It is mentioned in some hadiths that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) approved of certain changes in the wording of some verses, provided that a verse of mercy was not replaced by a verse of punishment.
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The questioner : The Qur'an was revealed in seven modes of recitation. It is reported in many hadiths, some of which are mentioned in *Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah*, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to permit changing the wording if it indicated the same meaning. The scribes of revelation would ask the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about some verses, saying for example, "Hear and Know" or "Wise and Expert," and he would say, "All of that is correct; whichever you write is valid," and other such examples.
The Shaykh : Provided that a verse of mercy is not replaced by a verse of punishment.
The questioner : ... This hadith and others like it, meaning the meaning of this hadith, O Shaykh. Knowing that Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, whom I read, and others like al-Tabari, say that what we have now is only one mode of recitation, and the remaining modes were burned during the time of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)?
The Shaykh : ... This is what it means; now we have only the language of Quraysh.
The questioner : Well, Shaykh, what about these recitations? How is that?
The Shaykh : Which recitations?
The questioner : Differences, for example, in the wording.
The Shaykh : The difference mentioned.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : The difference that exists today is not of this kind.
The questioner : Yes, it is not of this kind, but...
The Shaykh : Yes, that is it.
The questioner : How is it explained?
The Shaykh : It is explained that this is among what was approved, not among what was burned. And Allah knows best.
The questioner : Is it a matter containing difficulty from the perspective of doubts?
The Shaykh : What doubts arise?
The questioner : I mean that ... the Qur'an that was revealed in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was all...
The Shaykh : It was revealed after its existence; this is clear. What is the difficulty? Please, go ahead.
The Shaykh : Provided that a verse of mercy is not replaced by a verse of punishment.
The questioner : ... This hadith and others like it, meaning the meaning of this hadith, O Shaykh. Knowing that Ibn 'Abd al-Barr, whom I read, and others like al-Tabari, say that what we have now is only one mode of recitation, and the remaining modes were burned during the time of 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)?
The Shaykh : ... This is what it means; now we have only the language of Quraysh.
The questioner : Well, Shaykh, what about these recitations? How is that?
The Shaykh : Which recitations?
The questioner : Differences, for example, in the wording.
The Shaykh : The difference mentioned.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : The difference that exists today is not of this kind.
The questioner : Yes, it is not of this kind, but...
The Shaykh : Yes, that is it.
The questioner : How is it explained?
The Shaykh : It is explained that this is among what was approved, not among what was burned. And Allah knows best.
The questioner : Is it a matter containing difficulty from the perspective of doubts?
The Shaykh : What doubts arise?
The questioner : I mean that ... the Qur'an that was revealed in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was all...
The Shaykh : It was revealed after its existence; this is clear. What is the difficulty? Please, go ahead.