Africa as well as by the Zaydiya in Yemen. Here are some of the differences:
The Hafs text is the more common and used in most areas of the Islamic world. Warsh is used mainly in West and North-West Africa as well as by the Zaydiya in Yemen. Here are some of the differences.


{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" align="center" width = "60%" class=wikitable
{| border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" align="center" width = "60%" class=wikitable
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! Warsh
! Warsh
! Notes
! Notes
|-
|2:125 
|watakhizu (you shall take)
|watakhazu (they have taken)
|
|-
|-
|2:132   
|2:132   
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|-
|-
|3:133   
|3:133   
|wasari'u
|wasari'u (And hasten)
|sari'u
|sari'u (Hasten)
|
|
|-
|-
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|-
|-
|3:81   
|3:81   
|ataytukum
|ataytukum (I have given)
|ataynakum
|ataynakum (We have given)
|
|
|-
|-
|2:259   
|2:259   
|nunshizuha
|nunshizuha (We grow them)
|nunshiruha
|nunshiruha (We spread them)
|
|
|-
|-
|2:140   
|2:140   
|taquluna
|taquluna (You say)
|yaquluna
|yaquluna (They say)
|
|-
|7:57 
|bushra (good tidings)
|nushra (disperse)
|
|-
|57:35 
|Allaha huwa alghaniyyu (Allah, He, is self sufficient)
|Allaha alghaniyyu (Allah is self sufficient)
|
|
|}
|}
A more extensive study of differences between the Hafs and Warsh transmissions and comparisons with Qur'an manuscripts can be read online<ref>[http://www.free-minds.org/sites/default/files/WhichQuran.pdf Which Qur'an? by Layth Al-Shaiban]</ref>.
Some apologetics say that variants (aka corruption) of the dots and vowel marks may have occured when the text was written down, but that the simple consonantal text without these diacritics is preserved (even though not all examples, including those listed above, depend on the placement of dots and vowel marks). Yet the Qur'an itself is more than simply a written text, and certainly more than its earliest basic written form without diacritics, where some different consonants are written identically. There are clearly corruptions in the recital of the actual words from when they were originally spoken, which became more apparent as the written Arabic language developed to include vowel sounds and to distinguish different but identical looking consonants with dots.
Another apologetic defence of the preservation doctrine has it that even when the variants are completely different words or when words are added or ommitted, that these are all divinely revealed alternatives. This doesn't address variants that contradict each other. In any case, such obviously contrived attempts to salvage the preservation doctrine in such a way as to make it almost meaningless and unfalsifiable are incredible, even by the standards of Islam, a religion built full of contrivances to escape difficult questions.


==Diacritical Marks and Grammatical Mistakes==  
==Diacritical Marks and Grammatical Mistakes==  


The Qur'an was written without [[Diacritical Marks of the Qur'an|diacritical marks]]. At the time of Muhammad, Arabic orthography was yet to develop into what we have known for centuries.  
The Qur'an was first written without [[Diacritical Marks of the Qur'an|diacritical marks]]. At the time of Muhammad, Arabic orthography was yet to develop into what we have known for centuries.  


For the early interpretors who added diacritical marks, to read the Qur'an as it was originally written, would lead the reader to interpret and choose for themselves from the many possible meanings available.  
For the early interpreters who added diacritical marks, to read the Qur'an as it was originally written, would lead the reader to interpret and choose for themselves from the many possible meanings available.  


Muslims began using diacritical marks because reading "errors" began to appear,<ref>"''The companions (Muhammad’s friends or “Sahaba”) did not vocalize or provide diacritical points for the letters of the Qur’anic copies which they wrote, but later during the last part of the companions’ era, when reading errors came into being, they began to provide diacritical points for the copies of the Qur’an and to vocalize them. This was admissible by the authority of the majority of the scholars, though some of them disliked it. The truth is, it should not be disliked because the situation necessitated it, and the diacritical points distinguish the letters from each other while vocalization explains the grammatical inflection.''" - Ibn Taymiyyah, "Sheik of the Muslims" vol. XII, pp. 576 and 586</ref> and the differences this created had led to differences in Islamic law.<ref>As-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fii Ulum al-Qur'an, p.226</ref>
Muslims began using diacritical marks because reading "errors" began to appear,<ref>"''The companions (Muhammad’s friends or “Sahaba”) did not vocalize or provide diacritical points for the letters of the Qur’anic copies which they wrote, but later during the last part of the companions’ era, when reading errors came into being, they began to provide diacritical points for the copies of the Qur’an and to vocalize them. This was admissible by the authority of the majority of the scholars, though some of them disliked it. The truth is, it should not be disliked because the situation necessitated it, and the diacritical points distinguish the letters from each other while vocalization explains the grammatical inflection.''" - Ibn Taymiyyah, "Sheik of the Muslims" vol. XII, pp. 576 and 586</ref> and the differences this created had led to differences in Islamic law.<ref>As-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fii Ulum al-Qur'an, p.226</ref>
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