Textual History of the Qur'an: Difference between revisions
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This article examines the [[Islam|Islamic]] claim that the [[Qur'an]] is free from corruption. | This article examines the [[Islam|Islamic]] claim that the [[Qur'an]] is free from corruption. | ||
The perfect and total preservation of the text of the [[Qur'an]] is an article of faith for most schools and sects of Islam. The textual integrity of the scripture is an important topic in Muslim circles and figures highly in the beliefs of Muslims around the divine nature of their religion. The orthodox Islamic scholars argue that the text of the Qur'an today is identical to that received by Prophet [[Muhammad]]. This contention however is challenged both by parts of the Islamic tradition itself and the findings of modern scholarship. | |||
It is clear, nonetheless that with missing verses, a wide array of canonical and non-canonical readings, and the very best scholars and reciters of Islam (whom Muhammad himself had approved of) rejecting the Qur'an of Uthman, one is left with a very human text, as prone to corruption as any other medieval text, and those who deny this are left, it would seem, holding an untenable position. | |||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
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The fact that in more recent times there have been many memorizers (huffaz) of the complete Qur'an is not a helpful analogy because modern students 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. | The fact that in more recent times there have been many memorizers (huffaz) of the complete Qur'an is not a helpful analogy because modern students 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. | ||
=== Muhammad's Own Recollection of the Verses === | ===Muhammad's Own Recollection of the Verses=== | ||
Hadith exist to the point that Muhammad himself forgot parts of the Qur'an:{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|61|556}}| | Hadith exist to the point that Muhammad himself forgot parts of the Qur'an:{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|61|556}}| | ||
Narrated Aisha: The Prophet heard a man reciting the Qur'an in the mosque and said, "May Allah bestow His Mercy on him, as he has reminded me of such-and-such Verses of such a Surah."}}{{Quote|{{Muslim|4|1720}}| | Narrated Aisha: The Prophet heard a man reciting the Qur'an in the mosque and said, "May Allah bestow His Mercy on him, as he has reminded me of such-and-such Verses of such a Surah."}}{{Quote|{{Muslim|4|1720}}| | ||
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==Companion Codices and the Uthmanic Standard== | ==Companion Codices and the Uthmanic Standard== | ||
=== Collection of the Qur'an === | ===Collection of the Qur'an=== | ||
The most trusted collection of [[hadith]] and considered the most authentic book after the Qur'an is Sahih Bukhari, yet Bukhari contains contradictory material around the collection and preservation of the text of the Qur'an:{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|61|525}}| | The most trusted collection of [[hadith]] and considered the most authentic book after the Qur'an is Sahih Bukhari, yet Bukhari contains contradictory material around the collection and preservation of the text of the Qur'an:{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|61|525}}| | ||
Narrated Qatada: I asked Anas bin Malik: Who collected the Qur'an at the time of the Prophet? He replied, Four, all of whom were from the Ansar, '''Ubai bin Ka'b, Muadh bin Jabal, Zaid bin Thabit and Abu Zaid'''.}}{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|61|526}}| | Narrated Qatada: I asked Anas bin Malik: Who collected the Qur'an at the time of the Prophet? He replied, Four, all of whom were from the Ansar, '''Ubai bin Ka'b, Muadh bin Jabal, Zaid bin Thabit and Abu Zaid'''.}}{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|61|526}}| | ||