Preserving the Qur'an from Distortion
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Fatwa number ( 6137 ):
Q: If one of my friends has cast doubt on the validity of the Qur'ans in our hands today, claiming that distortion entered them—according to him—from a mushaf whose owner refused to give it to Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), who was in Yemen , and my friend has been explaining this to me and pointing me to the book from which he took the information he uses to argue with me, but this aroused my anger and I refused to yield to him, so I have written to seek your ruling on this matter and to request that you provide me with information about the transmission of the Qur'an, because I am exposed to such things by virtue of my affiliation with the Tabligh group?
A: The Qur'an is the speech of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), which Jibril took from Allah and recited
upon Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) listened to it from Jibril and took it from him as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) spoke it, and Allah the Exalted preserved it in the heart of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Qiyamah 75:16-19], and Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him) said in his tafsir: "The people of interpretation differed regarding the reason for which it was said to him: [Al-Qiyamah 75:16] Some of them said: It was said to him because when something of it was revealed to him, he would hasten with it, wanting to preserve it out of his love for it, so it was said to him: Do not hasten with it, for We will preserve it for you. Others said: Rather, the reason for which it was said to him was that he used to recite the Qur'an frequently for fear of forgetting it, so it was said to him: Do not move your tongue with it to hasten it; upon Us is its collection and recitation, so you will not forget it." End of quote. And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Hijr 15:9] The Dhikr is the Qur'an, and Allah has preserved it for the Muslims, and the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) received it from their Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in writing and memorization, and they conveyed it to the Ummah fresh and pure, with nothing of distortion or deficiency entering it. And Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) collected it during his caliphate through the agency of Zayd ibn Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him), then Uthman collected it during his caliphate on a single script so that the Ummah would not differ in that, and whoever says that it is not preserved or that
something of distortion or deficiency has entered it is a misguided misleader; he is to be called to repent, and if he repents, otherwise it is obligatory upon the one in authority to kill him as an apostate; because his statement contradicts the saying of Allah the Glorious and Exalted:[Al-Hijr 15:9], and it contradicts the consensus of the Ummah on its preservation and safety. For this reason, the scholars of the Muslims rejected the claim of the Batini Shi'ah that the Qur'an in the hands of the Muslims is deficient, and that what is with them is the complete one, and this is among the most false of falsehoods. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: If one of my friends has cast doubt on the validity of the Qur'ans in our hands today, claiming that distortion entered them—according to him—from a mushaf whose owner refused to give it to Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him), who was in Yemen , and my friend has been explaining this to me and pointing me to the book from which he took the information he uses to argue with me, but this aroused my anger and I refused to yield to him, so I have written to seek your ruling on this matter and to request that you provide me with information about the transmission of the Qur'an, because I am exposed to such things by virtue of my affiliation with the Tabligh group?
A: The Qur'an is the speech of Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), which Jibril took from Allah and recited
upon Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) listened to it from Jibril and took it from him as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) spoke it, and Allah the Exalted preserved it in the heart of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah the Exalted said:
(16) Move not your tongue with it, [O Muhammad], to hasten with recitation of the Qur'an. (17) Indeed, upon Us is its collection [in your heart] and [to make possible] its recitation. (18) So when We have recited it [through Gabriel], then follow its recitation. (19) Then upon Us is its clarification [to you].
لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِ (16) إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَهُ (17) فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَهُ (18) ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَهُMove not your tongue with it, [O Muhammad], to hasten with recitation of the Qur'an.
لاَ تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِهِIndeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَـزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَsomething of distortion or deficiency has entered it is a misguided misleader; he is to be called to repent, and if he repents, otherwise it is obligatory upon the one in authority to kill him as an apostate; because his statement contradicts the saying of Allah the Glorious and Exalted:
Indeed, it is We who sent down the Qur'an and indeed, We will be its guardian.
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَـزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.