Genuineness of the holy Quranthanks to Messrs. Habeeb Esmail Benevolent Trust, whose constant...

ALuminaryThe'IntroductiontotheQuran'istheoutcomeofdeepresearchbythegreatscholarLateHajiMirzaMehdiPooya(nohonorificcanelevateanamenowsoeminent).Theintellectualzealandintuitiveinsightofthismostprofoundandconstructivethinkerhaveelucidatedlogically'GenuinenessoftheQuran,themeaningof'Revelation','ExistenceofGod','InevitabilityofFaithinDivineOccultation=thebirth,presencedisappearanceandreappearanceofthe12thImam-thelastImamfromtheAhlulBait,ProgenyoftheHolyProphet'-allthesearticlesoffaithbeing,basedontheQuran.Hecompletedthisworkinspiteofcontinuousill'health.TheworkhadbeenreviewedthoroughlybytheeminentJudge,LateJusticeShahabuddin,formerChiefJusticeofSupremeCourtofPakistan.JusticeShahabuddinwasamongtheclosefriendsofAqaPooyawhoimbibedthescholarlyexpositionoftheQuranbyAqa.Thisgreatscholarleftthisworldon17thJuly1973=16JamaadAth'Thaani1393H,(maytheAlmightyfurtherelevatehisstation).Hewasbornin1317H.InaverylearnedfamilyofYazd,Iran.HisfatherHojjatolIslamAqaiMirzaMohammedHassanandGrandfatherHojjatol'IslamAqaMirzaMohammedJa'farofYazdwerecelebratedscholarsoftheirtime,theformerbeingabrilliantstudentoftheShiaDivineSyedKazimTabatabaiYazdy,whointurnwasthestudentofthelatter.AqaPooyareceivedhiseducationinYazd(Iran)andNajaf(Iraq).Bytheageofseven,hewaslearnedin'Euclid'andotherintricatemathematicalproblemsofPythagoras.HewasthemostintelligentstudentofMujtahidAqaiNaini.ThesublimityofcalibreofthisyoungScholarwasrecognisedbyhisMujtahidwhowasdeeplyinterestedinhiscareer.However,AqaPooyadidnotstayinIraqandIran.Beingverysensitive,hewassoeffectedbytheunhappyconditionsprevailinginIraqandIranthathemigratedtoMadrasinundividedIndia.HisMujtahidAqaiNainiwasveryunhappyoverthemigrationofsuchabrilliantscholarandwereitpossiblehewouldhaveordainedreligiousdecreetostophismigration.HesethimselftothetaskoflearningtheEnglishlanguagethereandkeptsteadilytoittillheattainedasoundknowledgeofthelanguage.

ScholarsandpeopleinPakistanfoundcommonindebtednesstoAqaPooyaforhishavingchosentosettledowninKarachiandenlighteningthosearoundhimbyhisConversationsandfortnightlyreligiousdiscourseswhereonecoulddiscussone'sdoubtsandbesatisfiedbyPooya'slearnedself.Associationwithhimhasgivenbirthtolearnedscholarsandfamousorators.Manyhavebeenblessedbyhispiety,toleranceandbenevolence.Hewasoneofthosescholarswhoneverraisedan

eyebrowattheunbelieverpesteringhimwithhisproblemswhichwereattimeschildish,attimesserious.Hewasallearsandalwayssuccessfulinputtingthequestionerateaseandatshowinghimwheretheflawlayinhisreasoning.Problemsofeverydaylifetothemostscholasticones,weresolvedbyhimthroughrecitationofrelevantversesfromtheQuranwithexplanations.IntheeyesofthelivingDivinesofNajafandIran,heisanacceptedauthorityontheinterpretationandexpositionofQuranicversesfromesotericandexotericpointsofview.AqaPooyaneverneglectedhisdutiestowardsIslamicinstitutionsalloverPakistan,manyofwhichowetheirexistencetohim.Hisexplanatorynotesin'TranslationoftheQuran'byMirAhmedAliandhisbook'FundamentalsofIslam'areamongthemonumentalworksofthisepoch.HisoutstandingworkswillalwaysserveasguidelinesnotonlytothescholarsbutallthoseinterestedinknowingandgraspingthemeaningofIslam,universaltruth,regardlessoftheircreed,nationalityandsect.HispersonalityattractedHindus,Christians,Parsees,andChristian'Missionariesfromabroad,whowereleftspell'boundandoverwhelmedwithadmirationathissoundreasoningandclearexpositionofIslamthroughQuran,aspresentedbytheHolyProphetandhisAhlulBait.Thoughthegreatluminaryhasphysicallydisappearedfromthelocalscene,heretainsapositioninthehorizonandgenerationstocomewillbeenlightenedwiththeraysofhislearning.Iamduty'bound,accordingtothewishoftheLateAqaPooyatoofferthankstoMessrs.HabeebEsmailBenevolentTrust,whoseconstantservicesintheachievementofreligiousidealneednointroductionandMr.MushtaqAliK.Laddhaniwhocarriedouthisworkdevotedly.Ifeelitismysupremefortunetohavehadcloseassociationwiththisbenefactor,thelateAqawhotaughtmeIslamanddispelledalldoubtsrelatingtoreligionwhichweretheproductoftheparticularwesternphilosophicthoughtandenvioustendenciesofthetime.

NotonlymyhumbleselfbutmylatelovingdaughterNajiba(Mrs.SyedFida'I'Shabir)M.A.,LecturerofEnglishLiteratureS.M.B.FatimaJinnahGirls'Collegewhopassedveryrecentlyfromthisworldinheryoungage,hadalsolearnedandgraspedtheinstructionsofthelateAqawhichunfoldedtheouterandinneraspectsoftheQuranandteachingsoftheHolyProphetandhisAhlulBait.

Shehadbeenco'operatingwithherhumbleandassiduouslabourduringAqa'sacademicproductions.SheendeavouredtodisseminateAqa'sviewsthroughhiswritingsonvariousoccasions,(mayAllahblesshersoul).Attheend,IrequestallthereaderstoobservetheirreligiousobligationandprayforLateAqaPooya'selevationofstationinthepermanentabode,forhisgreatservicestothecauseofIslam.

Karachi.

SyedMohammedMurtaza

Thepresenttreatise,'GenuinenessoftheQuran'isapartof'IntroductiontotheQuran'.Thisisbeingpublishedasanindependenttreatiseasasubstitutetothearticle'OriginalityandgenuinenessoftheQuraninitstextandarrangement'whichisapartofintroduction'oftheQurantranslatedbyMr.MirAhmedAli.Itwasreviewedandre'writtenforvariousreasons.

GenuinenessoftheHolyQuraninItsTextandItsArrangement

Explaination

Verily,thosewhodisbelieveintheReminderwhenitcomethuntothem,Andverily41:41it(Quran)isaBookUnassailable.41:42Shallcomenotnighitfalsehoodfrombeforeitnorfrombehindit:arevelationfromtheAll'Wise,theMostPraisedOne.AnoverwhelmingmajorityofscholarsofallschoolsofthoughtinIslamagreethattheHolyQuran,asitisnow,inourhands,wasrenderedinwritingunderthecommandandthepersonalsupervisionoftheHolyProphethimself,andthatnoaddition,omissionoralteration,whatsoever,evertookplaceinit.ButafewtraditionalistsofSunniaswellasShiaschoolswhowereinvariablyinfluencedmorebytheletterofallsortsoftraditions(whetherauthenticorinauthentic)thanbyreasonandhistoricalfacts,haveheldadifferentviewtotheeffectthatsomeomissionsandalterationshadtakenplaceaftertheHolyProphet,andbeforetheofficialassentwas

giventothepresentversionbyCaliphUthman.Theadvocatesofthisviewneversucceededinestablishingthistheorybyanyreliableevidenceandargument.Ourattempthereisto:

1.pointoutthecausesofthistheory;

2.evaluatethetraditionsputforwardinsupportofthetheory;

3.assesstheinternalandtheexternalevidenceofhistoricalvalueonthissubject;

4.establishwhattheMuslimsarerequiredtobelieveabouttheHolyQuranfromthereligiouspointofview.

Beforedealingwiththesubjectindetailundertheaboveheadings,thefollowingpointshavenecessarilytobekeptinview.

EverlastingChallenge

ByQuran,wemeantherhythmicandrecitativeverses,phrases,sentencesandthechaptersutteredbytheHolyProphetofIslam,notashisownwording,butasverbatimBookofGod,revealedtohim,andwhichheproclaimedashisEverlastingMiraclebearingtestimonyofhisProphethoodandwithwhichhechallengednotonlytheArabindividualsofhistime,whodoubtedtheDivineoriginoftheQuran,butalsotheindividuals,Arabornon'Arab,whomaydoubtinfutureitsorigin.HeevenchallengedInsandJinsasawholeeversinceitsutteranceuptotheResurrectionDaytojoinhandsandbringa'like'ofit,ortenchaptersofit,evenasinglechapterifpossible.2:23

IfyebeindoubtaboutwhatWehavesentdownuntoOurServant(Mohammed)Produceyethenasurah(Chapter)likeuntoit,andcallyeyourwitnessesotherthanGod,ifyebetruthful.2:24

Butifyedo(it)not,andnevershallyedo(it)thenguardye(yourselves)againstthe(Hell)firewhosefuelshallbethepeopleandstones,Preparedforthedisbelievers.10:37

AndthisQuranisnotsuchastobeforgedby(anyone)besidesGod,butitisaconfirmationof(thescriptures)thatwentbeforeitand(theclearest)explanationoftheBook,thereisnodoubtinit,(itis)fromtheLordoftheworlds10:38

Ordotheysay:

'He(ApostleMohammed)hathforgedit?"

Saythou!

'Bringyethenachapterlikeuntoitandcallon(toyouraid)whomsoeveryecan,besidesGod,ifyebetruthful."10:39

Nay,theybeliedthatwhichtheycomprehendednotwiththeknowledgeofitandtheexplanationofitcamenotuntothemeventhusdidbeliethosebeforethemseethenwhatwastheendoftheunjustones.11:13

Ordotheysay."He(Ourapostle)hathforgedit."

Saythou!

'Bringyethentensuraslikeuntoitforged,andcallye(toyouraid)whomsoeveryecanbesidesGod,ifyebetruthful."11:14

(Theniftheyansweryenot,thenknowyethatthis(Quran)isrevealed(only)byGod'sknowledge,andthatthereisnogodbutHe!Willyethensubmit(andbeMuslimsnow?17:88Saythou"Even)ifmenandthejinngetunited(withtheobject)thattheybringthelikeofthisQuran,theywouldbringnotthelikeofit,eventhoughsomeofthemtotheothersbehelpers."AndVariousotherverses.Thischallengehethrewtothepeoplenotonlyofaparticularagebutofalltimes.TheotherutterancesandsayingoftheHolyProphetarealsorevelationsfromGodbuttheyarenotincludedintheabovedefinitionastheyarenotpartoftheQuraninrespectofwhichhechallengedtheworld.TheseareknownasSacredtraditions'Ahaadeeth'e'QudsiyyawhicharesonumerousandabundantthatifcollectedtogethertheywouldnotbelessthanthesizeoftheHolyQuranifnotmore(vide'DivisionofRevelation'-'TheintroductiontotheQuran'.Theirpopularityandauthenticity,innorespectoraspect,aremorethanthatofothergenuinebutsolitaryreportscontainingthesayingsoftheHolyProphet.Thisdefinitionalsoexcludesthewords,phrasesorsentencesrevealedtotheHolyProphetasexplanatorynotes,inbetweencertainverses,butnotforrecitationoftherevealednotesofthistype,somearesopeculiarthatiftheybetakenaspartofthetextoftheQuran,therhythmicandrecitativetoneoftheversewouldbedisturbed.

ThusgrantingthetruthofcertainreportspointingoutsomewordsorphrasesnotfoundintheQuranas'revealed',inbetweensomeverses,theydonotnecessarilymeanthatthewordsorphrasesinquestionwerepartofthetextforrecitation.Inotherwords,itistruethattheQuranasawholeorpartisrevealed,butitisnottruethatwhateverwasrevealedistheQuranorpartofit.Forexample,therearecertainreportsnarratedbysomeSunniandShianarratorsthatin4:24whereintemporarymarriageisdealtwith,itwassaidthat(x)wasfoundthereinthecollectionsofAbdullahbn'Maso'od.4:24Thenastothosewhomyouprofitby,givethemtheirdowriesasappointed44:24

ThenastothosewhomyouprofitbyFORFIXEDPERIOD,givethemtheirdowriesasappointed8Thesaidphrasewasundoubtedlyrevealed,notasapartofrecitativeQuranbutasanexplanatorynote;thisisthereasonwhyitwasnotfoundinanyothercollectionexceptinthatofAbdullahbn'Maso'od.AlltheMuslimcommentatorsagreethatthepassagedealswiththelegislationrelatingtotemporarymarriage.AccordingtoAbdullahbn'Maso'od,thereasonforrecordingandrecitingthisexplanatoryphrasewasthattherulerofthetimehadissuedanordinanceprohibitingthetemporarymarriageandasaprotest,bn'Maso'odusedtomentionthisphrase,sothatnobodycoulddenythelegislationregardingtemporarymarriage.Anyreportthatsuggestsadditionoromissionoralterationofsomewordsorphraseswhichisinconsistentwiththerhythmicandrecitativetoneofthetextshouldbeeitherrejectedorinterpretedasmeaningsomethingoutofthetext.Forexample,BukharireportsthatoneofthecompanionsoftheProphet,AboDarda,usedtoconsiderthephrase'WaMaKhalaqa'asanadditionnotfoundin92:3buttherhythmicalconsistencyofthepresentversionwiththisphraseisthebestproofagainstthereportofAboDarda,whichmaybeanoutcomeofhisimaginationorthatofsomesubsequentreporters.92:3

Andthecreatingofthemaleandthefemale492:3

Andthemaleandthefemale8MoreoveritistheconsensusofopinionoftheMuslimscholarsthatnothinghasbeenaddedtothetext.Thisdefinitiongivenabove,needstobekeptinviewthroughoutthediscussionabouttheHolyQuran.

MatchlessinAuthenticityandGenuineness

Ofthereligiousrecordsofhistoricalvaluewhetherpre-'Islamic[1]orpost'Islamic,in

ourhands,nodocumentcanevercompetewiththeHolyQuraninauthenticityandgenuineness.NoneofthehistoricalrecordsandreportswhichtheMuslimsclaimtobethemostauthenticandgenuine,beitofanyschoolofthoughtviz.theSehaah'e'SittaofSunnisortheKutbArba'aofShia's'"canclaimcontinuouspopularityinthesenseofbeingwithinthereachofeveryMuslimfromhisearliestagetohisdeathinanydegreeaswastheHolyQuran;andnotraditionwasconsideredsoimportantastomakeeveryMuslimchildlearn,reciteandmemoriseitwordbywordwiththeutmostgrammaticalcorrectnessandphoneticperfectionasinthecaseoftheHolyQuran.

AttachementtotheHolyQuranbyItsBelievers

TheabovementionedimportanceandcareattachedtotheHolyQuranbyeveryMuslimwasnotamatterofanysubsequentperiodTheMuslimswereattractedtotheHolyQuran,asthewordofGodfromthetimeofitsrevelationtotheholyProphetandhisrecitationtothepeople.TheHolyQuranitselffromthetimeofitsrevelationencouragedthepeopleinvariouswaystolearn,read,reciteandmemoriseitandtoponderovereverywordandmindfullylistenwhenbeingrecited.Whenonerecitesit,oneshouldfirstgetreadytodoitbywithdrawingone'sselffromeverythingwhichwouldcausetheleastdiversionofthoughtordistractionofattention.7:204

AndwhentheQuranisrecitedthenyelistentoitandbeattentive,thatmercybedoneuntoyou.16:98

AndwhenrecitestthoutheQuran,seekthourefugewithGodfromSatantheaccursed.

TheHolyProphetCommandedtoFollowtheDivineOrderinItsRecitationandArrangement

TheimportanceoftheQuranattachedbyitsDivineAuthorandbelievers:theHolyProphetwascommandedbyGodnottobeinhasteintherecitationorthearrangementoftheHolyQuranbuttofollowtheDivineorderinbothrespects.This

indicatesthatthearrangementneednotbeaccordingtothedateoftherevelationwithwhichwewilldeallater.Inshort,thestudentsoftheHolyQurancanrealisetheamountofimportanceandcarewhichhasbeenattachedtotheHolyTextbyitsDivineAuthor,andasanaturalconsequenceofitbytheMuslims,whorightlybelievethat'God'istheAuthoroftheHolyQuran.76:16(0OurApostleMohammed!)Movenotthytonguewithit(the'Quran)inhaste!76:17

VerilyonUsisthecollectionofitandtherecitalofit!76:18SowhenWehaverecitedit,thenfollowthoutherecital!76:19

AgainitisonUstheexplainingofit!20:114

HighaboveallisGod,theKing,the(Self'Existent)Truth;Andhastennot(OOurApostleMohammed!)withtheQuranereitscompleteduntotheeitsrevelation,Andsaythou;"OmyLord!increasemeinknowledge"ThustheypaytheutmostdevotiontotheHolyBookandcarryouttheordersasrequiredofthem.Theyhavebeenlearningandmakingtheirchildrenlearnitandtheywerekeentoputitintowriting.TheMuslimsinthelifetimeoftheHolyProphetweretaughtandeducatedtolearntheHolyQuranas'Ibaadat=Devotion',toreciteitas'Ibaadat',towriteitdownas'Ibaadat',toteachothersandmakethemreadandlearnitbyheartandunderstanditas'Ibaadat'.

TheybecamesofamiliarwithitthattheyusedtheversesoftheHolyQuranintheirdailyconversationtotheextentthatsomeofthemashistoryrecords,neverusuallyusedanyword,phraseorsentenceintheirlifeotherthanthatoftheHolyQuran.

ArrangedandWritteninCompleteBookFormintheHolyProphet'sLife

TheHolyQurandeclaresthattheteachingoftheBookandtheactofwritingareamongthemainobjectsoftheadventoftheHolyProphetanditconsidersthepenasthemeansofeducatingmanevenwhenGodistheteacher.68:1(N)bythePenandbywhattheywrite,96:4(He)whotaught(towrite)withthePen,96:5(He)taughtmanwhatheknewnot!TheHolyQurancommandspeopletowritedownintheirbusinessandothertransactionstheiragreementsandkeepwitnessestoavoiddoubtsanddisputeslateron.

Withallthesefactsestablishedabove,isitpossiblethattheAuthoroftheQuran(Allah),whoattachessomuchimportancetootherswritingdowneventheaffairsoftheirbusiness,didnotcareforhavingHisownworkwrittendowntowhichHEattachedsomuchimportanceandwhichHErevealedastheBookcontainingthefundamentalprinciplesoftruthandjustice,thefinalandtheuniversalDivineMessage,notforanysectionofhumanityorforanylimitedtimebutforthehumanraceasawholeandforalltimeinallpartsoftheearth?

Inverse6:91,theQuranblamestheJewsforhavingputthebookrevealedtoMosesinfragmentaryformexhibitingsomepartsofitandsuppressingtheothers.6:91

TheyesteemnotGodwiththeestimationduetoHimwhentheysay:"NothingdidGodsenddownuntoman!"Say(0OurApostleMohammed!)"Who(then)diditsenddowntheBookwhichMosesbrought?

alightandaguidancetomankind,Yemake(transcribe)itintopapers(whereonyepublish(apart)andconcealyemuch(ofit)!

andyeweretaughtwhatyeknewnot,neitheryounoryourfathers;Saythou!"God!"thenleavethemsportingintheirvaindiscourses.ItisunthinkablethatGodleftHisBook,inthefragmentaryandunarrangedformwhenHeblamestheJewsfordoingsoinrespectofthebookofMoses.Ali(A.S.)tellsus:

'Nay,DuringthegradualrevelationoftheQurannochapter,verse,sentence,phrase,word,letterwasrevealedwhichtheHolyProphetdidnotrecitetomeandmademereciteandthendictatetome.Iwroteitinitsproperplaceasordered.Hedictatedtomenotonlythetextbutalsothenecessaryexplanatorynotesaboutthedate,circumstancesandtheimplicationsofeveryverseandchapter.Besidesthis,he(the

HolyProphet)taughtmethousandkeynotestotheinnermeaningoftheQuran;eachkeynoteleadingtoanotherthousandkeynotesandfurtherinnermeaningsandsoon.IsitpossiblethatwhentheQuranwithitsrevealedcommentarywasdictatedtoAli(A.S.)bytheHolyProphetandwaswrittenbyAli(A.S.)inhisownhandwriting,thetextoftheQuraninitsrecitativemiraculousformwhichhadtobeplacedwithinthereachofeverybodywasleftunwrittenorwritteninfragmentaryform?Anyimpartialreasonableperson,beheaMuslimornon-Muslimwouldcertainlygiveashisverdict,beyondanydoubt,thattheQuran,asdefinedabove,wasputintowritingandcollectedandarrangedunderthesupervisionoftheHolyProphet(S.A.).

TheclaimofanyschoolofthoughtthatthetextinquestionwascollectedandarrangedbyanyoneafterthedemiseoftheProphetisabsolutelyunfounded.Theterm'Mus'haf=collection'usedthendidnotmeanthetextonly.Itmeanttextwithcommentaryorexplanatorynotes.Thatcollectionalsohadbeenmadebytherecognizedteachers,monthsbeforethedemiseoftheHolyProphet(S.A.).Andasitwillbeseenlatertherecognizedteachersrefusedtohandovertheircollectiontothethenrulingparties,andsotherulingpartiesdecidedtodispensewiththethenexistingcollectionsandpreparetheirown.ItisrecordedinbooksoftraditionsandhistorythattheyoungZaidbn-Thaabitwasselectedforthetask.NorecordofhistoricalvalueshowsthatAli(A.S.)orotherrecognizedteachersoftheQurantookpartinthisofficialcollection;onthecontraryeachofthemengagedhimselfindependentlyinproducingcopiesoftheircollectionsofexplanatorynatureaccordingtotheirtasteandability.[2]

NeitherthesocalledcollectionofAli,preparedafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphet,nothisformercollectionmadeduringthelifeoftheHolyProphetwasseenbyanypersonotherthanthechosenmembersoftheFamilyoftheHolyProphet=AhlulBait.TheofficialcollectionpreparedbyZaidbn-ThaabitundertheorderofthefirstCaliphalsoremainedunpublishedduringthereignsofthefirstandsecondCaliphsandthefirstofthethirdCaliph'srule.ButduringthisperiodthetextoftheQuranleftbytheHolyProphetamongthepeoplealongwithAhlulBaitgotthepublicityandpopularitytosuchanextentthatnobodycoulddaretotamperwiththetextbyomission,additionoralterationofthearrangement.Allthatcouldbedonewasonlytotamperwiththeinterpretationoftheexistingtext.

NoAdditions,NoOmissions,NoAlterations

TheauthenticityandthegenuinenessoftheversionoftheHolyQurannowinourhands,inthesensethatitisintheverywordswhichwereutteredbytheHolyProphet,issoevidentthatnoMuslimscholarofanystandardhaseverdoubteditsgenuinenessorthefactthateachandeveryletter,wordorsentence,verseorchapterwasutteredbytheHolyProphet,asthepartoftheQuran.Inotherwordstheversionwehaveinourhands,isundoubtedlytheQuranasrecitedbytheHolyProphet.TothequestionofTalha,'IsallthisinourhandsQuran(revealedfromGod)?'Ali'sanswerwas:'Allthatisinourhands(withinthereachofthepeople)isQuran(revealedfromGod)andinthis(whichisavailabletoall)istheproofofourrightoverthepeopleandtheirdutytoobeyus.'

Howeverthedisputeremainsaboutomissionsandalterationsinthearrangementandinsomeletteringandnotaboutanyadditionsatall.

VarietiesOfRecitationDoNotMeanAdditionOrAlteration

Thisdisputedissueshouldnotbeconfusedwiththequestionofdifferentrecitationsi.e.varietiesofrecitationdonotmeanadditionoralteration.Thealterationsorthealternativesgivenbysomecommentatorsregardingsomelettering,pronunciationandsomewordsoftheHolyBookwhichdonoteffectanysubstantialchangeeitherinthemeaningorinthesignificanceofthephrasesorthesentenceswillbedealtwithunderthevarietyoftherecitationsofthesamewords;suchas,MalikeandMaalike.

Inshort,inspiteofsomesolitarytraditions,theMuslimworldthroughouttheageshasbeenunanimousthatnothinghasbeenaddedtotheHolyQuranwhichisnowinourhands.AllreligiousrecordsotherthantheHolyQuran,Islamicornon-Islamicaresuspectedofcontainingpassages,paragraphsandevenchapterswhichhavebeenaddedtotheoriginalwork.HavinginviewthisirrefutableauthenticityandthegenuinenessoftheHolyQuran,theHolyProphetofIslamandhiscompanionsandthescholarsofthesubsequentgenerationsareunanimousthattheHolyQuranistobetakenasthestandardandthecriterionfortheverificationofalltheotherreligiousrecords,betheseIslamicornon-Islamic.Anynarration,attributinganutterance,actionorendorsementtotheHolyProphetortheHolyImamsofhisHouse,ifinconsistentwiththeHolyQuranistobeconsideredasspuriousandunacceptable.Thiscriterionforacceptingorrejectinganarrationortraditionhasbeendeclaredby

theHolyProphet,Ali,HasanandHusainandthesucceedingnineImamsoftheHolyHouse[3].ItmeansthattheQuranasthestandardandthecriterionfortheverificationoffalsehoodortruthofotherreligiousstatements,reportsandnarrations,existedwithinthereachofthepublicthroughouttheperiod.

TheSameVersionReceivedtheOfficialAssentofthe3rdCaliph

ThereisnodisputeordoubtthattheQuraninourhandsisthesameversionwhichreceivedtheofficialassentoftheThirdCaliph.Allthathasbeenormaybesaidabouttheomission,additionorsubstantialalterationallegedtohavetakenplaceintheQuran,(inthearrangementofthewordsandphrasesintheversesandchaptersorthearrangementofthechapterstogether)relatestotheperiodbetweenthedemiseoftheHolyProphetandtheofficialassentgiventothepresentversionbytheThirdCaliph.Asalreadypointedout,theHolyQuranwascurrentandinuseduringthelife-timeoftheHolyProphetamongtheMuslimsthroughoutthethenMuslimworld.Thebelievers,menandwomen,andeventhechildrenwereardentlydesirousoflearningandbeinginpossessionoftheWordandtheBookofGodbyallmeanspossible,bywritingandpreparingacollectionofitorlearningitbyheart.BesidesthefactthattheQuranwaspopularamongthepeopleingeneral,therewereAlibn-Abi-Taalib,Ja'farbn-Abi-Taalibandtheiradherents,afewchosenscholars,amongtheearlyMuslimstowhomtheHolyProphethadentrustedthedutyofrecordingthenandtheretheQuranasitwasrevealed,andrecitedbyhim.TheywereAbdullahbn-Maso-odandMas'-abbn-OmairoftheearliestMuslimsinMeccaandObaibn-Ka'bamongsttheAnsars=earliestadherentsinMadina,Ma'azbn-Jabal,SalimMawlaHuzaifaandotherslikeKhabbabbn-Arth,whowasteachingUmar'ssisterandherhusbandontheoccasionwhenUmarcametokillthembutgotoverpoweredbythefascinationofrecitedversesandwasthusconvertedtoIslam.Ja'farbn-Abi-TaalibwastheheadoftheearlyMuslimswhohadmigratedtoAbyssinia,andhewasastudentoftheQuranrevealeduptodate;andMas'abbn-OmairwassenttoMadinatoteachtheQurantothepeoplebeforethemigrationoftheHolyProphettothatcity.TheyusedtorecordtheQuraninwritingunderthedirectcommandandthepersonalsupervisionoftheHolyProphet,

inhisverypresence,immediatelyitwasrevealed,puttingeachpartofitinitsrelevantplaceasdirectedbytheHolyProphet.Theyrecitedtheirmanuscriptstohim(HolyProphet)onthespotandalsomanytimesafterwardsandobtainedhisapproval.ThesescribeswereconsideredtobeinchargeofteachingtheQurantoothers.

TheywereconsideredasthescribesoftheHolyBookfromwhomtheMuslimsdirectlyorindirectlylearnedtheQuranduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphetandthereafter.ThesepeopleandthousandsofprominentcompanionswereinterestedinlearningtheHolyQurananditscommentary.AmongtheprominentscholarsoftheQuran,Abdullahbn-AbbaaswasoneoftheeminentthoughhewasayoungcompanionoftheProphet.HewasalsooneofthedisciplesofAli.EventhepartyinpowerandtheirdignitarieshadtolearntheQuranfromAbdullahbn-Abbaas(videBukhari:ChapterStoningThePregnantAdulteress=RajmeHubla)ThedignitariesofQuraish,duringthelaterperiodofthesecondCaliphwerelearningtheQuranfromAbdullahbn-Abbaas.OneofthemwasAbdur-Rahmaanbn-AufwhosepoliticalimportancewasevidentfromthefactthatthesecondCaliphgavehimthecastingvoteinthedeliberationsofthecommitteeappointedtonominatetheThirdcaliph.MostoftheserecognisedscholarsoftheQuranlivedthroughouttheperiodinterveningbetweenthedemiseoftheHolyProphetandtheofficialassentgivenbyCaliphOthmaantothepresentversion.

ThesepeopletaughttheQuranthroughoutthelengthandbreadthofthefast'expandingMuslimEmpire.Peopleofvariousraces,creedsanddifferentshadesofopinionwhohadembracedIslamlearnedtheQuranfromthoseearlyMuslimsbyheartandhadputitdowninwritingfortheirownuse.ThepopularityoftheQuranamongtheMuslimsisevidentfromthereportthatinthebattleof'Yamama',whichtookplaceonlyaboutsixmonthsafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphet,sevenhundredHuffaaz-thosewholearnedQuranbyheart-werekilledinasingleday'sfight.SoinviewofthewidespreadpopularityoftheQuranamongtheMuslimseversinceitsrevelationandtheall-outeffortsofthefaithfulmen,womenandchildrentoacquaintthemselveswithitsprecisewordings,noreportaboutanywordingoftheQuranbeingdifferentinquantity(i.e.,beingmoreorless)orinquality(i.e.pronunciationandarrangement)fromthewordingoftheQuraninhandcouldhaveescapedthenoticeofallitsadmirersexceptasolitarypersonorafewmoreothersoutofthousands.Iftherewereanyletter,word,phrase,sentence,verseorchapteranditsordinalpositiondifferentfromthoseoftheversioninhandtheywouldhavebeenknowntoaverylargenumberofpeopleineverygeneration.AnyreportaboutthewordingoftheQuranlackingthestrengthoftheevidenceofthereportersinlargenumberscannotbetruejustastheeclipseofthesunatmid-dayintheclearskyofaparticularregioncannottakeplaceandbeknownonlytoaveryfewoutofthousandsofinhabitants.

ThisargumentaimingatthenegationofcertaineventonthebasisoftheabsenceofitsnecessarypropertyorthenecessaryassociateoftheeventwillfrequentlybereferredtointhecourseofourdiscussionabouttheQuraninhandasthestrongestevidenceofitsgenuineness.TherearesolitaryreportsaboutcertainwordsofFaatehatualKitaabbeingdifferentfromthewordsintheversioninhande.g.insteadofWalaz-ZaaleensomereportssayitwasGhairaz-Zaaleen.Reportsstatingthatthissmallchapter,therecitationofwhichtwiceineachofthedailyfivetimesprayeriscompulsory,wasdifferentinwordingfromthepresentversioncannotberelieduponatall.1:7ThepathofthoseuponwhomThouhastbestowedfavors.Not(thepath)ofthoseuponwhomThywrathisbroughtdown,norofthosewhogoastray41:7Siratamanan-amtaalaihim,ghairlMaghzoobealaihimwagahirizZaaleen.

'UndoubtedlytheQuranwasexistingduringthelife-timeoftheHolyProphetintheformofanarrangedBookasapprovedbytheHolyProphethimself.FromthesayingoftheHolyProphet:'JibreelhadplacedbeforemetheQuranforreviewonceayearandinthelastyearofministryhe(Jibreel)didsotwicewhichindicatedthatthetimeofmydeparturewascloseathand.'

Itisquiteevidentthat(a)boththeDivineAuthorandtheHolyProphetweresoverycarefulabouttheQuranthatnoalterationofanykindwhatsoevercouldhavebeenmadeinitbyanyoneand(b)thattheQuranreceiveditscompletearrangementandordernotlaterthanabouttwomonthsbeforethedemiseoftheHolyProphet.ItiswithreferencetothisrevealedBookwhichexistedinthecompleteformwithinthereachofthepeoplethattheHolyProphetaddressinghisfollowersdeclared:

'OPeople!IamleavingamongyouTwopreciousthingstowhichifyeadhere,nevershallyegoastrayi.e.,theBookofGodandmyAhlulBait.

ItwaswithreferencetothecompleteBookofGodinthehandsofMuslimsCaliphUmardaredtosayHasbonaKitaaballah=SufficientisforustheBookofGodatthedemiseoftheHolyProphetwhenheaskedforpenandinktowritehiswillinwhichhewantedtoreiterateAlibeingHojjat-theSupremeAuthorityafterhim-butwasrefused(vide'HadeethQirtaas').

ThisprovesbeyondalldoubtsthatwhiletheHolyProphetwasalive,aversionoftheQuraninitscompleteanddulyarrangedformwasinexistenceamongthepeopleandwithinthereachofthecommonman,andsoalsoweretheAhlulBaitwhowere

referredtobytheHolyProphetasoneofthetwogreatthingshewasleaving,theothergreatthingbeingtheQuran.OtherwisereferencestotheBookofGodinthesedeclarationsbecomemeaningless.DoubtingtheexistenceoftheQuraninacompleteandwellarrangedbookform,withinthereachofthese,addressingwhomtheHolyProphethadsaid,'Iamleavingamongyou...',islikedoubtingtheexistenceoftheDivinedeclarationinaclearandunequivocalformaboutthepersonwhoshouldsucceedtheHolyProphetasthesupremeauthorityinIslam,whosewordsshouldbefinalinanydisputeanddoubtconcerningtheouterorinneraspectofIslam.DoubtsrelatingtothegenuinenessandsupremeauthoritativestatusoftheQuranandthedeclaredsupremeauthoritativestatusofAhlulBaitunderminetheveryfoundationofthefaith.SuchdoubtsimplythattheHolyProphetwhoclaimedtobethelastintheorderofthemessengersofGodhasleftthesetwovitalissuestobefinalisedanddecidedbythewishesofthenewconvertswhosesusceptibilitytoreversiontotheoldpagancultandpracticeshasbeenreferredtobytheQuranasawarningtotheProphet.25:30

Andshallsay(out)theApostle(thatday)"MyLord,verilymypeoplehaveheldthisQuranasavainforsakenthing!Inotherwords,todoubtthegenuinenessoftheQuranistoinsinuatethattheHolyProphetwhohadcometocompleteandfinalisetheDivinemissionthathadstartedwiththeadventofAdamsothatafterhimtherewouldbenopleaandargumentforexcuseformenagainstGod,intheircontroversies-4:165(Wesent)apostlesasgiversofgladtidingsandwarnersthattheremaynotremainanyargumentforpeopleagainstGod,after(thecomingof)theseapostles,-neglectedthecompleteandfinalsettlementofthemostimportantissuesandthuslaidthefoundationofallthelatercontroversiesinIslam.SuchneglectonthepartoftheHolyProphetwasnotonlyimprobablebutalsounthinkable,ashismessageisuniversalandall-comprehensive.Asamatteroffactsuchneglectisnotlikelyeveninthecaseofanaveragemanofwisdomwhostarts,anordinarymovementofpoliticalorsocialvalue.Forthemeresakeofargument,somemaysay,thattheHolyProphetinhissaying:

'Iamleavingamongyouthetwopreciousthings,theBookofGodandmyAhlulBait'referredtowhatpeoplehadlearntbyheartandthefragmentsoftheleaves,woods,bonesandpapers,onwhichtheQuranusedtobewrittenatthetimeofitsrevelation.SuchaninterpretationofthewordsoftheHolyProphetwhichheutteredwhendeclaringthefinalandsupremeauthorityafterhim,isasstupidastheinterpretationthattheword'Mawla'usedbytheHolyProphet,atthedeclarationofGhadeer-e-Khum,meant'friend'.TherewasnoneedofsuchadeclarationiftheintentionoftheHolyProphetwastorepeatAliasamerefriendatGhadeer.SimilarlyitisnotpossiblethathereferredtoapileofunarrangedorscatteredfragmentsastheBookofGodwithoutsayinganythingdefiniteaboutthequality,quantityandthewouldbearrangementofthebookandthemethodofgivingafinalshapetothosefragmentsas

acompletebookandthosewhoweretoundertakethetask.Ifhe(theHolyProphet)bythewordBookofGod,meantthefragmentsinquestion,andnotaproperbookthenhewouldhavesaidaccordingtotheShiapointofview,thathehadlefttheBookofGodinfragmentaryconditionwithAli,leavingittohimtogiveitthefinalshapeasorderedbyGod,andthatpeopleshouldreceivetheQuranfromAlionly;orhewouldhavesaid,accordingtoSunnipointofview,thathehadlefttheQuraninafragmentaryconditioninthememoryofthepeopleandonthefragmentsofleaves,bones,hides,woodandpaperhereandtherewiththepeople,andthatitwasthedutyofthemaninpowerafterhimtoundertakeorentrusttoareliablepersonthetaskofdoingtheneedfulbygettingallthescatteredfragmentsandputtingthemtogetherinaparticularformofaBook.

Inshort,todoubttheexistenceoftheQuraninadefinitebookformwithinthereachofthepeopleandtheexistenceofclearandunobscuredeclarationaboutalivingauthoritysidebysideoftheQuranasitsinterpreterandinfallibleexponenttobefollowedbyall,isnothingshortofdoubting,notonlytheProphethoodofthefounderofIslambutevenhiswisdom,whichtheworstofhisenemiescouldnotdeny.

StagesofRevelationoftheQuran

TheQuranclaimsseveralstagesofitsexistence:

1.Apre-revealedexistencewithGodintheLawhMahfooz-ProtectedTablet-andinKitaab-e-Maknoon-HiddenBook.56:77VerilyitisQuranhonourable,56:78

Inabookthatisprotected56:79Touchethitnotsavethepurifiedones.

2.ArevealedformtaughttotheHolyProphetwhenhewas

createdbygiftinghimthepowerofexpression.55:1(God),TheBeneficent,55:2TaughtHetheQuran.55:3Hecreatedman,55:4HetaughthimExpression.

3.Awellarranged(Chapter-wise)formrevealedtotheheartofHolyProphet(Mohammed)initstotalityatonetimeontheEsteemedNightinthemonthofRamazaan.97:1

InthenameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMercifulVerily.

Wesentit(theQuran)downintheNightofQadr!97:2

WhatcanmaketheeknowwhattheNightof'Qadr'is?97:3

TheNightof'Qadr'isbetterthanathousandmonth97:4

TheAngelsandtheSpiritdescendthereinbythepermissionoftheirLord,with(decrees)ofallaffairs.97:5

Peaceis(thewholeNight)tillthebreakingofthedown!44:2

BytheManifestingBook(Quran).44:3

VerilyWesentitdownonaBlessedNight44:

-verilyWehaveeverbeenwarning-44:4

Thereinaremadedistinctallwiseaffairs,44:5

(Becoming)acommandfromuntoUs;44:

Verily,Wearethesenders(ofmercyandpeace)44:6

AmercyfromthyLord;44:

Verily,HeistheAll-Hearing,theAll-Knowing

ThesethreestagesshouldbetakenasreferringtothestagesofGodteachingtheHolyProphetandacquaintinghimwiththeQuran.

4.ThestageofgradualrevelationoftheQuranwithwhichtheHolyProphetwasalreadywell-acquainted;inthisstagetherevelationoftheQuranpartbypartwasmeantforrecitationtothepeople17:106

AnditisQuranwhichWehaveapportioneditsothatthoumayestreciteituntothepeoplewithdeliberation(bydegrees),andWehavesentitdown,graduallyinportions.ItwasinthisstageofrecitationthatthefirstfiveversesofChapter.46knownas'Alaq'or'Iqra'wererevealed.

ThefirstchapteroftheQurannamedFaatehatualKitaab(theopeningChapteroftheHolyBook,theQuran)wasrevealedforrecitationlater.Inthisstageofrevelationthecircumstanceswouldnecessitatequotationandrecitationofsomechaptersorverses(fromchapters)notinaccordancewiththeorderofthepreviousarrangement.A

portionofonechapterwouldberecitedearlierandtheotherportionwouldremaintoberecitedlateron.Inthisintervalfewotherchaptersorportionsofthesewererevealedforrecitation.

5.Thestageofpost-gradualrevelationwhereintheQuranwastaughttobeplacedwithinthereachofJinnsandInsasaneverlastingguidanceandchallengingmiracle.Post-gradualrevelationbeginsinthelastyearofHolyProphet'sministry.TheHolyProphetsaidthatJibreelusedtoplacetheQuranbeforehimeveryyearbutthisyearheplacedtwicebeforehimasitwasHolyProphet'slastyearinthismaterialworld.ItwasapproximatelythreemonthsbeforetheHolyProphet'srepeateddeclaration:

'Iamleavingamongyoutwopreciousthings:thebookofGodandmyAhlulBait'.'Havingthesestagesinview,itisobviousthatthearrangementofthepost-gradualrevelationshouldbeinaccordancewiththeorderoftheQuranofpre-gradualrevelationandnotinaccordancewiththeorderofthedateofitsgradualrevelation,becausecircumstancesmaynecessitateanearlierrecitationofaportionoraverseorachapterwhichmightbethenextintheorderofthepre-revealedarrangement.

ThefactthatthearrangementoftheQuranofpost-gradualrevelationshouldbeinaccordancewiththeper-gradualrevelation,discardingthedateofgradualrevelation-,issupportedbytheQuran:76:17

VerilyonUsisthecollectionofitandtherecitalofit!andbythenarrationsandreportswhichindicatethattheHolyProphetusedtoordertheScribestoplacetherevealedversesofdifferentrhythmicalpitchintherelevantparticularchapters,andthattheQuranwasrevisedbyJibreeltwiceinthelastyearofhis(theProphet's)ministry.

Therefore,theplaceandthedateofrevelationhavenottheslightestbearingontheorderofarrangementoftheQuraninpost-gradualrevelation.WhatwefindinthebeginningofeverychapterwrittenaboutthedateandplaceofrevelationsuchasMakki,MadaniandnumberofversesineachchapterarenotpartoftheQuran.Thesearewhatpeoplehadmarkedoutfortheirownreference.ThusitisnotcorrecttoconsiderthepresentplacingoftheMadaniChaptersbeforeMakkiandviceversaasasignofdisorderandlackofproperarrangement.

QuranMadeEasy

Althoughthereisnoproblemofanytheologicalvalue,theoreticalorpractical,whichtheQuranhasnotdealtwith,anditsurpassesallscripturalrecordsofpreorpost-Islamicagesintheabundantvarietyofitscontents,yetitsmethodofapproach,presentationandsolutionisexclusivelyuniqueinitself.Itneverdealswithanytopicinthecommonsystematicwayusedbyanyauthoroftheologyorevenbyanyapostolicwriter.Onthecontrary,itexpresslysaysthatithasadoptedaspecialmanifoldmethodofitsownwhichmaybetermedas'Tasreefi'i.e.displayofvarietiesorchangingthetopicsandshiftingfromonesubjecttoanotherorrevertingtothepreviousoneandrepeatingdeliberatelyandpurposefullyoneandthesamesubjectinuniqueandpeculiarrhythmicandrecitativeformstofacilitatetheunderstanding,learningandrememberingofit:17:89

AndcertainlywehaveusedvariousargumentsformenintheQuran,everykindofdescription,butmostmenconsentnottoaughtbutdenying.6:46

'Seethou,howwedisplay(explaining)thesignsyettheyturnaside.6:65'

Behold!howrepeatedlydoWedisplaythesigns,thattheymayunderstand.6:105

AndthusdoWedisplaythesignsandthattheymaysay"ThouhastbeentaughtandthatWemaymakeitcleartopeoplewhoknow."ThedisplayofvarietieslinkedtogetherwitharhythmofpeculiarpitchistoshowforththesignsoftheUnityofGod.Fromitsaboveverses,itisevidentthattheHolyQuranwasalreadyalivetothefactthatthischangingattitudewillmakesomeopponentsofitandaccuseitsAuthorofgettingitssubjectmatterfromhereandthere,so,theQurangivesthereasonforthis,astostirupthedepthofhumanintellecttoreflectontheunityinvarietyandharmonyindiversity.However,itisafactthattheHolyQurandealsineachchapterofparticularrhythmwithvarioustopicsinvariouswaysandthisvarietyaddsonlytoitsuniquebeautyandmatchlesseloquence.AnattentivereciteroranintelligentaudienceoftheHolyQuranwhilepassingthroughthesevarietiesofrhythmicalpitch,enjoystotheextentwhichtheHolyQuranitselfdeclares:39:23

Godhaththebestannouncement,abookconsistentinitsvariousparts,attherecitationofwhichdoshuddertheskinsofthosewhofeartheirLord,thentheirskinsandtheirheartsbecomeplainttotheremembranceofGod,thisisGod'sguidance.HeguidethwithitwhomsoeverHewilleth;and(asfor)HimwhomGodallowethtoerr,thereshallbenoguideforhim."39:27

AndcertainlywehavesetforthformeninthisQuransimilitudesofeverysortthattheymaymind.Eventhosewhodoubtedthegenuinenessofthearrangementofthepresentversiondidnotcomplainthatthewholearrangementoftheversesinallthe

chaptershadbeenaffected.TherearechapterswhichwereundoubtedlyrevealedincompleteformsuchasChapters54,55,56andthechaptersimmediatelyprecedingandsucceedingthemandChapter.39

Thesixthchapterwhichisalengthychapter,accordingtoAhlulBait,wasalsorevealedatonetimeinitscompletepresentform.Onefindsthesamevariationofsubjectmanifestedinthosechaptersalso.Thisvarietyofexpressioninrhythmicalway,isfoundnotonlyinthechaptersbutevenintheversesoftheHolyBook.ThesefactsarecomprehensiblebyanintelligentandasincerestudentoftheHolyQuranashegoesonrecitingitoverandoveragain.Thereforetoconsider(a)themereabsenceofchronologicalarrangementoftheversesinsomechaptersandthechapterstogether,or(b)themerevarianceoftopicsintheversesofachapter,oroftopicsofchapters,closetoeachother,asprovingthatthedisarrangementoftheQurantookplaceaftertheHolyProphetisnotright,unlesstherebesomeauthenticreportofhistoricalvalueoranyotherinternalorexternalevidencetobeartestimonytothateffectregardingsomespecificword,verseorchapter.Ontheotherhand,wehaveinternalevidenceofutmostcertitudethatcertainversesofsomeChapters,forexample,ChapterAlaq(Iqra)containselevenversesofwhichthefirstfiveversesarefirstinchronologicalorderbutthelastsixverseswererevealedlongafterwardswhenmanyotherpartsofotherchapterswererevealedforrecitation.

ThelastsixwererevealedwhentheHolyProphetstartedsayingandleadingprayeropenly,andmetwithoppositionfromtheinfidelsinthethirdyearofhismission.Similarly,thelastlengthyverse73:20,accordingtoitscontents,supportedbyauthenticreportsmusthavebeenrevealedthen,elevenyearsafterthefirstnineteenshortverses.Therevelationofthelastportionbelongedtotheearlyrevelationsnextto'IqraandAl-Muddathir'.WerenottheordinalpositionoftheversesinquestionDivineandincompleteaccordwiththeHolyProphet'sdeclarationsandwerethepresentpositionoftheseversestheresultofanydisarrangement,itwouldhavebeenpointedoutandreportedbytheAhlulBaitandtheirfollowers,suchasAmmar,AboZar,Meqdaadorsuchotherboldandoutspokenmen,andalsobysomeothercompanionsoftheHolyProphetwhowereheldasauthoritiesontheQuran.TheImamsoftheoftheHolyHousepointedoutthatchapters93and94-Az-ZuhaandAl-Inshirah-thoughseparatedfromeachotherby'Bismillah',yetduetothecloserelevancyofthecontextshouldbeconsideredasoneandrecitedtogetheriftheyarerecitedinthefirsttwo'Raka-ats'ofthedailycompulsoryprayers.Andthesameisthecasewithchapters105and106-Al-FeelandQuraish-theyshouldberecitedtogetherintheprayer.ThisdirectiveoftheAhlulBaitaboutthesechaptersshowshowAhlulBaitwerekeentoseethattheQuranwasrecitedinprayersintheproperorder.Iftherewasanydisarrangementandmisplacementinanypartofanychaptertheywouldhavepointeditouttothepeoplesothattheymightbecarefulintherecitation

oftheQuraninprayer.IflastsixversesofIqraandlastfortysixversesofAl-Muddathirandthelast20versesofAl-Muzzamilwerenotintheirproperplaces,theHolyAhlulBaitwouldhavepointeditoutanddirectedpeopletoplacethemproperly.AbsenceofanydirectionfromAhlulBaitregardingtheversesinquestionisasufficientproofthattheirpresentarrangementisinorder,thoughthetimeoftheirrevelationswaslongaftertherevelationoftheotherportionsoftheirrespectivechapters.

ThisisthebestinternalevidencewhichdiscardsthechronologicalarrangementofversesandchaptersasDivine.Besidesthese,alltheauthentictraditionsandreportstotheeffectthattheHolyProphetusedtodirectthescribestoinserttheversesrevealedintodifferentchapters,alreadyrevealedinparts,whetheratMakkaorMadinaprovebeyonddoubtthattheDivineortheoriginalarrangementoftheversesinthechaptersandthechapterstogetherneednotbeinaccordancewiththedateofrevelation.HenceanyreportpointingoutthatsomecompanionshavecollectedtheQuraninchronologicalordershouldbediscardedasspurious,orasindicatingthatsuchacollectionwasmadeasacommentaryfortheirpersonaluseandnotforgeneralrecitationbythepublic.

CausesofDoubts

Explaination

ThereisnodoubtthattheirresistiblefascinatingforceandthechallengingpoweroftheHolyQuranwerethemain,ifnotthesolemeansofconversioneversincethebeginningoftheHolyProphet'smission.IrrefutablytheeffectoftherecitationoftheQuranmadetheopponentssparenoeffortstopreventtheHolyProphetandhis

disciplesfromrecitingtheHolyBookbeforethepublic,particularlytheyouth,Thereisabundanthistoricalevidencevouchingthisfact.Besides,thispreventivemeasure,theopponentstriedalsotoovercometheirresistibleforceandthewonderfuleffectoftheHolyQuranbytryingtodisturbitsrecitationbyintroducinginterjections.41:26Andthosewhodisbelievesay;"HearkenyenotthisQuran,makenoiseinit,happilyyemayovercome."Hereisoneoftheinstancesofthiseffort:WhentheHolyProphet,whilerecitingChapter.53An-Najm,reachedthe20thverse,oneoftheinfidelsamongtheaudienceutteredthesewords:

TilkalGharaniqulOolawainnashafa-atahonnalaturjawhichwerehisowntomakethemappeartobethecontinuationoftheverserecitedbytheHolyProphetandtothusdisturbthesequenceofthesucceedingverses.Theresultwasthattheinfidelsimmediatelyfellintoprostrationintokenoftheirapprovalandsatisfaction.

Thisshowsthattherewasapre-arrangedplanamongtheinfidelstodisturbtherecitationoftheQuranbytheHolyProphet,whichincidentwascondemnedbytheQuranasanunsuccessfulsatanicattemptthatusedtobemadeagainstalltheprecedingprophetswhentheydeliveredGod'smessagetothepeople:22:52

AndWesentnotbeforethee(OOurApostleMohammed)anyapostleorprophet,butwhenherecited(themessage)theSatandidcasthisrecitation(tocreateerror);ButannullethGodthatwhichtheSatancasteth.thenGoddothestablishHissigns;AndverilyGodisAll-Knowing.All-Wise.22:53

SothathemaymakethatwhichcasteththeSatanatrialuntothoseinwhoseheartsisdiseaseandthosewhoseheartsarehard;Andverily,theunjustareinaschismfar(awayfromthetruth),22:54Andthatmayknowthosewhohavebeengiventheknowledgethatit(Quran)isthetruthfromtheLord,sotheymaybelieveinitandmayhumbleuntoittheirhearts;

Andverily,Godguideththosewhobelieve,untotherightpath;Itissurprisingthatsomecritics(e.g.TheEncyc.ofIslam)andsomeignorantcommentatorsoftheHolyQuran,acceptingtherumoursspreadbytheinfidelsandthehypocritesofthelaterperiod,attributethesatanicutteranceoftheinfidelstotheHolyProphethimselfwhiletheinternalevidenceofChapter.53

TheStaritselfi.e.theversesprecedingandfollowingthe20thverseprovebeyonddoubtthatsuchanutterancebytheholyProphetwasimpossible.However,thishostileattitudetowardstheHolyQuran,thoughunsuccessfulwascontinuedbytheexternalandtheinternalenemiesandthecriticsofIslam.ThehypocritesduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphetaswellasafterwardsdidnothesitatetodivertthe

attentionoftheMuslimsfromtheQuranorweakenitsinfluenceonthemindsofthepeoplebyallpossiblemeans.

Themischief-mongersreceivedsupporttosomeextentfromthepoliticalambitionoftheQuraishtoregain,aftertheHolyProphet,supremacyovertheArabswhichtheyhadenjoyedbeforeIslam.AstheQurandidnotfavourtheirambition,theydidnotmindifitlostitsconstitutionalauthority.InordertohaveaclearerpictureofthecausesofthedoubtabouttheQuraninhand,wehavetooutlinebriefly:theapostolicstandtakenbytheHolyProphetconfirmedbytheQuranandhissayingsandthereactionofthepeopletoitasconfirmedbytheQuran,traditionandthefactsofhistory.TherevealedformofreligionstartedwiththeadventofAdamandpasseditscourseofdevelopmentthroughcontinuouschainofDivinevicegerencyandtheintermittentappearanceofthesubsequentprophetswithnewrevelations,reacheditszenithofperfectionandassumeditshighestdevelopedformofIslaminthemannerrevealedtothelastprophetofAllah,Mohammed,(peacebeonhimandhisfamily)astheUniversalReligionapprovedbyGodformankindthroughouttheworldandages.

TherevelationalperiodforthepreachingofIslaminitshighestandfinalformtomankindcomprisedofthe23yearsoftheHolyProphet'sministry.Duringthisperiod,therevelationalaspectoftheReligionofAllah(Islam)wascompletedintheformsof:therecitativemiraculousWordandBookofGod(theQuran)andthesayings,deedsandendorsementoftheHolyProphet.BoththeQuranandthelifeoftheHolyProphet,astheQuran,asserts,oughttobetakenastheinseparableandequallyrevealedpartsoftheconstitutionofIslam.Butforexplainingandexpoundingtheimplicationsofthesetwoconstitutionalsourcesandtheirapplicationtothevariousaspectsofhumanlifeandtoseethatthenewconverts,withalltheirdivergenttendenciesandinterests,properlyunderstoodanddigestedwhatIslamanditsconstitutionreallymeant,thesaidperiodwasnotsufficientlylong.

Inotherwords,forconsolidationoftheIslamicconstitutioninitsdetailandsystematicform,asthebasisforthedevelopmentofIslamicthought,embracingallaspectsofhumanlife,alongerperiodwasrequiredwhichmaybecalledtheconsolidatoryperiodofIslam.Asamatteroffact,historyshowsthatittookalmostthreecenturiesforIslamicthoughttodevelopinallitsbranches,resultinginthecreationofvariousschoolsoftheology,jurisprudence,andotherliteratureofsocial,political,ethical,historicalandphilosophicalaspects.ItisforthisconsolidatoryperiodwhichcameimmediatelyaftertherevelationalperiodthataDivinelyestablishedsupremeauthority,sidebysidewiththeQuran,asitsinfallibleexponent,wasnecessarytoguardIslamagainstitsbeingcorruptedbynon-Islamicandprofaneelementscreepingintoit.Alongwithsomanyintellectualdevelopmentsandschools

ofthoughtinIslam,duringthisperiod,itwasnecessarythatapurelyIslamicschoolofthoughtbasedonlyontherevealedconstitutionandnothingelse,shouldbedevelopedundertheguidanceandleadership(Imaamat)ofthechosenpersonsofAhlulBaiti.e.Ale-IbrahimaftertheHolyProphet.ThisDivinelychosenformofImaamat(leadership)shouldnotbetakenashavingbeendesignedafteranymonarchicalpattern.Itwaspurelyapostolicinnatureandfeatures.ThatwasthereasonwhytheirnumberwasDivinelyfixedandforetoldbytheHolyProphetandmanyotherprophetswhoprecededhimas'Twelve,nomorenoless'.

ThisDivineleadwhichbeganwithAli,continuedforalmost250yearstilltherequisiteconstitutionalconsolidationwascompletedandthe'TwelfthImam',thoughalive,disappearedfromthesightofman.ThiswastobeginaneweraofIjtehad(RationalisationofRevelation)togivecompleteopportunitytothebelieverstoacquaintthemselveswiththerevealedandDivinelydetailedconstitution;andthen,withutmostdegreeofpietyandrighteousnesstousetheirreasontobringforththeimplicationsoftheconstitutionandapplytheirfindingstotheeverchanging,increasingandexpandingaspectsofhumanlife.Thiswastogivefullfreedomandeverychancetoeverybeliever,irrespectiveofcolour,socialandgeographicaldistinctiontodevelophisaptitudeandintellectualfacultiesonthebasisoftheIslamicconstitutiontowardstheachievementoftheIslamicidealsandvalues.Duringthisperiod,everybeliever,(asdeclaredbytheHolyImams),whoqualifieshimselfintheprescribedknowledgeandpiety,isentitledtoactasthesupremeauthorityofhistime,undercertainconditionsmentionedindetailunderthetopic'IjtehadandTaqleed'(Vide'Occultation).'

ThisEraofIjtehad(RationalisationofRevelation)willcontinuewithallitsupsanddownstillthetimewhentheindividualism,nationalismandallotherpartialandlimitedism,tendenciesandinterestsgivewaytothedevelopmentofthesenseofanddesireforviewingnotonlythehumanraceasawholebutthewholeglobeorsaythewholesolarsystemasoneofthesmallestpartsofthegreaterwholeoroneofthesmallestfamiliesofagreatersociety.

ThentimewillberipeforreappearanceofthelastlinkinthechainoftheDivinelychosenguides,the'TwelfthImam',notasanexponentoftheconstitutionandteacherofIslam,butasfinalexecutorofallthatIslamstandsforestablishingUniversalJusticeonearth.AswehavetermedIjtehadasRationalisationoftheRevelation,wehavetodefineittoavoidanypossiblemisunderstanding.ThetermIjtehadmeansarationalandlogicalapproachandunderstandingofthedenotations,connotationsandimplicationsoftherevealedtext,asdetailedanddirectedbytheAhlulBait.Thetermrationalisationshouldnotbetakentomeanlicenceformodification,amendmentoranysortofalterationoftherevealedtext,orthedetailsanddirectivesgivenbythe

Imams.NoreasonandconsiderationofanykindinanyofthestagesandperiodsofthedevelopmentofIslamcaneverjustifyanyonetogoagainsttherevealedorconsolidatedconstitutionofIslamunlesstherebeaprovisionapplicabletotheoccasion,intheconstitutionitself.ThisistheIjtehad,asdefinedandrecommendedbyAhlulBait.Butaswillbepointedoutlateron,therewereinthepast,asareatpresentandwillcontinuetobeinfutureaspirantsforpowerandindependentdecisionwhosedeedsandtalksbetraythattheirviewofIjtehadisthatitislicenceforgoingagainsteventheexplicitinjunctionsoftheQuranonthepleaofsometemporalortimelyexpediencies,advantagesandanalogicalconsiderations.NarrationofBukharimaybereferredtoonthequestionof'Tayamum'intheplaceof'Ghusl'(ritualbathing)whenwaterisnotavailable.

Accordingtoit,CaliphUmarandsomeothercompanionsadoptedaviewinthismatterinuttercontracttotheinjunctionoftheQuranandteachingsoftheHolyProphet.TheydisallowedTayamumandallowedonenottosayhisprayer,evenforamonth,tillhegotwater,onthepleathatif'Tayamum'wasallowed,thenpeoplewouldmisusethisfacilityevenwhenwaterisavailableandtheweatheriscold.IfQuranicinjunctionsaretobeignoredonsuchexcuses,therewouldbenoconstitutionalvalueoftheQuranleft.Toremindthereaderoftheimportanceoftheissueconcerned,wehavetogiveabriefoutlineofthevariousperiodsandstagesofIslamwhichisthesolereligionapprovedbyGod.Nowwegobacktotheparticularperiodweweredealingwith,theconsolidatoryperiodwhichhadtostartimmediatelyafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphet.

Itwasforthisperiodofconstitutionaldevelopmentthat,theQuranasthemostcomprehensiveandcompactconstitutionforallthatIslamstandsforpolitical,social,economical,domestic,ethical,ritualspiritualandphilosophicalaspectsofhumanlife.

-andAhlulBaitastheDivinelypurifiedandtheinfallibleinspiredinterpretersandexponentsoftheDivineconstitutionformedthetwointegralandinseparablepartsofthesupremeauthority,representingGodandtheHolyProphetrespectively.Thusthesetwoissuesbecomesowellconnectedinfactanddeclarationthatdoubtinonewouldnecessarilyleadtodoubtintheother;anddenialofonewouldmeanthedenialoftheother.Anymotiveforcreatingdoubtinoneandweakeningitsauthoritativestandwouldbethesameinrespectoftheother.Thatwas,astheauthorofSawaeqconfirms,thereasonwhytheHolyProphetdealtwiththesetwoissuesjointlyinhis

sermonanddeclarationatGhadeer-e-KhumandonseveralsubsequentoccasionsatMadinaalso.

ActuallyCaliphUmar'scelebratedpronouncement:SufficientisforustheBookofGodwasanopenretorttotheHolyProphet'srepeateddeclarationofthejointauthorityoftheQuranandAhlulBait.Thisisthebriefoutlineoftheapostolicstand,asconfirmedbytheexplicitwordingsoftheQuranandsayingsoftheHolyProphet.ButastheQuran,sayingsoftheHolyProphetandthefactsofhistoryshow,thereactionofthemajorityofthenewconvertssurroundingtheHolyProphetparticularlyofthenon-HashmitebranchesoftheQuraishitetribe,wasquitedifferent.

Thepaganictendencyforbureaucraticrule,(ruleoftheeldersandthechieftains)wasstillactiveintheheartsoftheQuraishwhoseclaimofsupremacyandauthorityovertheArabshadjustrecentlybeencrushedbyslamandbydeclarationsas:49:13

SurelythemosthonorableofyouwithAllahistheoneamongyoumostcareful(ofhisduty)TheywerefarfromyieldingtotheabsoluteauthorityoftheQuranandAhlulBait,whichtothemmeantnothingbutanepoticurgeonthepartoftheHolyProphettocontributetothesupremacyoftheHouseofHaashim.'TheAnnalsofTabarsi'hasrecordedareportofaconversationbetweenCaliphUmarandbn-AbbaasduringthereignoftheformerwhereintheapatheticorratherunfavourableattitudeoftheQuraishtowardsAhlulBait'sstandasDivinelychosenpeopleisfullydisplayedandexposed.Thesummaryoftheconversationisasfollows:

CaliphUmarsaid:'TheQuraish,dislikedtheProphethoodandthevicegerencytobecombinedinthe'HouseofHaashim'asthiswouldincreasetheir(Haashimite's)vanity.Sothey(theQuraish)choseforthemselves,andtheirchoicewasthebest.'Tothisbn-AbbaasrepliedregardingthedislikeoftheQuraish,'They(theQuraish)dislikedallthatwasrevealedfromGod,soGodputtheminloss',butregardingtheremarkagainstthe'HouseofHaashim'andoftheirvanitybeingincreased,itmeantaccusingthepeople'whomGodhaspurified'(verse33:33);andregardingtheQuraish'schoice-iftheywouldhavechosentheonewhomGodhadchosen,itwouldhavebeenmuchbetterforthem.

ThisanecdotethrowsamplelightonthereactionoftheQuraishtowardstheDivinechoiceandtheinnermotivewhichwasworkingbehindtheconfusingandconflictingeventsdevelopedroundtheissueofthesupremeauthorityinIslamaftertheHolyProphetandonthecausesoftheCivilwarsandotherinternaleventsofpoliticalvalue,fromGhadeer,KarbalaandfromKarbalatothedisappearanceofthe'TwelfthImam'oftheHouseandthesubsequentsectariandisputes,quarrelsandbloodsheduntilnow.InsteadofabsolutesubmissiontothedictatesoftheDivinelyestablished

authorityandatheocraticformofrulerepresentingGodandtheHolyProphet,thenewconvertsaspiredforhavingashareintheaffairsforauthorityandcommand.3:154

ThenaftersorrowHesentdownsecurityuponyou,acalmcominguponapartyofyouAnd(therewas)anotherpartywhomtheirownsoulshadrenderedanxious;theyentertainedaboutAllahthoughtsofignorancequiteunjustly

Saying:Wehavenohandintheaffair.

Say:Surelytheaffairiswholly(inthehands)ofAllah,Theyconcealwithintheirsoulswhattheywouldnotrevealtoyou,Theysay:

Hadweanyhandintheaffair,wewouldnothavebeenslainhere.

Say:Hadyouremainedinyourhouses,thoseforwhomslaughterwasordainedwouldcertainlyhavegoneforthtotheplaceswheretheywouldbeslain,

AndthatAllahmightpurgewhatwasinyourbreastsandthatHemightpurgewhatwasinyourhearts,

AndAllahknowswhatisinthebreasts.TheywerewaitingforanopportunitytoregaintheauthoritativestatuswhichtheyasanaristocraticclassusedtoenjoybeforeIslam.TheywantedtohavetheirownsayintheaffairsofgovernmentwhichaccordingtothemwasonlytobelabelledasIslamandDivine.InsteadofentiresubmissionanddevotiontothecauseofIslamwhichwasdemandedfromthem,heywantedIslamtoservetheircauseandends.

TheyviewedtheDivineestablishedauthorityoftheQuranandAhlulBaitasanobstacleintheirwayofhavingaruleoftheirownchoicebutlabelledasIslamic.Hencetheyattemptedtoremovethatobstacleasmuchaspossiblebysuchmeansas:

1.ignoring,minimisingandcounteractingthatauthoritativeimportanceattachedtotheQuranandAhlulBait,[4]

2.creatingconfusionanddoubtregardingthegenuinenessoftheQuraninhandanditsauthenticity,

3.creatingdoubtsandconfusionabouttheauthenticityoftheHolyProphet'ssayingsanddeclarationsaboutAliandtherestoftheAhlulBait,

4.interpretingtheQuranandsuchsayingsoftheProphet,theauthenticityofwhich

couldnotbedoubted,inawaywhichlosestheirforceandsignificanceand

5.counteractingsuchsayingsoftheHolyProphetasmentionedabovebyfabricatingreportswhichdirectlyorindirectlynegatetheDivineappointmentofAliasthesupremeauthorityinseparablefromtheQuran.NotwithstandingtheinnumerableauthenticreportsoftheProphet'spronouncementaboutAli'sinfalliblestatus.[5]BukharirepeatedlynarratesareportthatonceAbbaas(theuncleofAli)toldAli:

'LetusasktheProphetwhetherwehaveanyshareorrightinthematterofauthorityornot?'towhichAlisaid,'n,becauseiftheywouldaskhimandhewouldsayno,thennobodywouldgivethemthechanceofcomingtopowerafterwards.'ThewholeideabehindthischildishconcoctionistocounteractthereportsofAli'snominationforKhilaafatbytheHolyProphet.SimilarlytominimisetheimportanceofAli'sSaheefa-abookdictatedbytheHolyProphetandwrittenbyAli,BukharireportsthatonceAliwasaskedwhetheritwassomethingotherthantheQuran,towhichAlirepliedthatitwasaboutthefineforbruises.Theactualreplywasthat:'Itcontainedeverythingeventhefineforthebruises'.AnotherinstanceofsuchconfusingreportsisthatwhichsaythataftertheHolyProphet,AlididnotwearamantleanddidnotcomeoutofhishousetillhehadcollectedtheQuranashewasorderedbytheHolyProphetandthenhepresentedhiscollectionstotheauthoritieswhodidnotacceptit.

Thisnarrationisamisrepresentationofsomethingwhichwastrueinpart.Itistruethattherewerefragmentsofwoodsbones,leavespaper,hides,etc.onwhicharoughcopyoftheQuranwaswrittenandtheywereinthecustodyoftheHolyProphet,whoontheeveofhisdemiseaskedAlitotakecareofthemsothattheymightnotfallintothehandsofthepeoplewhowouldmisuseit.ItmayalsobetruethatAlibroughttothemosqueonceduringthereignofCaliphAboBakarorCaliphaUmaracompletecopyoftheQuranwithfullcommentaryasdictatedbytheProphetandwrittenbyhim,tellingthepeoplethatitwaswhathehadbeenorderedbytheHolyProphettoprepareandpresenttothem,buttherulingauthoritydeclinedforobviousreasonstotakeitaswaspresented'byhim.

TheversionthataftertheHolyProphet,AlibusiedhimselfwiththecollectionoftheQuranfromthosesaidfragmentsandforthatreason,hedidnotcomeoutofhishouseandtakepartinthepoliticsofthetimeisaclearmisrepresentationofthefacts.

ThereissufficientproofthatAli'scollectionwithcommentarywaspreparedbyhimandreviewedbytheHolyProphetlongbeforehisdemise.Theideabehindthismisrepresentationistwofold:oneistoprovideanexcuseforAli'snon-participationintheQuraishitechoiceofarulerbystatingthathewasbusywiththecollectionoftheQuranand,therefore,hehadnotimeforotheractivities;theother,istojustifythe

attemptmadebyotherstocollecttheQuranignoringthecollectionleftamongthembytheHolyProphet,whichissimilartotheir(rulingparty's)attempttohavearuleroftheirownchoice,ignoringtheQuranandtheProphet'ssayingwhichhadassertedtheauthoritativestatusofAliandtherestofAhlulBait.

ThisisabriefaccountoftheapostolicstandaboutthisvitalandmainpoliticalissueontheonehandandtheunfavourablereactionofsomemagnatesamongthenewconvertsofthetribeofQuraishontheother,intheirattempttoundowhatwasalreadyestablished.Nowtoavoidanypossiblemisunderstanding,itisnecessarytoclearthefollowingpointsbeforecomingtotheconclusionofthetheme.

(a)iftheunfavourableattitudeshowntowardscertainestablishedissuesofthereligiondoesnotamounttoitstotalrejection,itcannotbealwaystermedasopenreversiontotheinfidelity,particularlyiftheissueinquestionbeofpoliticalimportanceandofwieldingpower.Veryfewoutstandingmenhavethewill-powertoresistsuchtemptationandmoreparticularlyinthecaseofthepeoplewhohavebeenlivinganabsolutelylicentiouslifewithnocheckofanykindonthem.TheywereaskedtosubmitentirelytothehighidealsofIslamforwhichtheyhadverylittlesenseofappreciation.AllthattheycouldunderstandandappreciatewasthatthenewmovementinthenameofAllahandIslamhadpromisedtosecureforthemconquestandswayoverthenationshere,andthepleasuresofparadisehereafter,astherewardfortheirendeavortoconquertheworldinthenameofAllah.

ThewellcherishedreportthattheHolyProphetsaid:'GodmighthavelookedatthepeoplewhotookpartinthebattleofBadrandsaid'dowhateveryelike,certainlyIhaveforgivenyou'iscontrarytothetenetsoftheQuranandwasmadetoimpressonthepeopletheredeemingpowerofconquestandvictoryasthemainobjectofreligion.

Therefore,tothem,themainandfundamentalissueinIslamwasconquestandpowerandtheotherissuesandtenetsofIslamwereofsecondaryimportanceandnon-essential,subjecttochangeandmodificationbywhoevercameintopowerandbecameatthehelmofaffairsasCommanderofthefaithful=Olil-Amrnomatterwhatevermaybethemeansofhiscomingintopower.ThistendencymoreorlesshadcontinuedtoprevailamongthemajorityoftheMuslims,alwaysfosteredbytheambitiousdespotsofthetime.Therefore,inoutliningtheQuraishite'sattitude,wenevermeanttoaccuseanybodyofheresyorreversiontoinfidelity.

(b)Whateverwehavesaidormaysayabouttheattitudeoftherulingparty,afterthedemiseoftheHolyProphettowardstheQuranandAhlulBaitisbasedoncertainreportsrecordedbypeoplewhobelongedtothatparty.Thesereportsmaynotbetrue.

Theymaybepartly,aswebelieve,orwhollyfabricationsofthelaterperiod.Thereforeourremarksandcriticismconcerningcertaincompanionsshouldbereadwiththeproviso:'ifthereportsaretrueandnotconcoctionsofthelaterperiod',for,asshallbeseenpresentlysomeofthereportsaresocontradictoryandbasethatonecannotimaginethemtobetrue.

(c)ThetemporalsuccessoftheQuraishiteplanstopushAlibackfromthepositionDivinelyassignedtohimandtocounteracttheattemptofAnsarstooccupythewould-be-vacatedplaceofHaashimiteinthefrontrowofpoliticsinIslam,resultedinthegradualbutquickchangeofloyaltyofthepeopletothenewcentreofpoliticalgravitation.ThepoliticalimportanceoftheHouseoftheHolyProphetwasboundtodeclinewiththelossofpower,neverthelesssuchdeclinewashastened,thestepstakenbythenewauthorityagainstthehouse,whichweresevereandharshbutwerejustifiedinthepoliticalcodeofthethengovernment.Toconsolidatetheirgains,theschemersandpromotersofthisformofGovernmentfeltjustifiedtouseanymeanstoanyextenttoallowtheriseofthosewhowouldhavebeennowhereiftheapostolicdeclarationshadcomeintoforce.IfAliwithallhiscertifiedexcellenceandDivinecredentialsinhand,whichmeannothingshortofhisbeingnexttotheHolyProphetinperfection,hadassumedpower,hewouldnothavebeeninneedoftheadviceofanyoneinanyaspectofthegovernmentandoftheconstitutionofIslam.Hewouldhavebeenthesoleauthoritytodictateandtobeobeyedandfollowed,Butintheprevailingregime,allthatwasimportanttothosewhowereatthehelmofaffairs,wasonlypowerwhichtheywereholdingfirmly.

Theyhadlittletodealwiththeotheraspectsoftheconstitutionconcerningthedevotionalrites,personallaws,transactions,administrationandothertheoreticalandpracticalarticlesoffaith.Therefore,theywereheedlessandrathertookcaretopleaseprominentpersonsotherthanAhlulBaitbygivingthemthechanceofadvisingthepublicaswellasthegovernmentonthoseproblems.TheywerethepeoplewhowerefromtimeimmemorialaccustomednottosubmittotheauthorityofOneGod.Theywereusedtothepolytheisticwayofhavinginnumerablegods.TheywerethepeoplewhohadveryrecentlyexpressedtheirsurpriseattheeffortsoftheHolyProphettomakethemworshiponlyOneGodinsteadtomany.What!makeththegodstobebutoneGod;38:5

Verilythisisathingindeedstrange!"38:5

InsteadofsubmittingtotheauthorityofoneDivinelyselectedperson,theyweremorefamiliarwiththenewregimewhichwouldallowthemtosomeextenttosharetheauthorityandhavesomesayinframingthedetailsoftheconstitution.ThusthepartyinpowerbegantoevolveanewideatotheeffectthatanyonewhohasembracedIslamorhadseentheProphetorheardsomethingfromhimandnarrateditbecame:

Sahaabi=CompanionoftheHolyPropheteventheMuslimchildrenofsensibleagebelowmaturity,wereconsideredas'Sahaabi'.

ThennotonlytheSahaabis'narrationsoftheProphet'ssayingwastakenintoaccountbytheauthoritiesbuteventosuchSahaabis'personalviews,someconstitutionalvaluewasgiven.

Thedoorwasthusthrownopentoeveryman,womanandchildtoposeasSahaabiandtakepartasajuristcarryingreportsorviewsinframingtheconstitution.Thewholepositionwaschanged.Thoseintherearrankscametotheforefrontandthosewhowereinthefirstrankwerepushedtothefarthestrear.ThiswastheremarkmadebytheLadyofParadise,FatimathedaughteroftheHolyProphet,atMasjid-e-Nabawionthesuddenpoliticalturnwhichaffectedhermorethananyoneelse.Inthelightofthissituation,oneshouldexaminemanyinternaldevelopmentsofthefirsthalfcenturyaftertheHolyProphet.OneoftheconsequencesofthechangeanditsdevelopmentwasthatinsteadofAliortheothermembersoftheHouseandthefewcompanionswhodidnotchangetheirloyalty,peoplemostlyofdifferentcalibreandofvariousmoralandintellectualstandardsgotequalfootinginformingthemselvesasthefirstlinkofreportersandnarratorsbetweentheHolyProphetandthenextgeneration.

Contrarytowhatisgenerallybelievedthesepeopleinallwerenotrighteous,honest,learnedcapableandsinceretothecauseofIslam.AstheQurandepicts,themultitudeoftheconvertswhohadthehonourofthepresenceoftheProphet,includedallsortsofpeopleevenalargenumberofhypocrites,otherthanAbdullahbn-UbaiwhodiedbeforetheHolyProphet,andweremostlyunknown,butaspirantstopoweraftertheHolyProphet(47:16,20-23,29-32).47:16

Andofthemarethosewhoseektolistentotheeuntilwhentheygoforthfromtheesaytheyuntothosewhohavebeengiventheknowledge;"Whatwasitthathesaidjustnow?"

ThesearetheyonwhoseheartshathGodsetaseal,andfollowtheytheirvaindesires.47:20Andsaythosewhobelieve:

'Whyhathnotbeensentachapter(forus,)"Butwhenissentdownadecisivechapter,andmentionedthereiniswar,seestthouthoseinwhoseheartsisadiseaselookuntotheewithalookofoneonwhomhasfallentheshadowofdeath;woeuntothemfarbetterwillcertainlybeforthem,47:21!

Obedienceandafairword;butwhentheaffairisdetermined,theniftheybetruetoGod,itwouldcertainlybebetterofthem.47:22

Thenbelikeyeare,ifyeholdauthority,thatyemakemischief,intheearthandseverthetiesofkinship!47:23

ThosearetheywhomhathcursedGod,andsohathhemadethemdeafandblindedtheireyes.47:29

OrdeemthoseinwhoseheartsisadiseasethatneverwillGodbringforththeirspite?47:31

Andcertainlywillwetryyouuntilwenaveknownthosewhostrive(fight)amongyouandthepatientones,andmakeyouraffairsknown.47:32

Verily,thosewhodisbelieveandhinder(others)fromthepathofGod,andopposetheApostleafterthattheguidancebeenmademanifestuntothem,canneverharmGodinanyway;andHewillmakenulltheirdeeds.IntheQuran,someofthemwereseverelycensuredandwarnedfordisloyaltytoordisrespectfortheHolyProphet,(Chapters.33,49&66:Ahzab,Al-Hujoratandat-Tahreem).66:5

Maybe,hisLord,ifhedivorceyou,willgivehiminyourplacewivesbetterthanyou,submissive,faithful,obedient,penitent,adorers,fasters,widowsandvirginsAboutsomeofthem,theHolyProphethadsaidthattheywouldbedraggedtohellfortheirmisdeedsafterhim.Eachoneofthesecompanionshadalargenumberoffollowersofvariouscategorieswhoformedthesecondlinkofreportersandnarratorsforthegenerationnexttothem;andsoonthenumberandvarietiesmultipliedtillthecelebratedandvoluminousbooksoftraditionswerecompiledinthethirdandfourthcenturies.Butthisdidnotstopthetraditionalistsofthenextgenerationfromcollectingandrecordingthereportswhichtheirpredecessorsmissedordiscardedforsomereasonortheother.Asaresultofthemultiplicityofthevariouschainsofvariousreportersandnarrators,ahugenumberofcontradictory,absurdandmisleadingstatementsandreportsabouttheteachingsoftheHolyProphetandthedevelopmentsofevents,duringhistimeandthetimeafterhim,formedthemselvesasdataforhistoryofthedevelopmentofIslamicthoughtandliterature.

(d)ThispoliticalturnmadepeopletopracticallydenyAhlulBait,theirDivinelygifted

statusviz.'beingalwayswiththeQuranandtheQuranalwaysbeingwiththem,andthatwhoeveradherestothemwillnevererrorgoastray.'

ThisstatuswhichwasconfirmedbytheQuranandtheundeniablesayingsoftheHolyProphethasremaineduntilnowasanirrefutablefact.Attemptshavebeenmadetoreducethesignificanceofstatements,beitoftheQuranorthesayingsoftheHolyProphet,whichmeansmerelythatoneshouldhaveregardsandrespectfortheHolyProphet'skinandrelativesonlytoanextent.Afewofthecompanionswhobelongedtopro-Quraishiteregime,werenotwillingtogiveeventhatmuchofregardstoAli,Fatima,Hasan,andHusainwhomtheHolyProphetonseveraloccasionsspecifiedasAhlulBait,excludinghiswivesandotherrelatives.Zaidbn-Arqamwasoneofthosepro-Quraishitewholivedtoattendthecourtofbn-ZyaadatKoofa,where(thelatterinsultedtheheadofImamHusainwithanairoftriumphinthepresenceoftheladiesandchildrenoftheHouseofHolyProphet,whohadbeenbroughtascaptivesafterthetragedyofKarbala.OnceAliwantedZaidalongwithmanyothercompanionsoftheHolyProphettogiveevidenceasawitnessoftheeventatGhadeer,butZaiddeclinedsayingthathehadforgottenandAlisuspectedhimoflying.However,inspiteofhispretendedforgetfulness,heoncerelatedthefactsofGhadeer-e-KhumandtheHolyProphet'ssermon,omittingtheportionofthesermondealingwiththedeclarationthat,

'WhomsoeverIamMawlaAlishallbehisMawla(Master)',andnarrated,thoughinadistortedmanner,theportiondealingwiththedeclarationthat,'Iamleavingamongyoutwopreciousthings:theBookofGodandmyAhlulBait.'

ButthenandthereheattemptedtotamperwiththeapplicationofthetermAhlulBaitsothatitmayloseitssignificance.Inanswertoaquestionabouttheapplicationofthesaidterm,heexcludedthewivesoftheHolyProphetfromit,butextendeditsowidelyastoincludealltheHaashimite'sdescents,Abbasids,Jafferiads,AlawaidsandAqueeliads(VideMuslim,chapteronAhlulBait).Anyway,thepoliticalturnbroughtAhlulBaittothecommonlevelofthecompanionsortherespectablekinandrelativesoftheHolyProphet.

Ontheissuesofjurisprudenceandadministrativeconsultation,theauthoritiespatronisedtoagreaterdegreeothercompanionsandrelativesoftheHolyProphet.They,asamatterofpoliticalstrategy,backedandsupportedthepeopleofnoorlittlereligiousbackground.IfhistoryrecordsoccasionswhereAli'sadvicewasacceptedbytheauthoritieswithapplause,thoseweretheoccasionswheretheyhadnoother

alternativebuttoacceptthesame.OtherwiseAliwasseldomreferredtobytheauthoritiesandhenceveryfewpeoplewhodidnotcareforpowerwereinvitedforconsultation.

ThisisthereasonwhyinspiteoftheHolyProphet'ssayingthatwhileheisthecityofKnowledge,Aliisthedoortoit,AliandhissuccessorswererarelyreferredtointhebooksoftraditionslikeBukhariandMuslim.Ifhereandthere,Aliandhisdescendantsarequotedasreportersofcertaintraditionsinthosebooks,thepurposeispartlytoavoidbeingaccusedoftotalneglectofAhlulBaitandmostlytofoistonthemsuchreportswhichwouldindicatethenegationof,orcounteractthenumerousgenuinereportswhicharetestimoniesofthedistinctapostolicstatusofAliandAhlulBait(videBukhariandKaafi)

Onthecontrary,BukharihascreditedpersonslikeShaubi,[6]thetutorofthechildrenofUmayyedsroyalhousetodiscreditthegenuinenessofmostofthenumerousreportsorstatementsascribedtoAli.ThusAliwasdiscreditedthoughhewastheforemostofAhlulBait,nextonlytotheHolyProphetandwhomtheHolyProphetdescribedasoneidentifiedwithhimselfonalloccasionsandwaswithhim(theHolyProphet)eversincehis(Ali's)birth,bothbeforetheHolyProphetwascommissionedbyGodtopreach,andafteruntilhisdemise,whenAliattendedtotheobsequiesoftheHolyProphet.PeoplelikeAboHuriarahandAnasbn-MalikdespitealldrawbacksrecordedabouttheminthebiographiesbythecompanionswerecreditedwithalargenumberofreportsabouttheHolyProphetandhisteachingsjustbecauseitwasclaimedthattheyhadthehonourofservingatthedooroftheHolyProphetforafewyears.

Thetextsofsomeoftheirreportsdisclosethecharacterandstandardofthereporters.Amongtheladies,Ayeshahisgivenextraordinaryprominence,asareporter.

Shehasbeencreditedwithaverylarge,ifnotthelargestnumberofreportsaboutthelifeandtheteachingsoftheHolyProphet.Someofthereportsareabsured,someareevendamagingtothereputationoftheHolyProphethimself.Withalldueregardstoherasthemotherofthefaithful,shewascreditedwithastatusasareporterandasastates-woman,whichwasmorethanitoughttohavebeen.BukharireportsthatshewasagirlofnineyearswhenshebecamethewifeoftheProphet,thatshewasbusy,asheragewouldrequire,withherdolls,sangwithgirlfriends,enjoyedgamesandwitnessedshowsofjugularybytheNegroes:thatsheusedtostretchherlegsrightuptotheplacewheretheHolyProphethadtoprostrateinprayer,andwasjealousoftheotherwivesoftheHolyProphetevenofKhadeejahwhohaddiedlongbeforeshemarriedtheHolyProphet.Shequarrelledwiththelivingwives,plottingagainsttheHolyProphetanddevisingliestodiverthisattentionfromtheotherwivestowards

her.[7]

Thiswasquitenaturalwiththeyoungladiesofherage.ShehadnotattainedthestatusofperfectionwhichAsiyeh,wifeofFiraoon(Phero),MaryamthedaughterofEmran,KhadeejahandherdaughterFatimahhadattained(videIstiabofAbdulBir).

TheQuranwarnsAyeshaandHafsareferringtotheexamplesofwivesofNoohandLoot(videCh.66at-Tahreem.).Nevertheless,thepoliticalturnssecuredforAyeshaaprominentplaceamongthepoliticiansofthetimeintheformingofthelawsofIslam,andinnarratingtheeventsoftheHolyProphet'slife.BukharicreditsherwithstatementsdenyingthatAliwastheexecutoroftheHolyProphet'stestamentsonthebasisthatshewasattendingontheHolyProphettillthelastmomentbeforehisdemiseandthathemadenowill,ortestamenttoanyone.Asagainstthesestatement,therearethefollowingfactstobeconsidered:

AliinsiststhathealoneandnobodyelsewasattendingontheHolyProphetatthelastmoment,andthatHolyProphet'ssouldepartedfromhisbodywhenhisheadwasrestingonhis(Ali's)chest.HundredsofcompanionsoftheHolyProphetinthepresenceofhundredsofothers,atthebattlesofJamalandSiffeen,pronouncedAliasWaseeoRasoolellah=theExecutoroftheTestamentsoftheProphetofAllah.

ThistitlehadbeenbestowedonAlibytheHolyProphetevenbeforeAyeshawasborn.ItisapartofhisdeclarationaboutAli'sstatusatAbuTalib'shouseinthepresenceoftheeldersoftheHashimiteswhereAyesha'sfatherwasnotpresent,becausehewasnotincludedinthetermAsheeratekalAqrabeen=TheNearestoftheKin.

Howeverregardingthislady-themotherofthefaithful-nonecansayanythingotherthanwhatAmmarbn-YasirhadremarkedwhilehewasaddressingthepeopleofKoofa,ontheeveofthebattleofJamal,wagedbyladyAyeshaagainstAli:'Sheismadeatestingpoint(beinggivenamotherlystatus)byGod,toseewhetheryefollowherorobeyGod.'TheHolyProphetalsooncewhiledeliveringasermonfromthepulpitpointedouttothehouseofAyeshaandsaidthrice:'Hereisthe'Fetnah',themischiefwithwhichoneistested,hereistheplacewhenceSatanwillshowhishornorwillbringforthhishorn'.'(VideBukari).ThereisanotherexampleofthistypewhichBukharioverlooks.Itisthewell-knowneventthattookplaceduringthesecondorthirdyearofHijrah.TheHolyProphetorderedallthosewhohadtheirhousesroundthemosquewithdoorsopeningtowardsthemosque,toclosethedoorsandopentheminanotherdirection,exceptinthecaseofAli'shousewhichwasasbeforeallowedtoopentowardsthemosque.

ThisresultedinasevereprotestfromtheotherrelativesoftheHolyProphet,suchasHamzaandAbbaas,whosehousesweretherewithdoorsopeningtowardsthemosque.TheHolyProphetwasasked,whethertheorderofclosingalldoorsandkeepingthatofAli'shouseopenwashisorGod's,towhichtheProphetrepliedthatallwasbyDivineorder.Hesaid:'GodhasclosedyoursandhaskeptAli'sopen.'

Over-lookingthistraditionentirely,BukharitriesontheotherhandtomakepeoplebelievethatthedoorofAbo-Bakaroraventilatorfromhishousewaskeptopentowardsthemosque,withoutmentioningthetimeandthecircumstancesconnectedwiththisevent.ThefactwasthatAboBakarhadnohousethereatallandhewaslivingatSunhmanyfurlongsawayfromthemosque.ThisfactputthecommentatorsofBukhariintodifficultiesintheirwishfulinterpretationofBukhari'sreport.Anotherexampleofthiskindisawellknownfactthataftertherevelationofthefirst25versesofSurahBaraat(Ch.9At-Tauba)theHolyProphetcalledAboBakarwhowastoconductthepilgrimstoMeccaandentrustedhimwiththeversestopreachthereandacquaintthepaganswithwhattheversesmeantagainstthem.

HardlyhadAboBakarsetoutforthejourney,whentheHolyProphetrecalledhimandorderedhimtohandovertheversestoAli,andinreplytothequestionsaboutthereasonforthisneworder,theHolyProphetsaidthatitwasGod'sorderthatnoneshouldpreachthoseversesbuttheHolyProphethimselforAliwhowasidentifiedwithhimastheywereinfactreflectionsofeachother.SoAliwascommissionedwiththespecialorderofAllahtopreachtheversesattheHajseason.BukharimentionsthisfactverybrieflysayingthatAliwasorderedtopreachtheversesinquestion.HeishoweveratpainstoemphasiserepeatedlythatAboHurairahdidalsopreachtheversesatMenawithoutmentioningbywhoseorderandauthorityAboHurairahdidso.

ThefactthatthenarratorofthisstoryAbdur-Rehmanbelongedtopro-OmyyadpartyexplainswhyAboHurairahhasbeenbroughtintothepicture.Athoroughappraisalofthesefewexamplesbringsoutthebiasedtrendsaccentuatedbythepoliticalturnoftheeventsandtheirconsequences.ItisnotsurprisingifthesamehandswhichwereworkingtobringabouttheturnofeventsortakingadvantageoftheturnmadeattemptsalsotoproduceadifferentversionoftheQurantosuittheirpolicy,oratleasttoposeasattemptingtodosoinordertoweakenthegenuineandtheauthenticstatusoftheversionleftbytheHolyProphetamongthepeople.Suchattemptsbyunconstitutionalgovernmentstobringadrasticchangeintheestablishedversionofreligiousandconstitutionalcodeswhichtheyfeelasnothavingservedtheirends,arenotunusualinthepoliticalhistoryofnations.Eveninmoderntimes,weareexperiencingsuchexamples.ThereisnodoubtthattheversionoftheQuraninhanddoesnotapprovethesemi-bureaucraticformofgovernmentbroughtaboutthrough

thecoup-detatdesignedbytheQuraish,nordoesitapprovetheoutcomeandconsequencesofthepoliticalturn.

ThebestevidenceofthisfactisthatduringtheearlystageofthesuddenturnwhenAnsarsofAhlulBaitprotestedandobjectedtothenewpolicyquotingtheQuran,therulingpartyinreplyeithermisquotedsomesayingsoftheHolyProphetormadesomeotherexcuses,butdidnotquotetheQuraninsupportoftheirdeedsandcontentions.ofcoursethereisoneinstanceofUmar'squotingtheQuran(verse9:100)insupportofhiscontentionthatQuraishweresuperiortoAnsarinreligiousstatusomitting'waw=and'aftertheword'Ansar'areadingwhichwouldmakeAnsarsthefollowersoftheMuhajirs(x).Butitisreadcorrectly(/)withtheconjunction'waw=and';boththeMuhajirsandtheAnsarsandthosewhohelpedthemwouldhaveequalfootingand'thosewhofollowedthem'wouldmeananotherclassofpeoplewhowouldfollowthetwoprecedingclassesofMuhajirsandAnsars.9:100

And(asor)theforemost,thefirstoftheMuhajirsANDTHEANSARS,ANDTHOSEWHOFOLLOWEDTHEMingoodness,AllahiswellpleasedwiththemandtheyarewellpleasedwithHim.

And(asor)theforemost,thefirstoftheMuhajirsANDTHEANSARSWHOFOLLOWEDTHEMingoodness,AllahiswellpleasedwiththemandtheyarewellpleasedwithHim,9:100'

ThemisreadingwasobjectedtobyUbay,supportedbyallthestudentsoftheQuran,andUmarshouldhavewithdrawnhiswrongquotations.Howeverasastaunchpro-Qurashite,heneverwithdrewhiswrongcontention.[8]Islam,asdepictedandprescribedbytheQuranstandsdefinitelyforapeculiarformoftheocracyrepresentedbymenwhohavepassedbeyondtheboundariesoflimitedtendenciesandinterests,capableofrepresentingtheUniversalWillandGraceofRabulA'alameen=TheLordCherisherofallworlds/UniverseAllahinknowledgeandpractice,notcomparabletoanyformofdemocratic,bureaucratic,aristocratic,monarchic,despotic,dictatorialoreventhetheocraticformofthepatriarchicandpapalsystemsofgovernment,IslamandtheQuranstandfortheruleofthefittestinmoralandintellectualstrength,verifiablethroughDivineselection.Withtheabovebackgroundinview,wemayturntoourmaintheme.IfthereportsofSehaah,theauthenticbooksofSunnitraditionsaretobereliedupon,thenthecausesofthedoubtabouttheQuraninhandmainlyare:theunnecessaryandunauthorisedattemptoftherulingpartytomakea

collectionoftheQuranoftheirown,apartfromwhatwasalreadypreparedunderthesupervisionoftheHolyProphet,andapprovedandleftbyhimamongthem,themannerandthemethodinwhichtheypursuedtheirattempt,therumoursspreadabouttheallegedutterancesofsomeresponsibleandprominentmembersoftheparty,affirmingtheincompletenessoftheircollectionafterthefirstattemptwasover.Ifwediscardandignorealltheexternal,internal,positiveandnegativeevidencesbearingtestimonytotheexistenceoftheQuraninacompletebook'formapprovedbytheHolyProphetwholeftitamongthepeopleandputitwithintheirreach,andbeboldenoughtosay:thattheHolyProphetwasnotpreciseandseriousintheusageoftheterm'Ketaab',thathemeantbyKetaab(Book)onlythewrittenfragmentsscatteredamongthepeoplenocompleteformoftheQuranwaswithanybodyeitherinwritingorinmemoryandthattherulingpartfeltsomethingnecessaryandimperativewhichwasnotdonebytheHolyProphetnorwassuggestedbyhimtobedoneafterwards,eventhen,theywerenotjustifiedincallingZaidbn-Thaabit,ayoungmanofnostatustoundertakesuchaheavyresponsibilityasthatofcollectingtheQuran.

Theonlyreasonablecourseopentotheauthoritiesinpursuanceoftheirattemptinquestionwastoentrusttheworktowell-knownscribes,whowereknowntohavelearntthewholeoftheQuranbyheartandhadthehonourofrecitingtheentireQuranbeforetheHolyProphetseveraltimesandgettingtheirrecitationsapprovedbyhimandalsothosefromwhomthepeoplewereorderedbytheHolyProphettolearntheQuranandbesidesthem,thosewhoweredeclaredbytheHolyProphettobewiththeQuranandtheQuranwiththem,notseparableuntiltheresurrectionday,andaboveall,theonewhomtheHolyProphetidentifiedwithhimselfanddeclaredtobewiththeQuranandthetruth,andtheQuranandtruthtobewithhimi.e.Ali.

TheauthoritiesshouldhaveinvitedtheseoutstandingdisciplesoftheHolyProphetandtheprominentstudentsoftheQuranandtoldthem:

'Wedonotsuspectye,takeupthetaskandcarryitouttothebestofyourability,honestyandknowledge.'

CananyoneimaginethatamongthesedisciplesoftheHolyProphetwithhistestimoniesandcredentialsintheirhands.therewerenottwo,threeorfourpersonswhocombinedasateam,ifnotalone,werenotinpossessionoftheentireQuraninwritingorinmemoryandcouldnotassisteachotheraswitnesstoeachother'sversionandthusproduceacompletecollectionoftheQuranapprovedbyall?WasnotthisawiserandsaferwayfortheauthoritiestohandlethevitalandimperativetaskthanentrustingittoonlyZaidbn-Thaabitbytellinghim,'Wedonotsuspectthee',ayouthofnostandardandnocredentialsasagainsttheincomparablepersonalityofAli,andalsotheotheraccreditedstudentsoftheQuransuchasAbdullahbn-Maso-od,oneof

theearlyMakkainstudentsoftheQuranandUbayybn-Kaab,oneoftheearlyMadanitestudent,orMaazbn-Jabal,theaccreditedyoungmanofAnsarwithknowledgeoftheQuranandjurisprudence?

TheincompetencyofZaid,arawandinexperiencedlad,wasoncepointedoutbyUbayyindisputebetweenthetwo.'DoyouteachmeQuran!'saidUbayytoZaid,'IusedtoreadtheQuranwiththeHolyProphet,whileyouwerestillachildplayinginthestreet.'

AsimilarremarkwasoncepassedbyUbayytoOmar,inthecourseofadispute:

'IusedtoreadtheQuranwiththeHolyProphetwhileyouwerebusyintransactionsintheBazar.'

NeitherZaidnorUmarcouldrefuteUbayy'sremarks.Unfortunatelynoneofthethree,AboBakar,OmarorZaidwhojoinedhandsinthismatterwasarecognisedandaccreditedstudentoftheQuran.Moreover,fromaconversationofUmar,duringhisreignwithZaidwhodeclinedtocomplywithacertainorderoftheCaliph,itseemsthatbothwerelackinginproperregardandcarefortherevelation.OnZaid'srefusingtocarryouttheorder,Umarsaid:

'Look!itismycommandtowhichyouhavetoyield.Itisnottherevelationwithwhichyoumightplayabout.'

Thisshowsthatnoneofthetwocaredmuchiftheyhadtoplayaboutwiththerevelation,shouldthisbenecessarytoservetheirends.SuchtendenciesandlackofregardfortheBookofGodamongthecompanionsoftheHolyProphet,mayseemtobestrange,butactuallyitwasnotuncommonthen.InacertaincaseofpronouncingdivorcethriceinonesessionwhichwasbroughttothenoticeoftheHolyProphet,hegotangryandremarked,'IsitthattheBookofGodisbeingplayedwith,whileIamstillaliveamongthem-thecompanions?'

Zaidandhiscolleagues,beingnoauthoritiesthemselvesnorinclinedtorefertothosewhowereconsideredtobeauthorities,hadtorefertotheordinarypeoplewhopossessedsomescatteredportionsoftheQuraneitherinwritingorinmemory.TheyinvitedpeopletobringtheirportionsoftheQuranontheconditionsthattheirclaimbesupportedbysomewitness.ThemethodadoptedfortheofficialcollectionoftheQuranshowseither:therewasnooneamongthecompanionsoftheHolyProphet,whohadtheentireQuraninwriting,inmemorywithhimorthosewhohadtheentireQuranwiththemdidnotcareatallfortheofficialattemptandschemeortheschemersdebarredthemfromtakingpartinthecontemplatedschemelesttheir

participationmadetheprojectunsuccessful.Therearecertaincasesofverses,beingclaimedbysometobethepartoftheQuranforwhichnowitnesstosupportcouldbeproduced.SoZaidtreatedthesecasesinaseeminglypartialway.HeacceptedtheclaimofoneAbo-KhzaimahorKhuzaimahwithnowitnessandrejectedUmar'sclaimforlackofwitness.Soitisquiteobviousthatthistypeofattempt,thoughnotproductiveorsuccessful,gaveroomtoallsortsoftalesabouttheQuranbeingtamperedwiththecollectors,particularlywhenthemembersofthepartywerethemselvesencouragingtherumours.HoweveritwasapoliticalmovewhichproducednothingusefulforMuslimsatallexceptprovidinganopportunityforsomecredulousfriendstocredittheauthoritieswithpreparingthecollectionoftheQuran,andforsomemischievousenemiestoargueagainstthegenuinenessoftheQuraninhand.

Theirattempts,itissaid,producedacollectionofaQuranoftheirown;butitwasneverpublishednorputwithinthereachofthepeople.ItremainedasabundleinthecustodyofAyeshahandHafsaduringthereignsoftheirrespectivefathers.Itisalsosaidthatsomeportionofitwasdevouredbyagoat,astorywhichindicatesthelackofregardonthepartofpersonsinpowerwhopresentedthemselvesastheguardiansoftheBookofGodsolaboriouslycollected.

Thereignsofthefirst,secondandaconsiderablepartofthethirdCaliph'speriodhadalsopassedandthebundleproducedbythestateremainedwhereitwas,andpeoplehadnoapproachtoit.Butduringthisperiodofnearlysixteentoseventeenyears,theQuranwasperhapsmoreorless,beingwritten,taught,learnt,memorised,reciteddiscussedandappliedtothedailylifeoftheMuslimsthroughoutthefast-expandingMuslimEmpire,insteadofthebundleofcollection,producedattheinstanceoftheauthorityinpowerwhichremainedunpublished.ItwasstatedbythesecondCaliphalsothattheladieshadbetterknowledgeofjurisprudence(thebasicsourceofwhichistheQuran)thanhehimself-theHeadoftheState.NoMuslimcomplainedagainstthelackofapproachtothecollectionofZaid,nordidanyoneasktheStatetopublishthatcollection.

TheauthorisedteachersoftheQuranwereperformingtheirdutiesdirectlyandthroughtheirdisciplesthroughouttheMuslimworldindependentofthecollectioninthepossessionoftheState.AconsiderablepartofthereignofthethirdCaliphalsopassedwhenatlastavarietyintherecitationoftheQuranwasnoticedamongtheMuslimsoldierswhowerefightingwiththeinfidelsontheremotebordersoftheEmpire.TheleniencyinvarietyofrecitationnoticedbyHozaifa,oneoftheconfidantsandprominentdisciplesoftheHolyProphet,worriedhimlestthispracticemayleadtoaddition,omissionandalterationintheQuran.Hehadacompletelistofthehypocrites.HeadvisedCaliphOthmaantotakenecessaryactiontounifyMuslims

underthecurrentrecitationoftheQuranasthatoftheHolyProphethimselfandtostopthemfromrecitinginamanneroftheirownchoiceasthatmightleadtofurthercontroversies.OthmaanagainentrustedthejobtothesameZaidbuthedidnothingexceptwhatHozaifahadsuggested,andhaditadoptedastheofficialversiontowhichOthmaangavehisassent.

Severalcopiesofthatofficialversionweremadeanddespatchedtothedifferentpartsoftheempiresothatthepeoplemightrevisetheirrecitationaccordingly.NocomplaintofanyTahreef=Omission,AdditionOrAlterationwasmadebyanyone.NeithertheCaliphorhispartynortheoppositepartywhichwasframingchargesafterchargesofdeviationfromtherightpathagainstthethirdCaliphevercomplainedagainsttheofficialversionoftheQurantowhichthethirdCaliphhadgivenassent.

ThethirdCaliphwasblamedfororderingtheotherversionsandcollectionsdifferingfromtheofficialversioninrecitationtobeburntordestroyedonthegroundthatitwasanactofdesecrationoftheWordofGod,butnonechargedhimwithtamperingwiththeversesoftheQuran.Inspiteoftheutmostcaretakenbytherulingpartyforthepublicationoftheofficialversionandtheobliterationoftheotherversions,theydidnotsucceed.Allthethencurrentrecitationshavecomedowntousinthetermsofthesevenortenrecitations.

TheOmayyidrulerscouldnotstopthepublicationoftheotherrecitations;neithercouldtheynoranyotherpoweronearthhavestoppedthepublicationorthenarrationoftheverseorthechaptersleftoutoftheQuraniftherewereany,orrecordingoftheobjectiontotheomissionsoradditionsorthedisagreement.

Evidences

ThereignofCaliphOthmaanwasmarkedwiththegrowthofstrongoppositionpartiesandcriticsoftheauthoritiesledbytheprominentcompanionsoftheHolyProphetwhobelongedtovariousshadesofopinionandpoliticalbias,suchas:Talhah,Zubair.

Ayeshahandthepeoplewithsimilartendencies,AboZar,Ammar,Abdullahbn-Maso-odandpeopleoftheirtype,Abdur-Rahmaanbn-Owf,Amru-bnal-A-as,AboMosa

Ashariandotherdisgruntledmembersofthesamerulingparty,Ali,Hasan,Husain,Abdullahbn-AbbaasandotherHashimitesandtheiradherents,andthepeopleoftheimportantprovincessuchasKoofa,EgyptandSyriaandtheirleaderswhowerewatchingwithacriticaleyetheminutemovementsofthecentre.AnyonetamperingwiththeQurancouldneverhaveescapedthenoticeofallthesecriticsandopponents.NoconsiderationwouldhavestoppedanyofthemfromraisingobjectionspubliclyagainsttheprofanationofthewordingoftheBookofGod.Nopowercouldhavesuppressedthereportofsuchobjection,haditbeenraisedpubliclybythecritics,sothatitmightnotreachposterity.ThereignsofneitherthefirstthreeCaliphs,northeOmayyadsortheAbbasiadCaliphscouldsuppresstheHolyProphet'sdeclarationaboutAli'sstatusas:

TheMasteroftheFaithful=AmeerulMoomineenandbeingthesupremeauthorityinIslamnexttohim.AllthestatementsoftheHolyProphetinthisconnectionhavereachedgenerationaftergenerationdowntous.HowcouldanyonesuppressreportsofevenawordoftheQuranhavingbeentamperedwithifthereweresuchreports?

Thenhowcanoneacceptthesolitaryandcontradictorytraditionsandreportsaboutparticularverseorphraseorsentencebeingtamperedwith?

ForrejectionofsuchreportscontainedinthebooksoftraditionsofSunniandShiahschools,theirsolitarynatureandweaknessofthechainofreporters,thecontradictorytoneoftheircontentsandtheinferiorityofstylearethebestproof.AmanlikeAboZaraboutwhomtheHolyProphetsaid:

'TheheavenhasneverspreaditsshadowonanyoneastruthfulaspeakerasAboZar'andwhomnopersonaltemptation,threat,pressureorpersecutioncouldstopfromcriticisingtheCaliphandthehostofOmayyidyouthssurroundinghimfortheirmisdeeds,contemptforthetenetsofIslam,misuseofthepublictreasuryandill-treatmentofthepeople,wouldhavecertainlynoticedanyspecifiedomission,additionoralteration,inthewordingoftheQuran,beitaletter,aword,aphrase,asentence,averseorachapter,andwouldhavecertainlyannounceditasanunpardonableactofthepartyinpower.SameisthecasewithAmmarbn-Yasir,theboldandoutspokenopponentofthepartyinpower,themanaboutwhomtheHolyProphethadforetold,thathewouldbekilledbytherebelliousgroupwhomhe(Ammar)wouldcalltoheavenandthey(therebels)wouldcallhim(Ammar)tohell.

TheHolyprophetorderedpeopletokeepalwaystothesidewhereAmmarisashewasalwaysonthesideoftherightandtruth.ThiswasahintthatAmmarwouldneverleavethesideofAli.DuringthebattleofSiffeen,hewasonceaskedaboutthejustificationofOthmaanbeingkilled.Heanswered,'He(Othmaan)wantedtochange

ourreligion,sohewaskilled.'Suchanoutspokenmanonthesameoccasioninthepresenceofthechiefsofboththearmies(ofAliandMuavyah)pointedouttothebannerunderwhichMuavyahwasstandingandsaid:'WewerewiththeProphet,underthebannerwhereAliisnowstandingandfoughtagainstthatbanner(Muavyah's)ontheissueoftherevelationoftheQuranandtodaywewithAliarefightingunderthesamebanneroftheHolyProphetagainstthesamebannerofQureishontheissueoftheinterpretationsoftheQuran.

IsitpossiblethatAmmarwhowasvigilantofQureish'stamperingwiththesignificanceoftheQuranicversesforwhichhefoundJustificationtofightthem,killthemandbekilledbythem,wouldhavehadnoknowledgeoftheQureish'stamperingwiththewordingandlettersoftheQuraniftherewassuchtamperingorthathewouldhaverefrainedfromdenouncingsuchprofaneactoftheirswhichwouldhavemadehishostileattitudemorejustifiediftheyhaddonesuchanact.Ammarisdefiniteandpreciseinhisargumentandannouncement.AccordingtohimthedisputeontheissueoftheQuranbeingtherevealedwordofGod(verbatim)wasoverinthelifetimeoftheHolyProphetandthepaganswillinglyorunwillinglysubmittedtoit.

ThedisputedissueaftertheHolyProphetwasonlytheinterpretationoftheQuranandnotthewordingofit.TheveryfactofhistorythatthebattleofSiffeenendedwithAli'sacceptanceofarbitrationbasedontheQuranthenathandandnotonanyotherversionofitprovesthattheletters,wordingsandarrangementoftheQuranweretoboththepartiesthesameandthatthedisputewasalwaysconfinedtotheinterpretation.InsupportofthisfactthereisareportnarratedbyMajlisiintheVolumeXofhisworkBeharulAnwaar=theOceanofLightaboutaconversationwhichtookplaceatMadinabetweenbn-AbbaasandMuavyahafterthemartyrdomofAli.WhenMuavyahaskedbn-AbbaastostoppraisingAliandtheAhlulBait.Bn-Abbaasreplied:

'DoyoustopusreadingtheQuran?

-'Nobutdonotinterpretit.'

-'YouwantustoreadQuran,butnottounderstandit?'

-'Imean,nottogiveyourowninterpretationtoit.

-'OhYoumeanthatIshouldgiveuptheinterpretationofthosepeopleinwhosehousetheQuranwasrevealed!andgivetheinterpretationofthechildrenofAboSufyan?'

-'NoImean,donotinterprettheportionconcerningAliatall,anddowhateveryou

likewiththeotherportions,orifyouinsistoninterpretingthatportiontoothendoitprivatelyamongyourselvesanddonotgivepublicitytoit.'

AllthattheauthoritiesinpowercouldtrytostoporalterwasonlythepublicityofthetrueandcorrectinterpretationoftheQuran.Butasfortamperingwiththewordingofit,theyknewitwassomethingbeyondtheirpower.

FailureoftheirattemptinthatdirectionhadalreadyprovedthetruthoftheassurancegivenbyGodthat'HeHimself'wouldguardtheQuranasthelastrevealedreminderforpeopleandtheeverlastingmiracleagainsttheill-designsandmischievousattemptsoftheenemiestonullifyitseffectiveforce.Theonlycourseopentothemwastotamperwithitsinterpretationandthesignificanceofitsverses.Accordingly,oneshouldbesure

thattheword'Tahreef'changeortamperingwith,andothersynonymouswordsusedbyAhlulBaitandtheirearlyadherentswithwhichtheychargedtheiropponentsweremeantonlyaswronginterpretationandnothingelse.Alongwiththesepositiveandaffirmativeevidences,thepresenceofsevenortenvarietiesofrecitationsandtheabsenceoftherequisitelargenumberofreporterstogiveunanimousevidenceaffirmingandconfirmingspecificwordingsororderofthewordingsoftheQuranbeingtamperedwithandtheabsenceofanyotherversionoftheQurandifferentinwordingandorderfromthereceivedversion,yetcomparableinstylewithit,aretheproofofthegenuinenessoftheversioninhand.ButthesaidattemptaftertheHolyProphet,however,alongwiththeutterancesandstatementssaidtohavebeenmadebythemembersoftherulingpartybeforethepresentversionwasapprovedbyOthmaandidgiveachancetotheopponentsoftheQuranwhetherinthegarbofMuslimsorotherwise,whocouldnotdisturbitsmiraculousforceofeloquencebythrowingsometrivialityinit,tospreadrumoursallegingincompletenessanddisarrangementofthereceivedversion.

TheserumoursgainedcurrencyalongwiththedevelopmentofthelaterreligiousandpoliticalcontroversiesinspiteoftheeffortsoftheHolyImamsoftheHouseoftheHolyProphetandthefaithfulthinkersandthesincererationalscholarsofacademicaccomplishment,todiscreditthem.Therumoursgotsomehowintocertainbooksoftraditions,oftheSunnischool,andsubsequentlysomeoftheShiabooksoftraditionsalsowerenotexemptfromthetaintofsuchscepticrumours.Theresultwasthatsomeofthecreduloustraditionalistsofboththeschoolswholackedtheabilitytoapplycriticalscrutinytoconfirmtheauthenticityandtoproperlyexaminetheexternalandtheinternalevidenceforandagainstthetextorthewordingoftraditions,acceptedtherumoursinthefaceoftheirrefutablyestablishedgenuinenessoftheHolyQuran.Beforesurveyingthetraditionsitwillbebettertosumupourargumentsasfollows:

1.TheQuranwasdeliveredbytheHolyProphettothepeople,astherevealedversionoftheBookofGod,Divinelywordedinaparticular,recitativeArabicform(language).

2.TheQuraninitsrevealedrecitativeArabicFormisaGuideformankindcontainingclearsignsforguidance,anddiscriminatesofthetruthfromthefalsehoodandtherightfromthewrong.

3.Thisrevealedrecitative'ArabicBook'and'WordofGod',initsaforesaidguidinganddiscriminativecapacityisaninimitable,everlasting'Miracle'meantasaChallengetobothmenandJinnsandbearstheirrefutabletestimonytothetruthoftheHolyProphet,Mohammed(peacebeonhimandhisfamily)towhomitwasrevealed.'

4.ThisGuiding'Miracle'initsguidingandchallengingcapacityshallandwillbekeptgenuineandintact,asitwasrevealedinpartsandwholeforthepurposeforwhichitwasrevealedwithinthereachofthosetowhomthechallengewasthrownandofthosewhoweremeanttobeguided-themenandJinns,solongastheylive.

5.TheQuranastheWord,BookandtheWorkofGodinitsrelationtotheHolyProphetwhodeliveredittomankindwithin23yearsofhisministrypassedthroughfourstages:

-5a)thepre-revealedstageofitsbeingina'guardedtablet'whereinitsversesandchapterswerefirmlyarranged;85:22Lowhe-MahfoozInaguardedtablet56:78Kitaabe-MaknoonInabookthatisprotected

-5b)arevealedformtaughttotheHolyProphet,whenhewascreatedbygivinghimthepowerofexpression(bayaan)

-5c)thestagewhereitwasallatoncerevealedinwell-arrangedchapterwiseforminitstotalityattheEsteemedorMeasuringNight(laylatol-Qadr)inthemonthofRamazan;

-5d)thegradualstagesofitsbeingrevealedpartbypartandpiecemealatvariousoccasionsrequiredtheWordofGodtoberecitedasquotations.Thearrangementandorderofversesandchaptersasitwasinthe(5a),(5b)and(5c)stagesneednotbeandwasnotobservedinthestage(d)asitisobviousinthecaseoftheportionsofthechaptersEqra,al-Muzzemmel,al-Muddatherandmanyotherchapters.ThussomepartsandversesofachapterwererecitedbytheHolyProphetintheearlyperiodofhisministry,andsomeportionofthesamechapterremainedtoberecitedlongafterwards.Duringthisperiodbetweentherevelationofoneportionandthatofanotherportionofthechapters,manyotherchaptersortheirportionswererevealed:

-5e)inthenextstagethegradualrevelationoftheQuranwascompletedbutitwastoberevisedandarrangedinacompletebook-formtobeleftamongthepeople.ItisobviousthatinthisstagethearrangementofthepartshouldbeincompleteconcordwiththatoftheQuraninitspre-gradualrevelationstagesandnotinaccordancewiththedateofthepiecemealandfragmentaryrevelations,otherwisetherevealedcopyleftamongthepeoplewouldnotrepresenttheoriginalQuraninitspre-revealedorinitsall-at-oncerevealedform.ItisutterprofanitytosuggestthatthatbooksoDivinelyarrangedinitsearlystagesbeforeitsbeingdeliveredandafterthecompletionofthegradualrevelationindeliveringittomankindandagainrevisedbyJibreelandtheHolyProphettwice,wasinadisarrangedfragmentaryforminthelaststagewhenitwasleftamongthepeoplefortheirguidanceasboth,theeverlastingmiracleandthePermanentConstitutionalCodeofIslam.TheHolyProphetknewverywellthefateofthedividedBookofMosesatthehandsoftheJewswhomadeitintofragments.exposingsomeandsuppressingtheotherparts.

6.TheQurancontainsexplanationforeverythingbywhichmanistobeguided.Alltheelucidatingparablesandillustratingexamplesandnormshavebeendisplayedthereinfortheirsignificanceandapplicationbeinggraspedbythehumanmind.TheQuransaysthatthisshouldnotbedonebutbythelearnedscholars.

7.ButthisallComprehensiveandCompactCodeofDivineGuidancewhereinnothingofsubstancehasbeenleftoutisnottobecomparedinitsmethodofapproachandwayofdealingwithproblemstoanyotherscriptureorbookproducedbyman.Ithasitsownpeculiarinimitablemethodofdisplayofvarietyoftopics-nottotallyheterogeneousandirrelevantnorverycloselyconnectedandmonotonouswhichistermedbytheQuranitselfasTasreefi.Inthegroupingoftheversesoftypicalvarietiesintoachapter,theapparentfactorisarhythmofpeculiarpitchwhichgivesa

uniquerecitationalbeautytothechapterasawholeandinpartstoo.Inthegroupingofchapters,theprincipleobservedisapparentsomesortofaffinityofthesubjectmatterandthesize(length).

Thisisnoticeableinthefirstfourchaptersafter'Faateha'.Chapters.6&7andchapters.8&9whicharesupplementarytoeachother;chapter.10&11whicharesimilarinlengthandmatterandchapter.12whichisalsosimilarinlengththoughthetopicisdifferent.Chapters13,14&15areakininmatterandlength,Chapter.18issimilartothoseinlengthbutthetopicsaredifferentandsothebasisofthegroupingoftheversesinthechaptersiseasilyunderstandablebythestudentsoftheQuran.BesidestheseapparentandexoterictieswhichjustifythegroupingstherearehiddenandesoterictiesfortheordinaloftheversesinchaptersandthechapterstogetherwhichareonlyknowntoGodandthosewhomHehaspurifiedfromtheprofanityofthematerialworld,tobeinperpetualtouchwiththeQuraninitsoriginalstageofHiddenBook.Inshort,therecitationalconsiderationplaysaveryessentialpartinthearrangementofversesinthechaptersandsomeaffinityinthesizeandsubjectmatterinthegroupingofthechapters.

Thedateandtheplaceofthefragmentaryrevelationhavenothingtodowiththeordinalpositionoftheversesinthechapters,norinthegroupingofthechapterstogether.TheknowledgeofthedateandplaceofthefragmentaryrevelationmaybeofsomeuseintheelementarystagesofcommentaryoftheQuranotherwisetheQurananditscontentstranscendtheboundariesoftimeandspace.

8.TheimportanceoftheQuranastheWord,WorkandtheBookofGodwassogreatintheeyesofitsAuthor(God),itsdeliverer(theHolyProphet)andthepeopletowhomitwasdelivered,thatutmostcarewastakenbythemallforitscorrectandprecisewording,pronunciation,thephoneticalcharacterofthelettersoftheword,theordinalpositionofthewordings,beitversesinthechaptersorthechapterstogether,therecitationalpeculiaritiesoftheversesandthechaptersetc.Eversincethecommencementofitsgradualrevelation,utmostcarewastakenbyallthebelieverstoseethateverybeliever,man,womanandevenchildrenabovefiveyearshadtheQuraneitherinwritingorinmemory.

9.DuetothiswidepublicityandpopularityoftheprecisewordingoftheQuranitsexistenceinwrittenandmemorisedformhasbeenalwayssupportedbytheevidenceofaverylargenumberofitsbelievers.Thetestimonytotheexactwordings,

pronunciationofeveryoneofitsletters,words,phrases,sentences,versesandchaptersandtheordinalpositionofeveryminutepartinthewholeoftheQuranhasbeeninheritedsincethestartofitsrevelationbythelargestnumberofitsbelieversandadmirers,generationaftergenerationdowntous.

ThustheexistenceoftheQuraninitslaststageofdeliverytomankindhasbeenfirmlytiedwiththeunanimoustestimonyofaverylargenumberofpeoplewhowerewellacquaintedwitheveryaspectofthewordingswiththeutmostexactitude,beit(theQuran)inwritingorintheirmemory.HencenoreportaboutthewordingsorarrangementoftheQuranwhichisnotsupportedbyinternalevidenceorunanimousevidenceofaverylargenumberofthepeople,wellacquaintedwithit,canhavetheprobabilityofitsbeingtrue.

10.BesidesthevehementzealoftheearlyMuslimsingeneraltolearnandhavetheWordofGodwiththeminwritingandinmemory,therewere,sincethebeginningoftherevelation,anumberofwritersamongthebelieverswhowerestudentsoftheQuran,andtheHolyProphetusedthemasscribesfortheparticulartasktowritingtheQuranthenandthere,whenitwasrevealed.Themostsuperiorofthemall,wholivedlongafterthereceivedversionoftheQuranwasapprovedbytheCaliphOthmaan,wasAli(A.S.)andthenAbdullahbn-Maso-odamongtheearlyMeccans,andUbayybn-KaabamongtheearlyMadiniteswholiveduntilthen.AlongwiththeseearlymastersandstudentsoftheQurangrewandlivedanumberofstudentsoftheQuran,whowiththesamedevotionandzeallearned,wrote,memorised,explainedandtaughttheQuransuchasMaazbn-JabaloneoftheaccreditedteachersoftheQuranandbn-AbbaasthegreatscholarandcommentatoroftheQuranwhoreceivedhisknowledgepartlyfromtheHolyProphetandmostlyfromAli.AllthesescholarswhoplayedthegreatpartinthepublicationandpopularisingoftheQuranhadtheirowncollectionoftheQuran,liveduntilandafterthepresentQuranreceivedtheapprovalofCaliphOthmaan.

11.ThereisnodoubtthattheHolyProphetdidleaveamongthepeoplesomethinginwrittenformastheBookofGod,andthereisnodoubtalsothatafterhisdemisethesestudentsoftheQuranandmanyotherswereinpossessionofwrittencopiesoftheQuranfromwhichothersbegantolearnandcopy.WhetherthesewrittencopieswerepreparedbeforeorafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphetandwhethertheywereexactlythesameastheBookofGodleftbytheHolyProphetordifferentfromit,willbediscussedlateron;butthereisnodoubtthatthesecollectionshadnothingto

dowiththecopymadebyZaidbn-ThaabitundertheordersofCaliphAboBakar,andwereabsolutelyfreefromtheinfluenceofthestate.ThecopymadebyZaidbn-ThaabitremainedunpublishedwiththedaughtersofthefirsttwoCaliphstillthecurrentformoftheQuranwasapprovedbythethirdCaliph.

12.DuringthisinterveningperiodtheversionoftheQuranpublishedandpopularisedwasfromthosenon-officialcopiesofthescribesandtheaccreditedstudentsoftheQuran.

13.ThedifferencesnoticedbythepeoplelikeHozaifaandotherscholarlyaccomplishedcompanionsinthecurrentversionsoftheQuranduringthisperiod,wereofonlyrecitationalnatureandnotsubstantialeitherinthewordingandordinalpositionoftheversesorchapters.

14.WhetherthestatecopyorderedbyCaliphOthmaanandpreparedbythesameZaid,wastheexactcopyofhis(Zaid's)firstwork,inallrespectsofwordingsandarrangements,ortherevisedformofitorsomethingtotallydifferentisnotknown,butundoubtedlyitsdifferencewiththosenon-officialversions,currentthen,wasofonlyrecitationalandnotofsubstantialnature.

15.ThespecificrecitationadoptedthenbyZaidwasnothingnew.ItwasoneofthethencurrentrecitationstracedbacktothatwhichwascurrentduringthetimeoftheHolyProphet.Sonoobjectionwasraisedbyanyoneagainsttherecitationadoptedbythestate.Butpeopledidobjecttothemethodadoptedbytheauthoritytostopotherrecitationsandtodestroythewrittenversionsofotherrecitationsbyburningthem,forwhichCaliphOthmaanwasnamedandblamedasHarrakulMasaahif=TheBurnerOfTheCollectionsOfTheQuran.

16.Thisshowsthatthecriticsdidnotallegethatprofanerecitationswereintroducedalthoughtheoppositionwasaccusingthoseinpowerofprofaneandanti-Islamicactivities.

Traditions

Explaination

Anotherreasonfortheriseofthesedoubts,wasthetraditionswhichassertthatthecollectionoftheQuranbyAliwasinaparticularformdifferentfromthatoftheversionrecognisedofficially;asimilaropinionisheldaboutthecopiesofAbdullahbn-Maso-odandObaibn-Ka'ab.TherearedifferentversionsaboutthecollectionofAli,whetherherefusedtoplacehiscollectionatthedisposaloftherulingpartyandthepublicortherulingpartyrefrainedfromacceptingitwhenitwasofferedandwhetherthishappenedinthereignoftheFirstortheSecondCaliph,areallmattersofdoubt.AllamaMajlisinarratesthatittookplaceduringthereignoftheSecondCaliph,whiletheothersholdthatitwasduringthetimeoftheFirstCaliph.

Inanycasethecollection,ifany,remainedwithhimandhissuccessorsi.e.inthepossessionoftheHolyImams,beyondthereachofthepublic.Noonehasclaimedtohaveseenthatcollectionthoroughlyorcopiedit.

OneortwonarrationsclaimthattheSixthHolyImamJa'ferbn-MohammedSaadiqshowedsomeofhisdisciplesthecollectionofAliandtheyfoundinonesmallSurahthenamesofseventyhypocrites.ThiscontradictswhatAlihaddeclaredabouthiscollectionwhichisthatnonewouldseebeforethere-appearanceoftheLastImam(12thImamoftheHouseoftheHolyProphet).ThetraditionitselfsaysthattheSixthImamgavethecollectiontothenarratorconcernedandtoldhimnottolookintoit.ThenarratordisobeyedtheImamandhadaglimpseoftheSurah.

ThisversionseemsabsurdbecausetheImamwouldnothavehandedoverthecollectiontoapersonwhowaslikelytodisobeyhim.ItissaidthatAli'scollectionoftheQurancontainedallthatwasrevealedandwithitsexotericandesotericinterpretations.ApartfromthequestionoftheirauthenticityathoroughexaminationofthesetraditionsprovesbeyonddoubtthatthecollectioninquestionwasasortofdetailedcommentaryontheQuranwhichcontainedtherevelationsandtheirinterpretationsbesidesthemiraculoustextwhichwasplacedwithinthereachofmankindasachallenge.

ThesameisthecasewiththeothercollectionsofAbdullahbn-Maso-odandObaibn-Ka'abandtheothers;theybeingtheacknowledgedandtheearliestauthorisedstudentsoftheQuran,musthavehadtheirownspecialcollectionwiththeinterpretationsandthenotesoftheirownforguidance.

Therefore,theymighthavehadalsoadifferentarrangementoftheversesandthechaptersforthepurposeoftheircommentariesasthelatercommentatorshavedone(chronological,andsubjectwiseetc.).ThesecollectionscannothaveanythingtodowiththecurrentacceptedversionplacedwithinthereachofthecommonmanforrecitationandasanopenchallengetomenandJins.

TheexplanatorynatureofthecollectionsoftheeminentcompanionsoftheHolyProphetisevidentfromtraditionswhichassertthatAbdullahbn-Maso-odusedtorecitethephrase'ForFixedPeriod'with4:24.4:24

Thenastothosewhomyouprofitby,givethemtheirdowriesasappointed44:24ThenastothosewhomyouprofitbyFORFIXEDPERIOD,givethemtheirdowriesasappointed.

*ItisobviousthatthisphrasewasusedbyhimasanexplanatorynoteofguidanceandbywayofaprotestwhentemporarymarriagewasprohibitedbytheSecondCaliph.Thenarrationwhichsaysthatbn-Abbaasusedtorecite-FiAli=aboutAli'afterMaaOnzilainshouldbetakenasanoteexplainingtheoccasion.5:67

OApostle!deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord45:67

OApostledeliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyouABOUTALIfromyourLord!

*Itmeanttopointouttheimpliedsignificanceoftheverseinquestionwhenthepeoplewereignoringit.Similarlyintheverse3:33,accordingtosometraditions,bn-Abbaashadadded'Aale-Mohammed=thedescendantsofMohammad'after'Aale-Imran'orhadreplaced'Aale-Imran-by'Aale-Mohammed'.3:33SurelyAllahchoseAdamandNuhandthedescendantsofIbraheemandthedescendantsofImranabovethenations43:33SurelyAllahchoseAdamandNuhandthedescendantsofIbraheemandthedescendantsofImranANDTHEDESCENDANTSOFMOHAMMADabovethenations.

*Ifthistraditionistrue,Abdullahbn-Abbaasmighthavesaidthat'Aale-Mohammed'aremeantintheverse.Hedidnotmeanthephrasetobethepartoftheverse,becauseifitistakenasapartoftheverse,thenAllwillbeOffspringofAale-Mohammed;and

ifitisnottakenasapartoftheverse,peopleotherthantheHouseoftheProphetwouldbeincludedinthesamewayasallthefollowersofPharaohareincludedinAale-Firaun'3:34

Offspring,oneoftheotherInshort,thedifferentcollectionsoftheQuranpreparedbydifferentcompanionsoftheHolyProphetwhichwereneitherpublishednorhadgainedanycurrencyamongtheMuslims,inpartorinwhole,cannothaveanyvalueotherthanthatofatraditionservingasacommentaryonthetext.ThisisthereasonwhynoneoftheacknowledgedandauthorisedstudentsoftheHolyBookraisedanyvoiceofdissentagainsttheacceptedversion,thoughallofthemwerealiveandhadtheirothergrievancesofreligiousimportanceagainsttherulingparty.TheycomplainedagainsttheThirdCaliphonlybecauseoftheburningofsomecopiesoftheQuranwhichtheyconsideredasanactofdesecrationoftheHolyBook.

CausesofDoubtsabouttheVersionRecognisedBythe3rdCaliph

Forfurtherelucidation,letusrecapitulatethecausesofthedoubtsabouttheversionrecognisedbytheThirdCaliphofficially.

1.TheunauthorisedattemptoftheFirstCaliphandhispartyforthecollectionofaQuranoftheirown.

2.Theunwarrantedutteranceofsomemembersoftherulingpartyabouttheincompletenessoftheirowncollection.

3.ThetheorythattherewasaspecialcollectionoftheQuranbyAli,completeinallaspectsandrespects.

4.TheunsuccessfulattemptoftheThirdCaliphtostoptheothersevenortenrecitationsoftheQuranexceptthatoftheofficialversion,byburninganddestroyingsomecopiesoftheQuranwhichcontainedotherrecitations.

5.Thesystemofdottingandintroducingofthevowelsignsandothermarksforthe

correctpronunciationofthewordingoftheQuranbyHajjajbnYousufaboutthecloseofthefirstcenturyA.H.,toguardtherecitationoftheQuranagainstmis-pronunciationbythenon-Arabs.[9]

6.TheabovefivecausesgaveroomandopportunitytotheenemiesofIslam,externalaswellasinternaltocastdoubtsonthegenuinenessoftheQuran,buttheyfailedtoresistthemiraculousforceandthewonderfuleffectofitsrecital.Theycouldnotinterferewiththetextby'interceptions'(verses22:52-54;and41:26)buttheygottheopportunitytomakefalsenarrationsassertingomissioninandthealterationofcertainchaptersorversesoftheQuranhereandthere.

AndWesentnotbeforethee(OOurApostleMohammed)anyapostleorprophet,butwhenherecited(themessage)theSatandidcasthisrecitation(tocreateerror);ButannullethGodthatwhichtheSatancasteththenGoddothestablishHissigns;22:52

AndverilyGodisAll-Knowing.All-Wise.SothathemaymakethatwhichcasteththeSatanatrialuntothoseinwhoseheartsisdiseaseandthosewhoseheartsarehard;22:53

Andverily,theunjustareinaschismfar(awayfromthetruth),Andthatmayknowthosewhohavebeengiventheknowledgethatit(Quran)BisthetruthfromtheLord,sotheymaybelieveinitandmayhumbleuntoittheirhearts;22:54

Andverily,Godguideththosewhobelieve,untotherightpath;Andthosewhodisbelievesay;"HearkenyenotthisQuran,makenoiseinit,happilyyemayovercome."41:26

Alltheabovepointshavebeendealtwithinbrief;letusnowexamineafewreferencesgivenbythetraditionalistswhichhavesomehowfoundtheirwayintothebooksoftraditionsofboththeSunniandShiaSchools.

Regardingthefirstattemptoftherulingpartyforhavingacollectionoftheirown,BukharinarratesfromZaidbnThaabitasfollows:

AfterthebattleofYamama,theFirstCaliphsentforZaidandtoldhiminthepresenceofOmar,thatOmarhadsaidthatmanyrecitersoftheQuranhadbeenkilledinthebattleofYamamaandhewasafraidthatotherrecitersalsomightbekilledinotherbattleswiththeresultthatagreatportionoftheQuranmightbelost.

OmarfurthersaidtotheFirstCaliph:

-'YoushouldorderthecollectionoftheQuran'.

-HowcouldIdowhattheHolyProphetdidnot'

-'ByGodIswear,thisgoodhastobedone',andcontinueddemandingittillGodopenedZaid'sheartforit(aclaimforasortofinspiration).ZaidsaidthattheFirstCaliphtoldhim:

'YouareanintelligentyoungmanwhomwedonotsuspectandyouusedtowritetherevelationsfortheHolyProphet.YousearchfortheQuranandcollectit.'

Zaidadded:IswearonmyGod,iftheyhadorderedmetocarryoutthetaskofshiftingamountainfromitsplace,Iwouldnothavefeltitsoheavyatask,aswhattheyhadaskedmetoundertake(i.e.thecollectionoftheQuran).'

ZaidsaidtoOmar:'HowdareyoudoathingwhichtheHolyProphetdidnot?'

Omarsaid:'ByGodIswear!itisgoodtodo.'

Zaidcontinued:ThereaftertheFirstCaliphcontinuedaskingmetoundertakethetasktillGodopenedmyheartforwhatHehadopenedtheheartoftheFirstCaliphandOmar.ThereforeIcarriedthesearchoftheQuran,collectingitfromthepiecesofwood,bonesandfromthememoryofthepeopletillIfoundthelastverseoftheCh.9at-TaubawithAbiKhozaima-e-Ansariandwithnoneelse.'

ThiscollectionremainedwiththeFirstCaliphtillhepassedaway,thenwithOmarandthenwithhisdaughterHafsa.BukharitellsusthatHozaifahbnYamanonhisreturnfromtheexpeditionofArmeniaandAazarbijan,expressedhisanxietyaboutthevariationamongthemembersoftheexpeditionintherecitationoftheQuran,andaskedtheThirdCaliphtotakethenecessarystepstounitetheMuslimsinthisregardbeforeitleadstocontroversyabouttheBookofGodinthemannerofthecontroversiesoftheJewsandtheChristiansabouttheirHolyScriptures.EventodaythereexistvariousversionsoftheoldandtheNewTestamentstermedastheapocryphalagainsttheBibletermedasauthentic.

ThentheThirdCaliphaskedOmar'sdaughterHafsatohandoverthebundleofthecollectionoftheQuranleftwithhersothatitscopiesmightbemade.

TheThirdCaliphorderedZaid,OAbdullahbn-Zobai,Saye-edbn-A-asandAbdur-Rahmaanbn-Harithbn-Hishamtopreparecopiesofthesame.HetoldthethreeQureishitiesthatwherevertheyandZaiddifferintherecitationoftheQuranandinpronunciation,theyshouldwriteitinaccordancewiththedialectoftheQureishasitwasrevealedintheirdialect.TheydidastheywerebiddenandpreparedcopiesofthecollectionandreturnedtheoriginaltoHafsaandsentthecopiestoallcornersofthe

empire;andthenthethirdCaliphorderedQuraninanyotherbook'formorintheformofanycollectiontobeburntanddestroyed.[10]

IncontinuationofthesestatementsBukharinarratesfromthesonofZaidthathehadheardhisfathersaying:

'Whenwewerecopyingthecollection,wemissedaversefromCh.33'AhzabwhichIusedtoheartheHolyProphetreciteandthenwesearchedforitandfounditwithKhozaimatbn-ThaabitAnsariandthenweputitinthesameSurahinthecollection.'

ThesetwotraditionsofBukhariregardingthecollectionoftheQuraninthereignoftheFirstCaliphandthecopyingofitduringthereignoftheThirdCaliphcontainaslightcontradictionregardingthemissingverseoftheQuranwhichcouldnotbefoundwithanybodyexceptoneAbuKhozaimatbn-ThaabitAnsari.Now,besidesthesetwo,therearetwentyothertraditionsregardingthisofficialcollectionoftheQuran,eachcontradictingtheotherinonewayortheother.ElevenofthemarementionedintheMuntakhab-e-KanzulUmmaalandtheresthavebeentakenfromItqaanofSuyootietc.

Thefollowingisabriefaccountofthem.Inonetradition,bn-AbiShaibanarratesfromAli,thatheconsideredAboBakrasthegreatestpersonforthecollectionoftheQuran.HeisthefirstpersonwhocollectedtheQuranwhichisbetweenthepads.

AnothernarrationalsosaysthatAboBakrcollectedtheQuranonpaperandaskedZaidbn-Thaabittoreviewit,whichZaiddeclinedtodoandAboBakrsoughtthehelpofOmartopersuadeZaidandhedidsoandthatreviewedcopyremainedwithAboBakr,thenwithOmarandthenwithHafsa..

AthirdtraditionfromHishambn-OrwaassertsthatafterthebattleofYamamawhereinsomeofthecompanionsoftheHolyProphetwhohadcollectedtheQuranwerekilled,AboBakrorderedOmarandZaidbn-ThaabittositatthegateoftheMosqueandcollecttheQuranfromthepeople.AnothertraditionfromMohammedbn-SeereentellsusthatOmarwaskilledandtheQuranwasnotcollectedtillthen.AfifthtraditionsaysthatonceOmaraskedforsomeversesoftheHolyQuranandhewastoldthatthesewerewithapersonwhowaskilledinthebattleofYamama.

OmargotmuchworriedandorderedtheQurantobecollectedandhewasthefirstpersontocollecttheQuraninabookform.AsixthtraditiontellsusthatOmardecidedtocollecttheQuranandorderedthat'whosoeverhasreceivedfromtheHolyProphetanyportionoftheHolyQuran,shouldbringittous'andthepeoplehadtheQuranonbitsofwood,stones,skin,leavesoftreesandbonesandhewouldnot

acceptanythingfromanyoneunlessitwascertifiedbytwowitnessesandhe(Omar)Waskilledwhilethecollectionwasyetgoingon.ThenOthmaansucceedinghimcontinuedthetaskandrepeatedtheorderofOmardemandingcertificationoftwowitnesses.ThenAbuKhozaimatbn-ThaabitcamewiththelasttwoversesoftheSurah-e-Baraatsaying:

IhavereceiveditfromtheHolyProphetandyouhavenotgotitinyourQuran!

-'Yes!IalsogiveevidencethattheseversesarefromGod,buttellmewhereweshouldplacethem?'

-'PlacethesetwoversesattheendofthelastrevealedportionoftheQuran'andtheywereaccordinglyplacedattheendoftheSurah-e-BaraatconcludingtheSurahwithit.

AseventhtraditionassertsthatitwasOmarwhoacceptedtheselastversesoftheSurah-e-BaraatfromamanoftheAnsarswithoutanywitnesseswhichwasagainsthisownformula.AnothertraditionrelatesthatafterthebattleofYamamainwhichfourorsevenhundredrecitersoftheQuranwerekilled,Zaidbn-ThaabitapproachedOmarandsaid:

'TheQuranistheonlyunifyingfactorofourreligionandifitislostourreligionisalsolostIhavedecidedtocollectitinabookformto

-'WaittillIaskAboBakr'BothwenttoAboBakrandinformedhimoftheirtalk.

AboBakrreplied:

'DonothurryuntilIconsulttheMuslims'

Thenhebeganlecturingtothepeopleinformingthemoftheirdecision.Allapprovedit.ThentheycollectedtheQuranandAboBakrorderedacriertoannouncethatwhosoeverhasapartorthewholeoftheQuranshouldproduceit.AninthtraditionnarratesthatKhozaimatbn-ThaabitsaidthathebroughtthelastversesofSura-e-TaubatoOmarandZaidbn-Thaabit.ThenZaidaskedKhozaimaastowhowouldgiveevidenceinhissupporttowhichKhozaimarepliedthathedidnotknowanyone.ThenOmarsaid,'Iwastheretowitnessit.'

ThetenthtraditionnarratesthatwhenOmarcollectedtheQuran;heasked:

Whohasthebestpronunciation?'

Thepeoplesaid'Saye-edibnulAas-,andthenOmarasked'Whoisthebestcalligrapher?'

ThepeoplesaidZaidbn-Thaabit.Thenhesaid'LetSaye-eddictateandZaidwrite.'

Theymadefourcopies;onewassenttoKufa,onetoBasra,onetoDamascusandonetoHijaz.TheeleventhtraditionreportsthatwhenOmarwantedtohavetheQuranwrittenhemadeafewofhiscompanionsundertakethetaskandsaid:

'WheneveryoudifferinthewordingwriteitdowninthedialectofHozailfortheQuranwasrevealedtoamanofHozail.'

ThetwelfthtraditionreportsthenarrationofAbuQullabathatduringthereignofOthmaan,theteachersoftheQuranstartedteachingtheirpupilsdifferentrecitationsandtheboysusedtomeetanddifferfromeachother.thenwhenthiswasbroughttothenoticeoftheteacherstheycondemnedeachother'srecitationandthatonthisnewsreachinghim,Othmaangavealecturesaying:

'Youpeopledifferintherecitationandreciteitindifferentwaysinmypresence.Whataboutthosewhoarefarawayfrommeindistantcities,theirdifferencesinrecitationwouldbegreater.'HethenaskedthecompanionsoftheHolyProphettowriteastandardQuran[11]forthepeople'.AbuQuallabanarratedthatMaalikbn-AnashassaidthathewasamongthosewhousedtodictatetheQuranandtheyusedtomentionthenameofthepersonwhohadreceivedaparticularversefromtheHolyProphetandifthepersonwasnotpresent,theyusedtowritetheprecedingandthesucceedingversesleavingblankthespacefortheverseunderdisputeuntilthepersonconcernedwasavailableandthatOthmaanthencompletedthecollectionandwrotetothepeopleinthebigcitiesthathehadobliteratedwhatwaswithhimandtheyshouldalsoactaccordingly.

ThethirteenthtraditionrelatesthatOthmaanaddressedthepeopleinoneofhislecturessaying:

'OnlythirteenyearshavepassedbetweenyouandyourProphetandyoudoubttheQuran;sayingtherecitationofObaiortherecitationofbn-Maso-od,orone'sownwillnotstandright.'

Thenheurgedthemallbyanoathtotheeffectthatwhosoeverhadanyportionofthe

Quranshouldbringit.Peoplebroughtingreatnumberspiecesofpaper,bitsofwoodandskinetc.containingQuranicverses.ThenOthmaanwentinside(hishouse)andcalledthemoneafteranotherandmadeeachoneswearthathehadhearditfromtheHolyProphetandthattheHolyProphethaddictatedittohim.

Afterfinishingthis,heaskedastowhowasthebestinpronunciation,thepeoplesaidSaye-edbn-A-as.ThenheorderedSaye-edtodictateandZaidbn-Thaabittowrite.SeveralcopiesweremadeanddistributedamongthepeopleandthenarratorMas-abbn-Sa-absaysthatheheardsomeofthecompanionsoftheHolyProphetapprovingthisactofOthmaan.ThefourteenthtraditionrelatesthatthepersonswhowereorderedbyOthmaantomakethecollectionanddictatewerefromtheTribeof'Hozail'andthescribeswerefromtheTribeof'Saqeef'(Thaqeef.)Afifteenthtraditionrelatesthatafterthecollectionwascompleted,itwasbroughttoOthmaanwholookedintoitandsaid,

'Youhavedonewellanddonethebest.YetIseesomemistakeswhichanArabwillcorrect.'

ThesixteenthtraditionrelatesthatwhenthecollectionwasshowntoOthmaanandhefoundsomemistaketherein,hesaid,

'Hadthosewhodictatedbeenfromthe'Hozail'(mostprobablyhemeantbn-Maso-od)'andthescribesfromthe'Saqeef'thesemistakewouldnothaveoccurred.'

AseventeenthtraditionreportsthatwhenOthmaanwantedtomakecopiesoftheQuran,hesentforObaibn-Ka'bwhodictatedtoZaid.BnThaabitandZaidwroteitdownandSaye-edbn-A'aswastheretocorrectthepronunciation.ThustheQuranofOthmaanwastherecitationofObaiandZaid.TheeighteenthtraditionsupportstheseventeenthmentionedaboveaddingthatapersonnamedAbdur-Rahmaanbn-HarithwasaskedtoassistSaye-edbn-A'asincorrectingthepronunciation.ThenineteenthtraditionnarratesfromZaidbn-ThaabitthatwhiletheyweremakingthecopiesoftheQuranhefoundthepagescontainingthev.23fromCh.33'

AhzabweremissingandlateronhefoundthemwithKhozaimatbn-Thaabitonly,whoseevidencehadbeenacceptedbytheHolyProphetasequaltotheevidenceoftwopersons.ThetwentiethtraditionnarratesthatthefirstpersonwhocollectedtheQuranwasAboBakr,andZaidbn-Thaabitwasthescribe;thatpeopleusedtocometoZaidwithpassagesandheusedtoacceptapassageonlywhenitwassupportedbyatleasttwopiousmen,exceptinthecaseofthelastpassageoftheSura-e-BaraatwhichwasfoundwithAbuKhozaimatbn-ThaabitwhoseevidencehadbeentakenbytheHolyProphetasamountingtoevidenceoftwopersonsandthatOmarbroughtthe

passageconcerningthestoningoftheadulteressanddidnotacceptitfromhimforhewasalonewithoutanywitness.

TheabovearethemainreportsabouttheventureofthecollectionoftheQuranbytherulingpartyduringthereignsofthefirstthreeCaliphs.Noneofthesehasthestandardauthenticityrequiredtoestablishthemasgenuine.Further,theyaresubjecttocriticismfromvariousaspects.

LetusfirstexaminethefirsttwotraditionsontheauthorityofBukhari:

1.EvenifitissupposedthattheQuranwasnotcollectedandarrangedinabookformduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphet,whatrightcouldanyonehavetomakeacollectionaccordingtoone'sowntasteorfancy?Isitnotasortofinnovation?Whatdoes'theopeningoftheheart'mean?DoesitmeanasortofinspirationorrevelationwhichtheChristiansclaimfortheauthorsoftheGospels?Canitbetakenasauthorisedlegalsourceslike'Kitaab'and'Sunnah'(theBookandtheTradition)oftheIslamicJurisprudenceandthemeansofinferenceof'Halal=theallowed',andthe'Haram=theprohibited'?

Orwasitanexclusiveprivilegegivenonlytothosethree(AboBakr,OmarandZaidbn-Thaabit)?ThenwhatabouttheothercompanionsoftheHolyProphetwhohadalsomadeacollectionoftheirown,afactwhichhasbeenunanimouslyacknowledgedbytheMuslimworld?

2.IfitwassothenwhydidOthmaandestroytheothercollectionswithouthavingthesanctionoftheHolyProphetforhisaction?Zaid'scollectionaswellasthecollectionoftheothersaccordingtothisstatementwerebasedontheirinnovation(Ijtehad).ThenwhyshouldoneIjtehadbepreferredtotheother?

3.WhywasnotZaid'sinspiredcollectionpublishedimmediatelyandplacedwithinthereachofthepeoplesoasnottoallowtimefortheotherversionsoftheQurantogainpopularitythroughtheMuslimEmpire,whichversionsOthmaanorderedtobedestroyedafterabouttwentyyearsoftheirwidepopularity?

4.WhatdothefollowingwordsspokenbyAboBakrtoZaidimply?

'YouareayoungandintelligentyouthwhomwedonotsuspectandyouusedtowritetherevelationsfortheHolyProphet.'WhatwerethequalificationsofZaidwhich

madethempreferhimtotheotherscribeswhohadthehonourofwritingtherevelationssinceitsearliestdaysandlongbeforeZaidgrewoutofhischildhood?Onthecontrary,theexperienceofaripeagewasactuallytheneed.Whatdoestheclause'wedonotsuspectyou'imply?DidtheysuspectAlibn-Abi-TaalibandhisinnumerableDivinecredentials,afewbeingthathewascertifiedbytheHolyProphetastheonewhowillalwaysbewiththeQuranandwithwhomwillalwaysbetheHolyBook;hewasthepersonidentifiedwiththeHolyProphetandtheHolyProphetidentifiedwithhim:AliisofmeandIamofAliandhewasidentifiedasthe'Nafs=the'self'oftheHolyProphetontheoccasionofthehistoric'Mubaahala';hewastheoneaboutwhomtheHolyProphethaddeclared'AnawaAliminNoorinWahid'(IandAliareofoneandthesamelight);hewastheonewhowasnexttotheHolyProphetasmeantbytheverseof'Tat-heer'andwasdeclaredbytheHolyProphettobealwayswiththetruthandtruthtobealwayswithhim;hewastheforemostofthe'Itrat=theAhlulBait'alongwithwhomthe'Kitaaballah=theHolyQuran'wasleftamongthe'Ummat=theMuslims'astheTwoInseparableEntitiesofthehighestvaluefortheguidanceofthe'MuslimUmmat',hewastheonewhoserelationswiththeHolyProphetweretermedbytheHolyProphetasthoseofAaronwithMoseswiththeexceptionof'Nubuwaat=Apostleship',WhowascertifiedbytheHolyProphetas'TheGateofthecityofKnowledgeandWisdom',besides.beingaWitnesstotheHolyProphet,hewastheBestJudgeandtheWitnesstoTruth.

Onemaysaythatinspiteofthesequalifications,theyhadtherighttosuspectAliandhisco-operationwiththemas,'Bukhari'and'Muslim'reportthroughMalikbn-Owsbn-HadsanthattherulingpartybelievedthatAlihadnogoodopinionofthem,andthatheatthattimewasnotongoodtermswiththem.Evenifthisisassumedtobetrue,therewereotherseniorscribessuchasAbdullahbn-Maso-od,Obaibn-Ka'b,Ma-aazbn-JabalandSaalimMaulaabiHozaifawhosecompetenceaccordingtoBukhariwascertifiedbytheHolyProphetwhohadorderedthepeopletolearntheQuranfromthem.ThisisnarratedbyAbdullahbn-Omar.OfcourseSaalimwaskilledintheBattleofYamama,buttheotherthreewerealiveandavailabletilltheofficialversionofOthmaanwasissuedbyhim,butnoreferencewasevermadetoanyofthem.Why,duringthereignofOthmaanwastheassistanceofcertainOmayyidyouthssuchasSaye-edbn-A'asandAbdur-Rahmaanbn-Harithbn-Hishamsought,ignoringpersonslikeAbdullahbn-Maso-odandObaibn-Ka'b?Wasitbecausetheyweresuspectedandifso,ofwhat?WasitthelackofknowledgeoftheQuran,wasitthelackoftruthfulnessandreliabilityorthelackofpoliticalloyaltytotherulingparty?

5.InviewofthecertificationbytheHolyProphet,thefirsttwopossibilitiesaretobeentirelydiscarded.NowremainsthethirdpossibilitywhichisahistoricfactthattheywerenotloyaltotherulingpartywhileZaidbn-Thaabitwas.BnAbdulBir(theauthorofIstee-aab)tellsusthatZaidremainedpro-Omayyidandheneverjoinedhandswiththeopposition.Forthisactofloyaltyonhispart,hewasrewardedwithwealthandcomfort,whilepersonslikeAbdullahbn-Maso-odandObaibn-Ka'bsufferedthedisfavourandparticularlytheformerwhosufferedpersecution.AndifthesewerethereasonsforignoringthesepeoplethentheattemptitselftocollecttheQuranbecomessubjecttosuspicion.

6.Moreover,thesetwotraditionsofBukharicontaincontradictorystatementsregardingthemissingverseoftheQuranwhichwasnotfoundwithanyoneexcepttheonewhosenameinonetraditionisgivenasAbiKhozaimat-e-AnsariandintheothertraditionasKhozaimat-bn-Thaabit-e-Ansari.Regardingthepassageitselfinthefirsttradition,itissaidthatitwasthelastverseofSura-e-Baraatandinthesecondtraditionitisgivenasverse33:33.

Oftheremainingtwentytraditionsgivenabove,theFirstandtheSecondtellusthatAboBakrwasthefirstpersonwhocollectedtheQuranandaccordingtotheSecondZaidbn-ThaabitwasaskedonlytoreviewAboBakr'scollection,contradictingtheprevioustraditionwhichsaysthatitwasZaidwhocollecteditbytheorderofAboBakr.

TheThirdonesaysthatOmarandZaidweregivenjointlythetaskofthecollection;andhereitisalsostatedthatsomecompanionsoftheHolyProphetwhohadalreadycollectedtheQuranwerekilledinthebattleofYamama.Historiansavoidedtheissueastowhathappenedtothesecollectionsandwhytheywerenotsecuredbytherulingparty,seriouslyinterestedinthecollectionoftheQuran.Itcontradictsfourprevioustraditions,asitassertsthatothershadalreadycollectedtheQuran.

TheFourthonecontradictsalltheothertraditionsthattheQuranhadnotbeencollectedbythetimeOmardied.

ThefifthgivesanentirelydifferentstorythatOmarwasthefirstpersonwhoorderedtheQurantobecollectedinabookform;andthereasonwasthatheaskedaboutsomepassagesoftheQuranandwastoldthatitwaswithapersonwhowaskilledinthebattleofYamama,whichimpliesthatthecollectionoftheQurantookplace

duringthereignofOmarlongafterthebattleofYamama.

ThesixthonegivesusquiteadifferentpicturesayingthatitwasOmarwhodecidedtocollecttheQuranbythesameprocessfrombones,leaves,bitsofwoodandpaperetc.,withthehelpofwitnesses;buttheworkwasnotyetcompletedwhenhediedandOthmaanpursuedthesamecourseandhewastheonewhosupportedthestatementofKhozaimatbn-ThaabitandnotOmar.

ButtheseventhtraditionsaysthatithappenedinthereignofOmarandthatheacceptedtheversesfromapersonwhohadbroughtthemwithoutaskingforanywitnesses.

TheeighthtraditiongivesthecreditoftakinginitiativeandthedecisiontocollecttheQurantoZaidbn-ThaabitduringthereignofAboBakr.AboBakrdidnotapproveofZaid'sproposalwhichwassupportedbyOmar,tillheconsultedacrowdofMuslimsandobtainedtheirapprovalandthenonlyheorderedthecollection.

TheninthtraditionmakesOthmaanandZaidbn-Thaabitthejoint'championsoftheventureofthecollectionoftheQuran.Omaracceptedthiscollectionandofferedhimselfasawitnesstoitwithoutanyevidence,whenitwasbroughttohisnoticebyKhozaimatbn-Thaabit.

ThetenthtraditionassertthatOmarinitiatedthecollectionandemployedSaye-edbn-A'asasthepersontodictateandZaidbn-Thaabitasthecalligrapherandthattheyproducedfourcopieswhichweredespatchedtothebigcitiesmentionedinthetradition.ThiscontradictsthefirsttwotraditionsofBukhariwhichdatetheinitiativeinthereignofAboBakrandthedespatchofthepreparedcopiestothebigcitiesduringthereignofOthmaanandalsocontradictsthetraditionswhichgivethecreditoftheinitiativetoOmarandofthecompletiontoOthmaan.

TheeleventhtraditionconfersonOmarthehonourofthecollectingofthestandardQuran.

Thetwelfthtraditiongivesthecreditoftheinitiation,ofthecollectionanditscompletionandthepreparationofthecopiestoOthmaanandintroducesAnasbn-MalikasoneofthepersonswhodictatedtheQuranwhileitwasbeingcopied.Further,itassertsthatOthmaaninformedthepeopleofthebigcitiesaboutwhathehaddonewiththeQuranandorderedthemtofollowhisfootsteps,withoutsendinganycopytothem,whichclearlyindicatesthatOthmaanwassureofthepeoplealreadyhavingthecopiesoftheQuranwiththem.Itshowsthatofthevariousrecitations,themostcurrentwasthatofAbdullahbn-Mas'oodandObaibn-Ka'b.And

thethirteenthtraditionassertsthatSaye-edbn-A'aswasthepersonwhodictatedandZaidbn-Thaabitwasthecalligrapherwhoproducedthecopieswhichweredistributedtothepeople.

ThefourteenthtraditionassertsthatthetaskofthedictationandofwritingoftheQuranwasgivenbyOthmaantopersonsofthe'Hozails'and'Saqeefs'andnottoSaye-edbn-A'asandZaidbn-Thaabit,thefirstofwhomwasanOmaviandthesecondoneanAnsari;whilethesixteenthtraditionsaysthatifthepersondictatingandthecalligrapherhadbeenofthe'Hozails'andthe'Saqeefs'mistakesfoundbyOthmaaninthepreparedcopieswouldnothaveoccurredwhichclearlyindicatesthatthe'Hozails'andthe'Saqeefs'wereneveremployedtocopytheQuran.

ThefifteenthandthesixteenthtraditionsstatethatthepreparedcopieswerenotfreefrommistakesandtheywerelefttothedialectoftheArabsandnocorrectionsweremade.Inthesixteenthandtheeighteenthtraditions,Obaibn-Ka'bismentionedasthepersonwhodictatedandZaidbn-Thaabitasthecalligrapher.ThiscontradictsthestatementofthethirteenthtraditionwhichpresentsSaye-edbn-A'asasthepersonwhodictatedandalsocontradictsallthetraditionswhichpresentZaidbn-Thaabitasthepersonsolelyresponsibleforthecollection.

ThenineteenthandthetwentiethtraditionscontradicteachotheraboutthemissingpassagewhichwasfoundwithKhozaimatbn-Thaabit.Whileonesaysitwastheverse33:23,theothersaysthatitwastheverseofSura-e-Baraat.Allthesecontradictorystatements,iftheyarenottheinnovationsofthelaterperiod,showthatinordertocounteractthestatementoftheHolyProphet'IamleavingamongyoutwopreciousentitiestheBookandAhlulBait.'whichsignifiestheexcellencesofAliandthesucceeding'Imams'astheunquestionableauthorityontheQuranandthecreditgivenbytheHolyProphettoAbdullahbn-Maso-od,Obaibn-Ka'b,Ma-azbn-JabalandSa-alimMaullaHuzifaastheteachersoftheQurananattemptwasmadebytherulingpartytoproduceacollectionoftheQuranoftheirownanddispensewiththeseauthoritiestotally,sothattheymaythemselvestakethecredit.Buttheydifferedevenamongthemselvesastowhoshouldgetthemostcredit.Partieswithinparties,inoppositiontoeachotherhadobviouslybeenformed.Eachpartywastryingitsbesttoclaimthecreditforitselfanditshero.

Theonlythingwhichcanbesaidis,thatwhoeverbetheherointhisventure,hewasneithercompetentnorauthorisedforthetask.Thusthoughtheyhadcollectedsomethingofthescatteredfragmentsfromhereandthere,yettheydarednotpublishitformorethanaboutsixteenyearsduringwhichperiodtheQurancollectedatthetimeoftheHolyProphet'slifehadgainedtremendouspublicityinaperfectbook-formthroughoutthelengthandbreadthofthevastMuslimEmpire,andwastaught,learnt,

memorisedandpractisedinthedailylifeofthepeople;andjusticewasmetedoutaccordingtoit.AsOthmaanandtherulingpartyofhistimefelttheirfailureintheirattempttogaincreditthroughtheirinstitutedventure,theyprocuredacopyofthecurrentversionandgavetheofficialassenttoitandcalledittheofficialversion.

TheabsenceofthesupposedcollectionofAboBakrwhichwaslaidtorestwithOmarandafterhimwithhisdaughterHafsa,theso-calledcollectionofOmarandOthmaan,andthetotalabsenceofanyothercollectionbyanyoneelseandtheabsenceofanyobjectionbytheoppositiontotheofficialversionisthebestirrefutabletestimonytothefactsthataversionhadcontinuedtobethesamesincethedepartureoftheHolyProphetaboutwhichtheHolyProphethaddeclared,'IleaveamongstyoutheBookofGodandmyAhlulBait.'[12]

Whateverwascollectedotherwisewasnothingbutafabricationofwishfulthinkingwhichhasnovalueatallbutontheotherhandindicatesthatamongthecompanions,therewerepeoplewhoattemptedtodiscredittheofficialversionbyspreadingrumourstosustainadisruptiveandmischievouspropaganda.Insupportofthelastmentionedfact,someofthestatementsattributedtosomeprominentmembersoftherulingpartyabouttheomissionsinthepresentversionmaybereferredto.Firstly,themajorityoftheSunnischoolofthoughtagreesthattherearecertainpassages,thewordingofwhichisabrogatedbuttheircontentsortheinstructionscontainedthereinremainedvalid.TheexamplegivenofsuchabrogationisthepassagedealingwiththeStoningoftheadulteress-thewordingofwhichisgiveninthreedifferentformsasBukhariandMuslimnarrateontheauthorityofbn-AbbaasandOmar.

'MuslimfurthernarratesthatAyeshasaid,thatoftherevealedpassagesofthe'Quranthereweretwodealingwiththequestionastohowmanytimesafostermotherhastosucklethechildtobeconsideredasthemothercomingwithintheprohibiteddegree.AyeshasaysthatinthefirstpassagetenwasgivenasthenumberbutthatitwasabrogatedbyanotherpassagewhichreducedthenumbertofiveandthatthesetwopassageswerereadasapartoftheQurantillthedemiseoftheProphet.Thisisgivenasaninstanceoftheabrogationofthepassagesinbothrespectsi.e.,thewordingaswellastheinstructionimpliedinit;butacarefulexaminationofthesetwoinstancesprovesthattheabrogationisaeuphemistictermforadeliberateomission,becausenonebuttheHolyProphethadtherightofabrogatinganythingfromtheQuran,eitheranywordingoranysignificanceofthecontents.

ItisobviousfromthetwostatementsthattheabrogationwasnotdonebytheHolyProphet,asthefirststatementsaysthatOmarwhilecollectingtheQuranbroughtthepassagedealingwiththestoningoftheAdulteresswhichwasnotaccepted,notforthereasonofitshavingbeenabrogatedbutforwantoftherequiredwitnessestosupportthestatementofOmar.InthesecondinstanceAyeshaexpresslysaysthatthepassagesdealingwiththefostermotherwerethepartoftheQurantillthedemiseoftheHolyProphet.

Therefore.Ifthesestatementsaretrue,itmeansnothingbuttheintentionalomissionofcertainpassagesoftheQuranbysomeunauthorisedpeople.Suyutiinhisbook'Itqaan',incontinuationofthenarrationofBukhariandMuslimregardingthismatterrelatesfromOmaranotherpassagewhichissaidtobemissingintheofficialversionoftheQuran.ButaproperexaminationofthesaidmissingpassageswhichOmarandAyeshapresented,whencomparedwiththestyleoftheQuranprovesbeyonddoubtthattherecouldneverhavebeenapartoftheQuranandthatthesearenothingbutimaginarystatements.Someofthecompanionsusedtoaccuseeachotherofsuchmistakesonaccountoftheirfanciesintheirnarrations;forinstanceaboutthequestionofmourningforabereavedperson.AyeshaaccusedOmarofmisunderstandingthestatementoftheHolyProphet.ItisnotpossiblethatapartoftheQuranwasnotknowntothecompanionsoftheHolyProphetexceptAyeshaandOmar,bothofwhomwereaccusedofforgetfulnessandlackofknowledgeinrespectoftheQuran.'Itqaan'ontheauthorityofTibraninarratesthatOmarsaidthattheQurancontainedtenlakhtwenty-seventhousandletterswhereastheQuranavailableinhistimewouldnotreachevenone-thirdofthisaccount.Itmeans,thattheQuranleftbytheProphetwassowellarrangedthateventhenumberofitsletterswereknowntoapersonlikeOmar.Howcouldthisstatementbereconciled(withhisclaimthatduringhisreigntwo-thirdwasmissing?Howcouldaperson,whohadnoproperknowledgeoftheavailableone-thirdportionoftheQuran,knowthatthetwo-thirdwaslost.

ThisdoubtisfurthersupportedbythefactthatOmarwasnotevenproperlyacquaintedwiththeavailableone-thirdportionoftheQuran,whichhadbeenmemorisedbyotherMuslims.

Moreover,whenhewasthepersonwhoseevidenceevenforoneversewhichhesowellrememberedwasnotacceptedbyhisownpartywhileKhozaima'sstatementwasacceptedwithoutanytestimony,howcanhissolitarystatementaboutthemissingofthetwo-thirdoftheQuranbeacceptedespeciallywhenhecouldneitherremembernorevenmentionasingleverse.HewasthepersonwhomObaibn-Ka'bdiscreditedinconnectionwiththeQuranasonewhowasbusyinhistransactionsinthemarketwhileObaiandotherswerebusystudyingtheQuranundertheHolyProphet'sguidance(Bukhari).AstheearlyhistoryofIslamindicates,theAnsarsconsidered

themselvestohaveequalstatuswiththeMohajreen(immigrants).Thistendencyisobvious,fromtheverystatementofAnsarsinSaqeefawhentheQuraishinsistedthattheheadofthestateshouldbesomeonefromtheQuraish.,Ansarhadnegatedwith:

Wewillhavetwoheads:onefromusandonefromyouinsupportoftheQuraish'sclaimtobesuperiortoAnsarsintheeyesofArabs,theyhadofferedthatwhiletheheadofthestateshallbefromQuraishtheAnsarsshallactasassistantstotheheadNahanulUmaraaWaAntamul-Wozaraa.

Thetendenciesofboththepartiesareclear.AnsarsconsideredthemselvesasequalsoftheMohajirsandtheMohajirsusedtoconsiderthemselvessuperiortoAnsars.However,MohajirswonthecasebyforceinSaqeefaandgotthereinsintheirhandsbutAnsarswerenotsatisfiedandeverynowandthenthematterwasdisputedbyeitherparty.OnoneoccasiontoprovethesuperiorityofMohajirstoAnsars,Omarquotedverse9:100oftheQuranwherethefirstandtheforemostMohajirandAnsararementioned.Thepassagerunsasfollows:9:100And(asor)theforemost,thefirstoftheMuhajirsANDTHEANSARS,ANDTHOSEWHOFOLLOWEDTHEMingoodness,AllahiswellpleasedwiththemandtheyarewellpleasedwithHim49:100

And(asor)theforemost,thefirstoftheMuhajirsANDTHEANSARSWHOFOLLOWEDTHEMingoodness,AllahiswellpleasedwiththemandtheyarewellpleasedwithHim,

'Omarinhisrecitationofthispassageomitted'WAW=AND'theconjunctiveparticlebetweenthewords'Ansar'andtherelativepronounthosemeaningtheAnsars(helpers)whofollowtheimmigrants(Mohajirs).Obaibn-Ka'abobjectedtoOmar'srecitationandsaidthecorrectrecitationwasthattheconjunctionANDbetweenthewordsAnsarand'Allazeena'shouldbeinsertedwhichwouldmeanthefirstandtheforemostofMohajireenandAnsarsandthosewhofollowedMohajireenandAnsars.ThisversiongivesAnsarandMohajireenequalstatusandmakesthosewhofollowedMohajireenandAnsarsassubordinates.OmarfirstinsistedthathisrecitationwascorrectbutwiththeevidenceoftheotherstudentsoftheQuran,hehadtosubmittoObai'srecitation.

'Itqaan'tellsusthatAbdullahbn-OmarhadsaidthatoneshouldnotsaythathehasreceivedthewholeQuran,ashedoesnotknowaboutthewholeandthatoneshouldonlysaythathehasreceivedoftheQuranonlythatmuchashascomeintoevidence.AgainItqaansaysthatAyeshaclaimedthatCh.33'AhzabreadduringthetimeoftheHolyProphetcontained200verseswhilethatinOthmaancollectioncontainedmuchless.TothesameeffectMuntakhabeKhanzulUmmalnarratesfromObaibn-Ka'bthat

thelattersaidthatCh.33'Ahzabwhichnowcontainsseventythreeverses,wasoriginallyequalinsizetotheSura-e-Baqaraorevenlonger.Ayesha'sevidenceforthemissingof127versesofCh.33'

Ahzabwithoutquotingevenasingleverseofit,shouldbediscreditedasshedidnotremembereventhefirstwordsoftheverse33ofthesameSurahwhichconcernsherselfandtheotherwivesoftheHolyProphet.ThestatementattributedtoObaibn-Ka'bisalsotobedismissedbecausetheomissionofsuchalargeportionofoneparticularSurahwithoutitsbeingrememberedbyhimwhowasanacknowledgedauthorityontheQuranorbyanyoneelse,isunbelievableandsuchanutterlydiscreditableclaimcouldneverhavecomefromapersonalitylikeObaibn-Ka'b.AnothertraditionofItqaanassertsthatAyeshahadacollectionofherown,andthatshenarratedfromherfatherthatinverse33:56after'Tasleema'therewasaconjunctiveclause:33:56SurelyAllahandHisangelsblesstheProphet4Oyouwhobelieve!Callfor(Divine)blessingsonhimandsalutehimwitha(becoming)salutation'WALLAZINAYASILOONASOFOOFULAWWAL'*andthatwasbeforeOthmaanmadechangesinthecollection.

FirstofalltheinternalevidenceagainstthisstatementisthestyleoftheallegedmissingclauseswhichisagainsttheunanimousverdictoftheMuslimsasawholebecauseeitherMuslimsintheir'Salawat'ontheHolyProphetstopwiththeHolyProphetorjoinhisfamilyorgofurtherandaddthecompanionsingeneral,orthewivesandtheissuesoftheHolyProphetfurthermore.Butthereisnotraceofanyevidenceinsupportofthisaddition.SecondlynoneelsehasnarratedthatAyesha's'Mus-haf'(herowncollection)waseverdestroyedbyanyone.Therefore,thequestionarisesastowhathappenedtothat'Mus-haf'?AnothertraditionofMuslimsaysthatAbuMusa-e-Ash'aricalledtherecitersoftheQuraninBasraandpeoplewhohadstudiedtheQurancametohimandheaddressedthemsaying:'YouarethechosenonesofthepeopleofBasraandtherecitersoftheQuran-YoucontinuerecitingQuranregularlyanddonotstopitforanyperiodoftimelestyourheartsgethardenedinthemanneroftheheartsofthepreviouspeople.'HefurthersaidthatusedtoreadaSurahintheQuranwhichresembledinlengthandrigiditySura-e-Baratbuthehadforgottenitexceptoneverseofit.AndthattherewasanotherSurahwhichresembledthe'Musabbihat'butthatalsohehadforgottenexceptoneverseofit.

ThestyleofboththenarrativesisentirelyinferiortothatoftheQuran,andthewordingofthefirstpassageitselfmakesitquiteobviousthatitbelongstothe

categoryofthe'AHadeeth-e-Qudsi',thedefinitionofwhichhasalreadybeengivenintheverybeginningofthistopic.Asregardsthesecondpassage,itmightbetakenasaparentheticalsentenceintheformofcommentaryaddedtothetextoftheverse61:2beforethethirdverseofthesamechapter:61:2

Oyouwhobelieve!whydoyousaythatwhichyoudonotdo?61:3

ItismosthatefultoAllahthatyoushouldsaythatwhichyoudonotdowhichAbuMusahavingheard,itmighthavetakenittobedifferentSurah,becauseheisknowntobecredulousandweakinmemoryandlackingintheliterarytaste,andashehimselfconfessedtohaveforgottenboththeSurahsandnoneelsehadanyknowledgeofthematter.Thisstatementstandsdiscredited.Besides,thestatementifitbetrue,mighthavebeenmadeafterthebeginningoftensionbetweenOthmaanandhimwhichledtohisremovalfromthegovernorship.ThusitisobviousthathewantedtoblackmailOthmaanaccusinghimoftheomission.Suyuti,inhisItqaan,tellsusthatonceOmartoldAbdur-Rahmaanbn-Auf:

'Don'tyoufindthispassageamongwhatwasrevealedtous.'

InJahadokamajahadtumawwalamarratin

'SurelywedonotfinditnowtowhichAbdur-RahmaanrepliedthatitwasoneofthepassagesoftheQuranwhichwasomitted!'

ButAbdur-Rahmaanbn-Auf,thoughoneoftheimportantpoliticalworkersoftherulingparty,wasnotanauthorityontheQuran.BnAbbas,thoughmuchyounger,usedtoteachtheQurantohimandsomeotherpersonsamongtheMuhajirseventothelastdaysofOmar'sreign.Secondlythisisaconditionalclause,apartofthelargerone.TheconsequentsentenceisnotmentionedandneitherOmarnorAbdur-Rahmaanbn-AufmentionsthatitwasthepartofacertainverseandSurah;thirdlynonecouldpreventOmarfromreinsertingthisandtheotheromittedpassagesintotheirrespectiveappropriateplacesintheQuran,ashewasapowerfulleaderoftherulingparty.HisnothavinginsertedtheseshowsthatthoseandmayotherpassageswhichwerefanciedbypersonslikeOmar,andAbdurRahmanaspartsoftheQuranwererejectedbytheMuslimsforlackofinternalandexternalevidenceinsupportofthosestatements.SimilartotheabovestatementsisthatofMuslimbn-MukhalladAnsari,aprominentcompanionoftheHolyProphetvizthatonceheaskedthepeople,amongwhomtherewasalsoSa-adbn-MalikAnsari,'WillyoutellmeaboutthetwopassagesoftheQuranwhichwerenotwritteninthecollection?'

Towhichnonerepliedexcepthisson(mostprobablyMohammedbn-Muslim)who

recitedthepassage.(videItqaanbySuyuti).Firstofall,aproperexaminationofthispassagewillprovebeyonddoubtthatthereciterhadmixedupcertainpassagesofdifferentSurahsoftheQuranwitheachotherwhileinsertinginithisownfanciesandprosewhichdifferfromtheinimitableandmiraculousstyleoftheQuranandexposeshim.Secondly,onecaninferfromtheaboveanecdotethattheknowledgeoftheQuranatthattimewasagreatqualificationofmeritandhonourandthereforethosewholackedit,triedtoposethemselvesasitsstudentsbutthemiraculousstyleoftheQuranontheonesideandtheirlackofknowledgeontheotherexposedthem,asisthecasewiththoseamonguswhoareincompetentandunqualifiedandyetposethemselvesasgreatscholars.ItmaybeaddedtothiscategoryoftraditionswhatissaidabouttwoSurahsfoundinthecollectionofbn-AbbaasandObaibn-Ka'btheproperexaminationofwhichbearstestimonytothefactthattheirstyleisquitedifferentfromthatoftheQuranandtheymaybeclassedunderthecategoryofthesupplicationsandprayerswordedbytheHolyProphetorsomemembersofhisHolyfamily.Intheopinionofsome,thesetwoareinferiorinlanguageandstyletothesupplicationsoftheImamsoftheHolyHouseoftheHolyProphetwhoseauthenticcollectionsareavailable.

Thereareafewmoretraditionsofthiskindwhichweneednotworryourselveswith.Whatisgivenhereisonlyahandfulfromaheap.ItisenoughtohaveinviewthattheQuranhastoitscreditinternalevidenceofitsinimitablestylewhichispeculiartoitselfandtheinnumerablenumberofitsexternalwitnesses.Alltheversesandthesuras,eversincetheirrevelationhavebeenplacedwithinthereachofagroupofpeoplewhohadvehementzealforhearing,writing,learning,understanding,memorisingandactingaccordingtothese.NotasinglewordorsentenceorapassagecanbeacceptedfromthehistoricalpointofviewasapartoftheQuranifitlacksthesupportofinternalevidenceofstyleandtheevidenceofitsreaders.

Therefore,forastudentoftheQuran,itiseasytodiscreditthekindoftraditionsmentionedabovewhateverbethequalificationsofthecompanionsoftheHolyProphetwhoaresaidtohaverecitedthese.ButfromthesesortofreportsweinferthateitherforblackmailingeachotherorfordiscreditingtheacceptedversionoftheQuran,whichstoodbetweenthemandtheirpoliticalaspirationsandaims,someofthemembersoftherulingpartywereinclinedtospreadsuchdisruptiverumours.

Ontheotherhand,thoseoftheAhlulBaitandthepeopleattachedtothemandothercompanionswhowerenotattachedverymuchtotherulingparty,duringthisperiod,neverattackedorcriticisedtheacceptedversionorevenraisedavoiceofdissentagainstit.InpursuanceofthecommandoftheHolyProphet,theyinsistedontheiropinionaboutthegenuinenessoftheacceptedversionasthecriterionfixedbytheHolyProphetfortheverificationofthegenuineandthefalsetraditionsboththepre-

Quranicaswellasthepost-Quranic.TheHolyAhlulBaithaverecordedthatoncehe(theHolyProphet)stoodupanddeclared:

"Certainlytheliarsaboutmehaveincreasedabundantly."

Beware!ForeverytruththereisaproofandforeveryRightthereistheLight-ThuswhatsoeveragreeswiththeBookofGodholditfastandwhatsoeverisopposedtheBookofGod,leaveitaway.'

AmmarbnYaaser,themostuprightSahaabiandoneofthezealousadherentsofthecauseofAhlulBait,once,duringtheBattleofSiffin,inthepresenceoftherepresentativesofboththeparties,pointedouttothebannerunderwhichMuawiyhawasstandingandalsotothebannerofAliunderwhichhehimselfwas,andsaid,'Beholdunderthisbannerofours,wefoughtagainstthebannerofMuawiyahainthelifetimeoftheHolyProphetonthequestionoftherevelationoftheQuranandnowwearefightingagainstthesamebanneronthequestionoftheinterpretationoftheQuran.

ThisclarifiesthestandofAhlul-Baia-tandtheirfollowersregardingtheQuran.ThedisputewasconfinedonlytotheinterpretationoftheQuranandtherewasnoquestionofanydistortionofitswordings.TheHolyAhlulBaitheldupthisprinciplefromHazratAli,thefirstImamtotheTwelfth,andtheiradherentsalso,maintaineditwithoutanyamendment(Ref.KaafiandallthesubsequentauthoritiesonTraditions).NotraditiondealingeitherwiththetheoryorthepracticeofIslamwas,isandwilleverbeacceptabletotheImamsoftheHolyHouseoftheHolyProphetorthemembersoftheirschoolsofthought,ifitdoesnotagreewiththeBookofGod,AsAllamaMajlisihasputit:"oftheinnumerablemiraclesoftheHolyProphet,theFirstandtheForemostistheHolyQuranwhichisthemostgenuineandauthenticone(narratedandrecordedeversinceitsrevelationbyinnumerablepersons,generationaftergeneration,downtous)andwilllastassuchtillthedayofResurrection.'(Haqul-Yaqeen).

Beforeconcludingthischapter,itisdesirabletorefertosometraditionsoftheSunnischoolaboutthenatureofAli'scollectionoftheQuranmthedateofthecollection,itsauthenticityandAli'sknowledgeoftheinnerandouteraspectsoftheQuranasawholeandinpart.Suyutiinhis'TarikhulKhulafa'tellsus:AliisoneoftheGodlyscholars,thecelebratedWarriorthefamousasceticandthewell-knownOratorandoneofthosewhocollectedtheQuranandpresentedtotheHolyProphetforhisreview.InItqaan,SuyutiontheauthorityofAbuNa-yeem,relatesthestatementofAlihimself:"NoverseoftheQuranwasrevealedofwhichIknownot.'

AndthesameAbuNa-yeemnarratesfromAbdullahbn-Maso-odthattheQuranwasrevealedonsevenfoldsorsevensides(Ahrof)oraspects,eachofwhichhasaninnerandanoutersignificanceandAlibn-AbiTafebhasgotwithhimalltheinnerandouteraspectswiththesignificanceofeachaspect.TheauthorofWaseelatun-Najaat,MullahMohammedMubeenLuckhnavi(Farangimahalli)ontheauthorityofbn-SeereenassertsthatAliarrangedtheQuranaccordingtothedatesoftherevelation,withnothingantedated.AgainSuyutiinhisItqaansaysthatamongthosewhoarrangedtheQuranaccordingtothedatesofrevelation,Aliwasone.

AndAbuShukoor,theauthorofTamheed,saysthatthecompanionsoftheHolyProphetwerenotunanimousinacceptingAli'scollection.ItqaanofSuyutisaysthatAli'scollectionbeganwithSura'Iqra'followedby'Al-Muddathir,Al-Muzzamil,Tabbat,'Takweeretc.Abdullahbn-Maso-od'scollectionbeganwith'Baqara'followedby'Nisa'and'Aale-Imraan'andwithatotofdifferencetherein,andsamewasthecasewiththecollectionofObaibn-Ka'b.

Whetherweaccepttheauthenticityofthenarrationsandotherssimitarone,itwillassertnothingmorethanwhathasalreadybeensaidexpresslythatAliwastheforemostone,nextonlytotheHolyProphetinpossessingthoroughknowledgeoftheinnerandoutersignificanceofeveryword,sentence,passage,partofchapteroftheQuraninitsrevealedandpre-revealedformtowhichtheQuranitselfbearstestimony,ifitisproperlyandimpartiallyreadwithoutanyprejudice-verses56:77-79formingthemajorpremises,andverse33:33astheminorpremisesand3:61astheconclusiondefiningthepersonneloftheAhlulBait-addingtoittheunanimousverdictoftheMuslimWorldastothenamesofthepersonstowhomtheaboveverseswereapplicable.56:77

MostsurelyitisanhonoredQuran56:78

Inabookthatisprotected56:79

Noneshalltouchitsavethepurifiedones33:33

Allahonlydesirestokeepawaytheuncleannessfromyou,

OpeopleoftheHouse!

Andtopurifyyoua(thorough)purifying3:61

Butwhoeverdisputeswithyouinthismatterafterwhathascometoyouofknowledge,thensay:Comeletuscalloursonsandyoursonsandourwomenandyourwomenandournearpeopleandyournearpeople,thenletusbeearnestinprayer,andprayforthecurseofAllahontheliarsTheseversessupportedbymanyotherversesoftheQurandeclareofthedescendantsof'AaleIbrahim'asthosewhowereDivinelymadetoinherit'Kitaab=Book','Hikmat=Wisdom'and'Mulke-Azeem=theGreatKingdom'and'theImaamat=Divineleadership'-andwhoaretheforemostincompleteobedienceandservicetotheAbsolute,andpurifiedfromallungodlyinclinations.TheforemostoftheIsmaelitebranchistheHolyProphethimselfandnexttohimarethemembersofhisholyFamily(theAhlulBait)headedbyAliastheImamandsucceededbytheelevenHolyImams.

TheinclusionoftheHolyLadyFatimaintheAhlulBaitonaccountofherpersonalpurityisalsobythevirtueofherelevatedpositionofbeingtheDaughteroftheHolyProphet,theWifeoftheFirstHolyImamandtheMotheroftheElevenImams-thusestablishingthelinkbetween'Risalat=Prophethoodand'Imamat=DivineGuidance',astatuswhichcanneverbesecuredbymerelybeingawifeofaprophetandplayingnopartintheestablishmentoftheDivinelychosenlineofAbraham'sdescendants.BesidesthisclearevidenceoftheQurantherearethemostauthenticdeclarationsoftheHolyProphetaboutAliwhichhasbeenmentionedatvariousplacesinthistreatise.RegardingAli'sspecialcollectionandthecollectionsbyothersithasalreadybeensaidthattheirparticulararrangementsmustbeforthepurposesofcommentaryorforpersonalinformationandguidanceoftherespectivecollectorsthemselves,orforotheracademicpurposes.

ThereisabundantevidencethatAli'scollectionandthecollectionoftheotherauthorisedcompanionsoftheHolyProphetviz.Abdullahbn-Maso-odandObaibn-Ka'bcontainedsomeexplanatorynoteswhichmustdefinitelybebesidesthetextandtheyneverattemptedtogiveanypublicityatalltotheirnotesagainsttheacceptedversionoftheQuran,whichinitsrecitativeandrhythmicalaccordismeantforallmenofalltimesandasachallengebeinganeverlastingmiracleoftheHolyProphet.ThepointtobenotedhereisthatthestatementofSuyutitotheeffectthatAlicollectedtheQuranandpresentedittotheHolyProphetforareviewcontradictsallthestatementswhichassertthatAlicollectedtheQuranafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphet.

Furthermore,wewouldliketopointoutthatthecollectionoftheQuraninthelifetimeoftheHolyProphetwasmadenotonlybyAliwhoseauthenticityisindubitableandunquestionablebutalsobytheotherauthorisedcompanionsoftheHolyProphet;and

thereweremanyotherswhohadcollectedtheQuranduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphet,amongwhombesidesmentherewerealsowomen.ItisinterestingtonotethatinsometraditionsZaidbn-Thaabit,theherooftheofficialventureoftherulingpartinthecollectionoftheQuraniscountedamongthosewhohadcollectedtheQuranduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphet.ThisdiscreditsallthestoriesofhiscollectingthefragmentsoftheQuranfrompiecesofpaper,bitsofwood,bones,leavesandskinetc.bytheorderoftheFirst,SecondortheThirdCaliphjointlyorindependent.

Tabaraniandbn-AsakirnarratefromSho-abithathesaidthatQuranwascollectedduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphetbythefollowingsixpersonsfromtheAnsars:

1.Obaibn-Ka'b

2.Zaidbn-Thaabit

3.AbuDarda

4.MaazibnJabal

5.Sa'adbn-Obaid

6.AbuZaid

TherewasaseventhoneMujjamabn-JariahwhoalsocollectedtheQuranbutwiththeexceptionoftwoorthreeSurah.

BukharitellsusthatAnasbn-Maaliksaidthatfourpersons,allfromtheAnsars,collectedtheQuranduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphetviz.

1Obaibn-Ka'b

2.Zaidbn-Thaabit

3.Ma'azbn-Jabal

4.AbuZaid

NasaeeassertsthatAbdullahbn-Omarsaid:IcollectedtheQuranandusedtocompleteitsrecitation(asawhole)everynight,thenewsofwhichreachedtheHolyProphetandhecalledandtoldmenottocompletehastilytherecitationofthewhole

Quraninonenight(i.e.,nottoreciteitmechanically),buttoreciteit(intelligently)astoponderoveritscontentstounderstandthesebycompletingtherecitationinonemonth.'IbneSa'adassertsin'Tabaqat'ontheauthorityofFadhlbn-DakeenfromWaleedbn-Abullahbn-JameelwhoreportsfromhisgrandmothernamedUmme-WaraqathattheHolyProphetusedtovisitherandcallher'Shaheeda'meaningWitnessandshewasoneofthosewhohadcollectedtheQuran.Thereisanarrationfrombn-AbbaasrelatedbyAhmedbn-Hambl,bn-AbiShabia,Tirmizi,Nasaee,bnHabban,Haakim,Baihaqi,andZia-e-Maqdasithatbn-AbbaasaskedOthmaanaboutthereasonwhy'Bismillaha'wasnotwritteninthebeginningofSurah-e-BaratandwhytheyhadjoinedthisSurahwiththeotherandputthetwoSurahsinthesevenbigSurahs,Othmaanrepliedasfollows,

'SometimeswhentheSurahwererevealed,theHolyProphetusedtocallthescribesandtellthemtoplacetheparticularversesincertainplacesoftheSurahs;thentheversesubsequentlyrevealedwasplacedaspointedoutbytheHolyProphet.Sura-e-AnfaalwasrevealedinMedinaearlyafterthe'Hijrat'andtheSura-e-BaraatwasthelastoftheMadiniteSurahsbutthecontentswerealmostsimilartoeachotherandtheHolyProphetdidnotsaywhethertheSurahwasseparateoneoritwasthecontinuationofthepreviousSurah.Therefore,Ijoinedthesetwotogetherwithoutusing'Bismillah'andputitinthelengthySurahs.'

ThisstatementofOthmaan,iftrue,isanattempttogainsomecreditforhimselfforthearrangementofsomeportionoftheQuranviz.,'Bara-at-and-Anfaal'butitassertsthefactthattheQuranwasputinwritingunderthesupervisionandtheinstructionsoftheHolyProphetandthatthearrangementoftheAayats(verses)intheSurahsandthearrangementoftheSurahs,oneafteranotherweredoneaccordingtotheinstructionsoftheHolyProphet,(exceptAnfaalandBaraat).Butthereareauthentictraditionsbyboththeschools(theSunniaswellastheShia)thattherevelationoftheSura-Baraathadbeguninthe9thyearofHijratwiththefirsttwentyverseswhichAliwasinstructedtoreciteatMeccaduringtheHajseason,andthatBismillahwasnotrevealedinthebeginningofit.ThusthereisnoquestionofOthman'sjoiningthesetwoSurahsorarrangingthemtogetherasone.

TheSura-e-BaraatwasrevealedwithoutBismillahandonaccountofthesimilarityofthecontentswasputafterAnfaalundertheinstructionsoftheHolyProphetnotasapartofAnfaalbutasaseparateSurah.Probably,OthmaanhadnoknowledgeofthisandhebelievedwhatwascurrentamongtheMuslims.ItisnotpossibletoimaginetheactualpositionoftheSura-e-Baraat,theearlierportionofwhichwasrevealedinthebeginningofZiqadahofthe9thHijri.ItspositioninorderofarrangementamongtheotherSurahswasnotclarifiedbytheHolyProphetformorethanayear,untilhisdeparturefromthisworld,duringwhichperiod,hehimselfusedtodirectthescribes

aboutthearrangementoftheSurahsandevenaboutthearrangementoftheversesinthem.Moreover,duringhislastyears,theQuranwasrevisedandreviewedbyJabraieltwice.HowwasitpossiblethattheportionofAnfaalandBaratasoneortwoSurahsandthequestionofBismillahwerenotmadeclearbythemessageofGod?

InanycasethisstatementdiscreditstheclaimofcollectingthefragmentsoftheQuranfrompeopleandcopyingthemwiththesupportofwitnesses,ontheotherhanditsupportsallthestatementsandtheevidenceswhichshowthattheQuranwascollectedduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphet.AccordingtotheunanimousstatementsoftheAhlulBaitBismillahisapartoftheQuranrevealedtotheHolyProphetinthebeginningofeverySurahexcepttheSura-e-Bara'atwhichwasrevealedwithoutBismillah.ThereforethelastportionofthestatementascribedtoOthmaancannotbehis.ItmaybeafabricationoflaterperiodbythoseschoolsofthoughtwhodidnotconsiderBismillahasapartoftheQuranexcepttheBismillahusedinthemiddleoftheSura-e-Naml.

Conclusion

However,athoroughandcriticalstudyofthenarrationsregardingthecollectionoftheQuranalongwiththeexternalandinternalevidencesgivenabove,provesbeyonddoubtthattocredittheFirst,theSecond,theThirdCaliphsortheirdeputieswiththecollectionoftheQuranisnothingbutwishfulthinking-theoutcomeoftheunwarrantedattemptsbythemtoproduceacollectionoftheirownandgainunearnedhonour.Theseattemptsmiserablyfailed,thebundleofthecollectionhavinggoneintooblivionwithoutanyonetosayastowhathappenedtoit.OnlyonethingaboutitisreportedbyhistorythatthebundlewaslefttolieunderthebedofHafsaandapartofitwasconsumedbyagoat.

TheonlythingtothecreditofOthmaanisthatheorderedcopiesoftheQurantobemadeinaccordancewiththerecitationwhichwasinvoguesincethelifetimeoftheHolyProphet,tryingtodropalltheotherrecitationsadoptedbysomerecitersoftheirownchoice,butthoserecitationsalsocouldnotbeactuallystoppedfortheyalsohavecomedowntousinthetermsofthesevenorthetenrecitationsoftheHolyBook.Eventhisoneactofcredit,beingassociatedwiththeactofburningsomecopiesoftheHolyQurancontainingtheotherrecitations,wasnotapprovedbythebulkoftheMuslimsandhencehewastermedasHarrakulMasaahif=theburnerofthecollectionsoftheScriptures.

ThisfutileattemptoftherulingpartyandtheirresponsibleutterancesofitsmembersgaveroomtotheprejudicialcriticismsagainsttheHolyProphetandtheHolyQuranbywhichevensomeoftheCredulousShiatraditionalistshavebeendeluded.Therefore,toremoveonceforallthedoubtsabouttherealandcorrectviewoftheShiaSchoolabouttheHolyQuranwhichisinourhands,weshouldliketodealwithalltheShiatraditionswhichmaybereliedontosupporttheviewsagainstthecompletenessandthearrangementofthecurrentversionoftheHolyQuran.

Shia,Anti-Shia&Ultra-ShiaViews

ShiaViews

ItissaidthatthenumberofthetraditionsnarratedfromtheHolyImamsoftheAhlulBaitbytheShianarratorsissogreatthatthereisnodoubtthatsomeofthem,ifnotall,arereliableandworthourconsideration.Therefore,wedonottrytorejectthosetraditionstotallyonthegroundoftheunreliabilityofthenarrators,althoughmostofthosetraditionshavebeennarratedbypersonslikeAhmedbn-Mohammed-e-SayyariandAlibn-AhmedKufi,thefirstofwhomwasaccusedofheresyandthesecondofliesandheresy.However,ourconcernhereisnotthereliabilityortheunreliabilityofthenarratorsbutthescrutinyofthetextofthenarrationsandasthereisnounanimityinrespectofthesubjectofthesubject-matterofthetraditions,wehavetoclassifythemintoseveralgroups:'Therearetwentytraditionswheretheword'Tahreef'=change'hasbeenused,outofwhichwerefertoonlyeightasexamples:

1.Alibn-Ibrahim-e-QummirelatesfromAboZarGefaarithattheHolyProphetincommentingontheverse3:106said:3:106Onthedaywhen(some)facesshallturnwhiteand(some)facesshallturnblackOntheResurrectionDay,mypeoplewillcometomeunderfivedifferentstandardsandIwillaskthegroupundereachstandardaboutwhattheyhaddonewiththeTwoPreciousLegacieswhichIleftamongyou?.ThepeopleunderthefirststandardwillreplythatoftheTwoprecious

thingswhichyouleftbehind,thegreateronewehavedistortedandthrowninonourbacks,ignoreditandthesmalleroneweopposeditorhatedit.ThegroupunderthesecondstandardwillreplythatoftheTwopreciousOnes,theGreaterone(theQuran)wedistortedit,andtoreitintopiecesandwentagainstit;andthesmalleroneweopposeditandwagedwaragainstit.'

(Hadeeth-e-ThaqalainreferstotheHolyQuranandAhlulBait)

2.Bn-TaaoosandSyedNaimtullahJazairi,thetwoprominentShiatraditionalistsnarratealengthytraditionthattheHolyProphetsaidtoHozaifatbn-Yammanthatthepeoplewillprofanethesanctity(ofIslam)totheeffectthattheywilldeviatefromthepathofGodanddistortHisBookandaltertheHolyProphet'sSunnat(traditions).

3.WequotefromtheauthorityofSa'dbn-Abdullah-e-QummiwhonarratesthatFifthHolyImamoftheAhlulBaitMohammedbn-AliAl-BaquirhadsaidthattheHolyProphethadcalledthepeopleatMinaandsaid:

"OPeople!IamleavingamongyouTwopreciousthingstowhichifyeadhere,nevershallyegoastrayi.e.,theBookofGodandmyAhlulBaitandbesidestheseTwo,hereistheKa'batheSanctuary(theHolyHouse).'

TheHolyImamsaid:

'TheBooktheyhavedistorted,theItrat(theAhlulBait)havebeenkilledandtheKa'batheyhavedestroyedandallGod'sdepositswiththem,theythrewawayandtheydetachedthemselvesfromthem.'

4.Shaikh-e-Sadooqassertsinhis'Khisaal'throughJabirbn-Abdullah-e-AnsarithattheHolyProphetsaidthatontheResurrectionDay,threeentitleswouldcomplain:

i)TheQuran,

ii)TheMosque&

iii)TheItrat.

TheQuranwouldsay

'OmyLord!

Theydistortedmeandtoremeintopieces.'

TheMosquewouldsay

'OMyLord!

Theykeptmeandspoiledme.'

TheItratwouldsay

'OOurLord!Theykilledus,droveusoutofourhome!andmadeuswanderhitherandthither.'

5.ThetraditionnarratedbyKaafiandSadooqfromAlibn-SowaidisthathewrotetotheSeventhHolyImamMusabn-Ja'arAl-Kazimwhilehewasinprisonandgotthereplywhichisquotedhereunder:

'TheyweretrustedwiththeBookofGodandtheydistortedandalteredit.'

6.Bn-ShahrAshoobnarratesthattheThirdHolyImam,Hussainbn-AlionthedayofA-ashoora,whileaddressingtheenemy'sarmysaid:

'Yeareofthesamerebelliouspartyandtheremainsoftheinfidelallies(againsttheHolyProphet)andtheremainsofthosewhothrewawaytheBook(theHolyQuran)andwereinspiredbySatan,andagangofcriminalsandthosewhodistortedtheBook.'

7.Inthebook'Kamiluz-Ziyarah'itisrelatedoftheSixthHolyImamJa'farbn-MohammedAs-SaadiqthattheheprescribedthatthepilgrimswhoentertheshrineoftheHolyImamHusainshouldsay:

'OGod!

Cursedbethosewhobeliedthyprophets-destroyedThyHouse(TheKa'ba)anddistortedThyBook.

8.ItisnarratedfromtheSixthHolyImamJa'farbn-MohammedAs-Saadiq:

'ThemastersoftheArabiclanguagedistortedtheWordofGodfromproperplace.'

Therestofthetwentytraditionalistshavealsousedthewords'Tahreefand'Tagheer'inthesametoneandtune.Ifthesetraditionsandothersoftheirkindarereadinthe

lightofwhattheHolyImamMohammed-e-Baqirhadsaidviz,'oftheirthrowingawaytheBookofGod,withthattheyestablisheditslettersandalteredanddistorteditsscopeandsignificance.'

ItbecomesclearthatnochangeintheletteringoftheQuranevertookplacebyomission,additionoralterationbutthatthechangetookplaceinthesignificance,intheinterpretationandtheapplicationofthecontentsoftheHolyQuran.Thereisnodoubt,thattheword'Tahreef,TagheerandTabdeel'usedinthesetraditionsmeannothingbutthemisuseandthemisinterpretationofthecontentsoftheQuran.ThisisfullyvouchedbythehistoryofthedevelopmentoftheIslamicthought.TheHolyProphetwasexpectingthiswhenhedeclaredthatthreepronouncementsofdivorceinonesessiondonotmakeiteffective:

"DotheyplaywiththeBookofGodwhenIamstillpresentamongthem?'

Therearemanymoreexamplesofmisinterpretationandmis-useofthecontentsoftheBookofGodineverygeneration,downtoourpresenttime.ThelasttraditionquotedheresupportsthefactthatmanywhothinkthemselvestobemastersoftheArabiclanguagetrytomisinterprettheHolyBookbydestroyingitsrealsignificance.

WefindmanycommentatorsstrivingtodistortthewordingsoftheQurantodenymiracleswroughtbytheprophetsofGod.ThebestexamplebeingattemptsoftheAnti-AhlulBaitcommentatorstodistortthesignificanceoftheverseswhichundoubtedlywererevealedexclusivelyregardingthespiritualexcellenceoftheHolyOnesoftheHouseoftheHolyProphetsincetheearliestdaysofIslam.

Anti-Shia'sViews

Oneoftheclearexamplesofsuchattemptsisthedistortedinterpretationoftheverse33:33(AayatTat-heer)whichleavesnoroomforincludingthewivesoftheHolyProphetamongtheAhlulBaitoranybodyelseotherthanthe'Abnaana=OurSonsHasanandHusain''Nisaana=OurWomen=Fatima'andthe'Anfosona=Ournearpeople=Ali'oftheverseof'Mubaahala'(3:61),iftheverseprecedingtheverse33:33andthefollowingversesandthefirstversesofCh.66=Surah-e-Tahreem,dealingwiththewivesoftheHolyProphetaretakenintoconsideration.Itbecomesclearthattheverse33:33isapplicableonlytothosewhoareinthehigheststageofaccomplishmentandattainments.3:61

Butwhoeverdisputeswithyouinthismatterafterwhathascometoyouofknowledge,thensay:Comeletuscalloursonsandyoursonsandourwomenandyourwomenandournearpeopleandyournearpeople,thenletusbeearnestinprayer,andprayforthecurseofAllahontheliars33:33

Allahonlydesirestokeepawaytheuncleannessfromyou,OpeopleoftheHouse!Andtopurifyyoua(thorough)purifying.

TheyalsodistortedthesignificanceofthetermsinMubaahala(3:61)specially'Anfosana'bymakingitrefernottotheselfoftheHolyProphetbuttotheMuslimsingeneral,overlookingthehistoricalfactthattheHolyProphetinrelevancewithhisauthenticstatement'AliisofmeandIamofAli,'hadrespondedtothechallengeoftheChristiansbychoosingAlias'Anfosana'.Further,inkeepingwithhisotherstatementsaboutAhlulBait,hehadchosenFatimaasNisa-ana,andHassanandHussain(sonsofAli&Fatima)asAbna-ana.Theyheldthataccordingtothehistoricalfacttheothers-followers,wivesandtheremainingrelativesoftheHolyProphetwillbenaturallyexcludedfromIslamwhereasaccordingtotheShiabelieftheHolyFewSelectedwerethebestoftheMuslimsandtheirselectiondidnotinanywayexcludeothersfromthefoldofIslamorlessentheirrespectivepositioninviewoftheirproximitytoAhlulBait.

Theconversationbetweenbn-AbbaasandMuawiyah,reportedbyAllamaMajlasiinVol.XofBehaaral-Anwar,whenthelatterwarnedtheformernottonarrateanythingfromtheProphetorquoteorinterprettheQuraninsupportofAhlulBait,throwssufficientlightonthefactthatallthattherulingclasswasattemptingtodoandwantedotherstodowastomisinterprettheQurananddistortthesignificanceoftheverseswhichareinfavouroftherightcause.OtherwisethewidepublicityofthetextoftheHolyBookmadeitimpossibleforthemtoaffectanydistortioninthewordingsorarrangementoftheverses.(Videappendix.5Aya-Tat-heer.FundamentalsofIslam,bytheauthor).TohaveanideaofthedistortionoftheinterpretationoftheversesoftheHolyQuran,onehastostudyverses3:32,5:55,4:54,33:33,35:31&32,42:23,andallthepassagesdealingwiththedistinctiongivento'Aale-Ibrahim'andallthepassageswhichshakethepositionoftheopponentsoftheAhlulBait,particularlytheverse9:40(AyaGhaar)andtheverseswhichclearlyshowthattheprophetofGodinheritandleavebehindthemtheirlegaciestotheissuesetc.3:32

Say:ObeyAllahandtheApostle5:55

OnlyAllahisyourVali[FriendorGuardian]andHisApostleandthosewhobelieve,thosewhokeepupprayersandpaythepoor-ratewhiletheybow4:54

ButindeedWehavegiventoIbraheem'schildrentheBookandthewisdom,andWehavegiventhemagrandkingdom33:33

Allahonlydesirestokeepawaytheuncleannessfromyo,OpeopleoftheHouse!Andtopurifyyoua(thorough)purifying35:31

AndthatwhichWehaverevealedtoyouoftheBook,thatisthetruthverifyingthatwhichisbeforeitMostsurelywithrespecttoHisservantsAllahisAware,Seeing35:32

ThenWegavetheBookforaninheritancetothosewhomWechose

fromamongOurservants42:23

Say:Idonotaskofyouanyrewardforitbutloveformynearrelatives9:40

Ifyouwillnotaidhim,Allahcertainlyaidedhimwhenthosewhodisbelievedexpelledhim,hebeingthesecondofthetwo,whentheywerebothinthecave,whenhesaidtohiscompanion:

Grievenot,surelyAllahiswithus

TheseareonlyafewoftheinnumerableinstancesofthedistortionofthescopeandthesignificanceoftheversesoftheHolyQuranagainstwhichtheHolyImamHusainspokeatKarbalaandhissuccessorstheHolyImamsoftheHouseoftheHolyProphethadreiteratedtheprotest,inprivateaswellasinpublic.Yazeed'srecitationofverse3:26whentheAhlulBaitwerebroughttohimashiscaptives,isanotherinstanceofdistortion.3:26

Say(OApostleMohammed!)'OGod.!MasteroftheKingdom,ThougivestthekingdomuntowhomsoeverThoulikestandtakestawaythekingdomfromwhomsoeverThoulikest!

Thouexaltestwhomsoeveryoulikestandabasestwhomsoeveryoulikest.ItwasoneoftheboldestattemptstodistorttheWordofGoddirectingtowardstheSpiritualKingdom,thehonourandstatuswhichGodconfersonwhomsoeverHepleases,asmeaningthedefactotemporalholdandtheworldlyhonour.ThiswasspontaneouslyrefusedbytheHolyZainab,thedaughterofAliandFatima,whowasthereasoneofthecaptivesanddeliveredaSermoninthecourtofYazeedinwhichshequotedfromthesamechapteroftheHolyQuran.3:178'

LetnotthosewhodisbelievethinkthatOurgivingthemrespiteisgoodfortheir

selves;

Weonlygiverespitetothemthattheymayincreaseinsins,

Andforthemisadisgracefulchastisement.

ThisdistortionhasbeenoneofthefundamentalprinciplesofGovernmentofOmayadsandtheirsuccessors.

UltraShiaViews

ThesecondgroupofthetraditionsshowsthatinsomeversesoftheHolyQuran,thenameofAliinparticularandthenamesoftheothermembersoftheHolyAhlulBaitingeneralwhichhadbeenoriginallymentionedwereomittedoralteredlateron.Suchtraditionsareofthethreetypes:

1.ThetraditionfromKaafiinconnectionwithverse2:23

2:23AndifyouareindoubtastothatwhichWehaverevealedtoOurservant,thenproduceachapterlikeitandcallonyourwitnessesbesidesAllahifyouaretruthful

2.ThereisatraditionfromboththeSunniandtheShiaschoolsthatinconnectionwith5:675:67OApostle!deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord45:67

OApostle!deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyouABOUTALIfromyourLord83.

Theauthorofthe'FaslulKhitab'ontheauthorityofAhmedbn-Mohammed-e-Sayyari(whowasaccusedofheresy)inconnectionwith15:4115:41

Hesaid:ThisisarightwaywithMe:415:41

Hesaid:ThisisarightwayofAli8Onemayfindtraditionsofsimilarnatureindicatingtheomissionorthealterationofthename,Ali,insomeotherpassages

narratedinbookslikeTafseerbn-ForaatforthecommentaryunwarrantedlyascribedtotheEleventhHolyImamHasanbn-AliAl-Askariforwhichsahlbn-AhmedDeebaajiisaccused.However,thefirst,thoughisfromKaafiwhichisthemostauthenticBookofTraditionsoftheShias,istobetotallyrejectedbecauseofthecontext.ItisunanimouslyagreedbyallMuslimsthatverse2:23isanevercurrentchallengetothosewhodoubttheDivinenatureoftheBookinpartorasawhole.Ifsucharestrictedphraseisacceptable,thentheverseandthechallengeasawholewillbecomemeaningless.ThosewhodoubtedtheDivineoriginoftheHolyQuran,didsonotmerelyonaccountoftheassociationofthenameofAliwithit.

SecondlyAli'snamewasnotmentionedanywhereelseintheHolyQurantogiverisetotheirdoubts.

Thirdly,ifAli'snamehadbeenmentioned,itwouldhavebeenknowntooneandallofthosewhohadhearditfromtheHolyProphet,orfromtheotherCompanions,andwouldnothavecomedowntousthroughonlyonesolitaryandinauthenticchainofthetraditions.ItshouldbenotedthattheauthenticityofKaafidoesnotmeanthegenuinenessofeverythingtherein.Therearesomeconflictingtraditionsinitandtherearetraditionsalso(againstthefactsofhistory,particularlyintheRauze-e-Kaafi.AswehavealreadysaidnobookofIslamictraditionsofanyschool,cancompeteinauthenticitywiththatoftheHolyQuran,henceanyreportlackingthatdegreeofauthenticitycanneverbeconsideredasapartoftheQuran.Moreover,thesekindsoftraditionsarecontradictedbytheauthentictraditionsofKaafiitself,ontheauthorityofAbaBaseerwhosays:

'IaskedtheSixthHolyImamJa'farbn-MohammedAs-Saadiqabouttheverse4:59,4:59Oyouwhobelieve!obeyAllahandobeytheApostleandthoseinauthorityfromamongyou,Thenifyouquarrelaboutanything,referittoAllahandtheApostle,ifyoubelieveinAllahandtheLastDay.andhesaidthatitwasrevealedaboutAli,HasanandHusain.'

ThenhetoldtheHolyImamthatpeoplesay:

'Ifitisso,thenwhyAliandthepeopleofhishousewerenotmentionedbynameintheQuran.'

TheImamreplied:'Tellthem,thedailyprayer'Salat'ismentionedintheQuraninseveralplacesbutnothingofthenumberoftheRaka'atineachprayerhasbeengiven.'

ItwasfortheHolyProphettoexplainthedetails.Thesameisthecasewiththedetails

aboutHaj,Zakat,Saum,etc.whichwerelefttotheHolyProphettoexplain.Likewise,itwasthedutyoftheHolyProphettoexplain,astowhoarethepersonsworthyofbeingcalled'Olil-Amr',obediencetowhomisascompulsoryasobediencetotheHolyProphetnexttoobedienceofGod.

TheHolyProphetexplaineditwhenevertheoccasiondemanded,andthelastofsuchoccasionswasthedeclarationofGhadeer-e-Khumwhichleftnoroomforanydoubttobeclarified,butthosewhoweredeterminedtodoubtandcreatedoubtsamongothers,didnotleaveanystoneunturned.Neverthelesstheycouldsucceedinhidinganyoccasionoftheleastimportance,leavealonetheeventofGhadeer,concernedwiththedeclarationofAliandhisparticulardescendantsashissuccessors.ThistraditioncontradictsallothertraditionswhichtendtosaythatAli'snameorthatofHasan,HusainorFatima,wererevealedasthetextoftheQuranandwasdroppedbysomeonelater.Therefore,suchtraditionsaretobeinterpretedastheseholynameshavebeenmentionedasacommentarytothetext,asisthecasein5:67.5:67

OApostle!deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLord45:67

OApostle!deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyouABOUTALIfromyourLord*

InthecasesofsuchtraditionswhichwouldnotbearsuchinterpretationstheyshouldbetotallyrejectedasbeingagainsttheQuranandtheauthentictraditions.Acceptingthethirdtraditionastrue,itdoesnotconveyanypeculiardistinctionorqualificationforAliwhichotherwisehedidnotalreadypossess.

Particularlyifthecontextistakenintoconsideration,itprovesthatAliwasoneofthosewhodidnotfollowSatanwhichisnogreatadistinctionforAlibecauseanordinaryrighteouspersonalsopossessesthatdistinction.SecondlySayyarifromwhomtheauthorofFaslulKhitabreports,didnotsaythat'Aliyyin'usedtherewasapropernouninpossessivecase,asthereisanotherrecitationofthisversewhere'Aliyyon'isusedasanadjectivewhichqualifies'Siraat'in15:4115:41

Hesaid:ThisisarightwaywithMe:415:41

Hesaid:ThisisarightwayofAli8ItismoreprobablethatSayyariwithhisultraviewsaimedtosaythat'Ali'thoughusedhereasanadjective,yetfromanesotoricalpointofviewmeantAli.Notonlyherebutwherevertheword'Ali'occurredintheQuran,thoughasanadjective,accordingtotheUltra-Shiaties,itmeansAli.Accordingtothem,theHolyProphetnamedhimAliundertheDivinecommand.HencethenameactuallycarriesthequalityasthenameMohammeddoes.Therefore,whateveristermedbyGod,asAli,asanadjective,mustbeassociatedwithAliin

somesenseorother.Therearetraditionswhichshowthat'Aale-Mohammed'originallymentionedinsomepassagesoftheHolyQuranwereomittedoralteredlateron.Forinstance,thetraditionnarratedbyAyyaashithatin3:33&34after'Aale-Ibrahim'therewas'Aale-Muhammad'insteadof'Aale-Imran'andtheformerwasomittedandthelatterwasinserted.3:33SurelyAllahchoseAdamandNuhandthedescendantsofIbraheemandthedescendantsofImranabovethenations43:33SurelyAllahchoseAdamandNuhandthedescendantsofIbraheemandthedescendantsofImranANDTHEDESCENDANTSOFMOHAMMADabovethenations.

*Suchatradition,iftrue,meansnotonlyomissionbutalsoadditionofanon-QuranicmatterintheQuran;butthisisagainsttheunanimousverdictofallschoolsparticularlytheIthne-AshariSchool.

Besides,itsbeingreportedbyonesolitaryreportercannotbeacceptableinthecaseoftheQuran,asalreadypointedout,theinsertionoftheterm'Aale-Mohammed'hereintheplaceof'AleImran'wouldexcludeAlifrom'Aale-Muhammad'onaccountofthesubsequentverse34asAliisnotadescendentofMohammed,andthisisagainstboththefactandthefaith,as'Aale-Mohammed'areheadedbyAli.

Offspring,oneoftheotherIfthesubsequentverseistotallydiscardedthenthe34:3term'Aale-Mohammed'willincludenotonlythemembersofthefamily,butallthefollowersasinthecaseof'Aale-Firaun',whereasinthecaseofthepresentversionoftheQuranbothMuhammadandAli,alongwiththeirissuesareincludedinthe'Aale-Ibrahim=descendantsofAbraham'.Thereisanothertraditiontotheeffectthatin26:227after'Zalamo'theterm,'Aale-Mohammed'wasmentioned,whichiftrue,wouldrestrictthecondemnationofinjusticeonlytothecaseof'Aale-Mohammed'excludingthecasesoftheothers,whichisagainstthespiritoftheQuran,theuniversaljusticeofGodbeingthatwhosoeverisunjusttoanyoneinanydegree,ispunishable.26:227

Andtheywhoactunjustlyshallknowtowhatfinalplaceofturningtheyshallturnback426:227Andtheywhoactunjustlyshallknowtowhatfinalplaceofturningtheyshallturnback.

*ItisalsoagainstthesayingofAli:

'ItiseasierforAlitobearallsortsoftorturesthantomeetGodaftercommittinginjusticetoanyoneofhiscreatures.'

Mostprobablytheexpression'Aale-Mohammed'hasbeenusedasacommentarytoemphasisetheseriousnessofinjusticecausedtotheHolypeople.

Anotherexampleisthetraditionwhichdealswiththeverse37:130showingthatinsteadof'Ilyaseen'therewas'Aale-Yaseen'37:130PeacebeonIlyasWehavedealtwiththistraditioninournoteonthisverse(VideTranslationoftheQuranbyMirAhmedAli),andhereitisenoughtosaythatitistotallyagainstthecontextwhichisdealingwith'Ilyas'fromverses123to132.Therearealsosomesolitarytraditionsdealingwiththeword'Ummat'mentionedinthevariouspassagesoftheQuranassigningtotheexpressionthedutiesandthequalitiessuitableforleadingpersonalities.Thetraditionssaythatinthoseverses(2:128,2:143,and3:104)insteadofthewordUmmat,thewordAimma,(pluralofImam)hadbeenusedatfirst.2:128

OurLord!andmakeusbothsubmissivetoTheeand(raise)fromouroffspringanationsubmittingtoThee,andshowusourwaysofdevotionandturntous(mercifully)42:143

AndthusWehavemadeyouamedium(just)nationthatyoumaybethebearersofwitnesstothepeopleand(that)theApostlemaybeabearerofwitnesstoyou43:104

Andfromamongyouthereshouldbeapartywhoinvitetogoodandenjoinwhatisrightandforbidthewrong.

Butcountertothesetraditionsthereareothertraditionswhichassertthatword'Ummat'itselfwasrightlyusedbyGodtodenoteAimma:(Videappendixontheword'Ummat'anditsderivatives'FundamentalsofIslam'bytheauthor.)Thereisanotherkindoftraditiondealingwiththeword'ImamanwaRahmat'mentionedintheverse11:17.Itsaysthatinoriginalarrangement'ImamanwaRahmant'wasafter'ShaahidunMinh'beforequalifying'Shaheed'andnot'KitaabeMoosa'.11:17

IshethenwhohaswithhimclearprooffromhisLord,andawitnessfromHimrecitesitandbeforeit(is)theBookofMusa,aguideandamercy?'11:17

IshethenwhohaswithhimclearprooffromhisLord,andawitness-AGUIDEANDAMERCYFROMHIM-recitesitandbeforeit(is)theBookofMusa,?

'Wehavedealtwiththismatterandprovedthat'ImamanwaRahmat'initspresent

arrangementqualifiesboth'KitaabeMoosa'and'Shaahid'(Ref.TranslationoftheQuranbyMirAhmedAli).TheimaginedarrangementisabsurdandagainsttheQuran;andthecommentariesoftheHolyAhlulBait,as'KitaabeMoosa'isqualifiedin'ImamanwasRahmat'46:12AndbeforeittheBookofMusawasaguideandamercyAnotherexampleofthetraditionofthisnatureisthatwhichdealswith25:74sayingthatintheplaceofthepresent(/)itwasoriginally(x):25:74

Andtheywhosay:

OourLord!grantusinourwivesandouroffspringthejoyofoureyes,andmakeusguidestothosewhoguard(againstevil)425:74

Andtheywhosay:

OourLord!grantusinourwivesandouroffspringthejoyofoureyes,andmakeforusguidesfromthosewhoguard(againstevil)'Referencetotheversewillshowtheabsurdityofthisviewandthesoundnessofthepresentverses.Thesupposedversionwouldreducethepositionofthepersons,referredto,bythepersonalpronoun'Na'meaning'Us'toastateofprayingtohaveleaderfromamongthepiousones,inwhichcasetheinfallibleImamwouldbeexcludedfrom'Na=Us'.Furthersuchaprayercouldbetheprayerofonlyanordinaryman,whileinthepresentversion,thepronounwouldmeanonlytheinfalliblepersonalitieswhoarefittobetheleadersofthepiousandnottobeledbyanyonefromamongthepiousones.Ineithercase,therestrictioninthemeaningofthepersonalpronounisunavoidable.Inthesupposedversion,thepositionoftheImamisreducedtoanordinarypiousperson'Muttaqi'whileaccordingtothepresentversion,theImampraysforthepostofthe'ImamulMuttaqeen'whichAbrahamprayedforhis'Zurriat.'

ThereareexamplesofthetraditionswhichassertomissionoralterationofthewordingoftheQuranwhichaccordingtotheimaginationoftheirreporters,wereinthefavouroftheAhlulBaitbutwereomitted.ButathoroughstudyofthemwillprovebeyonddoubtthatthesewereeithertheworkofafoolishfriendoracraftyenemywhowantedtodamagethesacrednessoftheHolyImamsoftheAhlulBaitandalongwithittheuniquestatusoftheHolyQuranwhichisthecriterionfortheverificationoftheTruthofpreandpost-Islamicliteratureoftheologicalnature.TherearetraditionswhichgiveadifferentwordinghereandthereinsomepassagesoftheQuranasadifferentrecitationwhicharenotacceptableinanyway,forexampleAlibn-IbrahimnarratesthroughhischainfromHoraithfromtheSixthHolyImamJa'farbn-MohammedAs-SaadiqthattheHolyImamreadthelastportionoftheSura-e-Fatehaas(x):1:7

ThepathofthoseuponwhomThouhastbestowedfavors.Not(thepath)ofthoseuponwhomThywrathisbroughtdown,norofthosewhogoastray41:7Siratamanan-amtaalaihim,ghairlMaghzoobealaihimwagahirizZaaleen'meaninginsteadof'Allazeena'after'Siraat',heusedtherelativepronoun'Man'andGhair'insteadof'la'beforeZalleen'.itisobviousthatthesupposedrecitationdoesnotdifferfromthepresentrecitationinsubstance,buttheabsurdityofthenarrationissoobviousthatoneissurprisedthatapersonlikeAlibn-Ibrahimnarratedsuchnonsense.

TheFatehatulKitaabisachapterrepeatedlyrecitedbytheMuslimsinthedailyprayersandallotherprayersandthereisnoprayerwithouttherecitaloftheFatehatulKitaabandassuchitisimpossiblethatthecorrectversionescapedthememoryofalltheMuslimsfromthetimeoftheHolyProphetuptotheThirdCaliph,orthatdeliberatelythecorrectrecitationwasreplacedbythedistortedrecitationwithoutawordofprotestfromanycorner.Ifthistraditionistobeaccepted,noreportofthepast,whateverthedegreeofitsauthenticityandthenumberofitsnarrators,andwrittenreportscouldbereliedupon.

Thereisanothergroupoftraditionsquotedbysomewritersinsupportof'Tahreef'whichindicatesthattheQurancontainsdifferentsections,dealingabouttheAhlulBaitandtheirenemies,abouttheexemplaryeventsofthepastandthelawsandpreceptsofIslam.ItisobviousthatthesekindsoftraditionshavenothingtodowithTahreef=omission,alterationoraddition.Itreferstotheapplicabilityofthesubject-matterandnottoitsarrangement.AssuchitdoesnotconveymorethanwhatismentionedinthecelebratedZiaratJaamiah:

Wherever,orwheneveranythinggoodismentioned,itappliestoyouasitsorigin,itsdevelopment,itssourceandasitsfinalphase.'

AfewtraditionsnarratedbyAyyaashiinhiscommentaryconfirmwhathasbeenalreadysaidvizthatthenamesoftheAhlulBaithavenotbeenmentionedintheQuranandthatthepassagesoftheQuranshouldnotberestrictedtopersonsoroccasionsinconnectionwithwhichtheymighthavebeenrevealed.HenarratesthroughhischainfromtheFifthHolyImamthathesaid,

'TheQuranwasrevealedinthreegroups,onethirdaboutusandourdevotees,one

thirdaboutourenemiesandtheenemiesofthosebeforeus(theprophetsandtherighteousones)andonethirdaboutlaw,preceptsandexemplarynarrationsandthatifthepassagerevealedaboutsomepersonsisrestrictedtothem,thenthatpassagewouldloseitsapplicabilityalongwiththedeathofthesaidpersons;buttheapplicabilityoftheQurancontinuestobevalidsolongastheheavensandtheearthexist.TherearepassagesintheQuranwhichapplytoallgoodorbad.'

AnothersayingfromthesameImamreportedbyAyyaashiis:

'WheneverintheQurananyofthefollowersofIslamismentionedasvirtuous,itreferstousandwhenever'some'ismentionedaswicked,eveninthepast,itisourenemiesthataremeant'.AndanothertraditionnarratedbyAyyaashifromtheSixthHolyImamis:

'IftheQuranisreadasitwasrevealed,onewouldfindusnamedtherein.'

ThismeansthatifonereadstheQuranstudiouslywithoutprejudice,hewouldrealisetheexclusivestatusgiventothembytheQuran.Forexamplein3:61,nobody'snameismentionedbutthereisnodoubtthatnoneismeantbytheversebutHasan,Husain,FatimaandAli.ItisnaturalthatonlythesecanbetermedasthepeopleoftheHolyHouseandthemembersofthefamily.Therefore,whateverGodhassaidintheQuranabouttheAhlulBaitandthechosenmembersofthe'Aale-lbrahim'appliestothesepeopleexclusively.Insteadofmentioningtheirnames,theQuranreferredtothemaccordingtoreliabletraditionsnarratedabove.Godhasintroducedtheminarhetoricalmannerwhichismuchmoreeffectivethanmentioningtheirmerenames.TherearesomeothertraditionswhichevidentlyassertthatalargeportionoftheQuranhasbeenomittedandsomenon-Quranicmatterhasbeeninsertedinthepresentversion.TheoutstandingexampleofsuchtraditionsisthelengthystatementofAlinarratedbyAhmedbn-AbuTalebTabarsy,theauthorofthebookknownas'Ehtijaj',AliisreportedtohavesaidinthecourseofhisconversationwithaJew,thatbetweenthefirstportionofverse4:3andverse137ofthesamechapteraboutonethirdoftheQuranhadbeenomittedandthatverse7:188wasnotagenuinepartoftheQuran.Theabsurdityofthistraditionisself-evident.ItseemsthatAliwastalkingofsomeremoteancientbook.IfonethirdoftheQuranwasdeletedinhispresenceheandalltheMuslimscouldnothavekeptquiet.NotevenasingleverseoftheonethirdoftheQuran,saidtohavebeenomitted,hasbeenindicated.InthecaseofFadak,AliandhisfollowersdidnothesitateintheleasttoraiseobjectionandevenforaminordeviationfromtheIslamiclaw,peoplelikeAboZar,Ammar,Miqddad,etc.protestedagainsttherulingpartyendangeringeventheirlives.Thatbeingso,ifonethirdoftheQuranhadbeenomitted,itisunthinkablethatnonecouldhaveobjected.ItisunacceptablethatsuchadeliberateomissionintheQuranwaseffectedandAlididnotopenhismouth

buttoaJew.OnthestrengthofthisspurioustraditionthegenuinenessandauthenticityoftheQurancannotbedoubted.

Ontheotherhand,thebookcontainingthistraditioncannotberegardedasreliable.ThereisanothertraditionfromKulainiinthechapterdealingwiththeQurantotheeffectthattheSixthHolyImamJa'farbn-MohammedAs-SaadiqsaidthattheQuranwhichJibreelbroughttotheHolyProphetMohammedcontainedseventhousandverses.

Thisisaccordingto'Waafi'takenfrom'Kaafi'butinsomeeditionsofKaafiitself,thenumbermentionedisseventeenthousand,insteadofseventhousand.ThereisnodoubtthatnarrationofWaafifromKaafiismuchmorereliablethantheordinaryeditionsofKaafiitself.Howeverthedifferencebetweenthenarrationisthere,henceitisnotunreasonabletotakeeitherofthesestatementsasawishfulconjecture,becauseitdealswiththenumberofthepassagesoftheQuranandthenumberingdependsuponpunctuation,aboutwhichtherecitersoftheQuranmaydiffer.Accordingtothecurrentpunctuationthenumberofversesare6666butaccordingtothepunctuationascribedtotheHolyProphetby'Majma-ulByan'itis6163.

Thedifferentschoolsofthereciters'Kufi,Hijazi,Makki,MadaniandShamidifferinthisregardfromeachother.ItisalsosaidthatthenumberingbyKufiSchoolisbasedontheauthorityofAli(A.S.)

However,itshouldbenotedthatthedifferencesinnumberingwasnotbasedonthevariationinnumberingofthelettersandthewordsoftheQuranasconfirmedbyatraditionfromKaafisayingthat:

'NochangeinthelettersoftheQuraninadditionoromissionevertookplace'andthattheMuslimsestablishedthelettersoftheQurananddistorteditssignificanceanditsapplication.HereitisnotoutofplacetorecommendtothereaderareferencetoatraditionquotedbytheauthorofMajma-ulBayaninchapter.76(Ad-Dahr)whiledealingwiththequestionofthedateandtheoccasionof'Shan-e-Nuzool'wherethefullaccountofthenumberofthechapters,verses,letters,thedateandplaceoftheirrevelationisgiven.Itissaid,thattherearechaptersthebeginningportionsofwhichwererevealedatMeccaandtheotherportionswererevealedatMadinaandwereputintheirproperplaces:bytheorderoftheHolyProphet.

ToaparticulargroupbelongsthesolitarytraditionstatingthattheQuranoriginallyhadfortyParts,ofwhichwehavenowonlythirtyandtherestofthetenpartsarewiththeLastImamwhowouldbringitwhenhereappears.TheabsurdityofthisversionhasalreadybeenpointedoutwhendealingwiththetraditionoftheEhtijaj.No

word,phrase,sentence,verseorchapter,smallorlargecanbeconsideredasapartoftheQuranifitisreportedbyasolitaryreporter,becauseinourdefinitionoftheQuranwehavesaidthatrevealedstatementwasplacedwithinthereachofmankindasaneverlastingmiracle,andassuchitcannotbeknownonlytoonechainofthereporters.TothiscategorybelongsthespuriousSurahknown,astheSura-e-VilayatwhichtheauthoroftheDabistanulMazahibhasnarratedfromsomeunknownsource,anditmaybethesameSurahtowhichbn-ShahrA-ashoobrefersastheOmittedChapteroftheQuran.TheChaptercontainsasmanywords(orlines)asMusabbahat.Thestyleofitbetraysitsfabrication.ItcannotbeclassedevenwiththestyleoftheAhlulBaitintheirsermonsandprayers,itisanattempttoimitatetherhythmoftheQuranbutmostunliketheQuraningrammaticalstructureandrhetoricalconsideration,thelikeofwhichcanbecomposedbyanyimitatorwhoisacquaintedwiththeArabiclanguage.ThereareothercompositionsofthistypesaidtobetheomittedchaptersoftheQuran,thestyleofwhichbetraysthemofthesetherearetwoSurahsnamed'Khol'and'Hafd',bothcombined,donotexceedtwolinesoftheQuranofObaibn-Ka'abbutthestyleshowsthattheyaresomesortofprayerscomposedbysomeone,muchinferiorinstyletothatoftheHolyProphetandhisAhlulBait,leavealonethestyleoftheQuran.

ThereisalsoanothertraditionofthiskindnarratedbyKaafifromAbuNasr-e-BazantiwhosaidthattheEighthHolyImamAlibn-Musa-ar-RizagavehimaQuranandtoldhimnottolookintoit,butheopeneditandreadchapter98knownasthe'Bayynah'andfoundthereinthenamesofseventypersonsoftheKhoraishalongwiththenamesoftheirfathersthatthentheHolyImamsentfortheQuranandtookitback.Thisisnotbelievable.InthefirstplaceitisunthinkablethattheHolyImamwouldgivetheQuranandyetaskthatitshouldnotbelookedinto.Secondly,thepersonwhodisobeystheorderoftheHolyImamnottolookintoitishardlyreliable.

Thirdly,grantingthegenuinenessofthenarration,theversionthathefoundthereinthenamesofsomanypeoplewiththenamesoftheirfathersisthebestproofthatwhathesawwasnotthetextoftheQuranbutsomecommentary.ofthecontemporariesoftheHolyProphetorhisancestors,andhisfollowers,andthemembersofhisfamily,nobody'snamehadcomeintheQuranexceptthenameofZaidamongthefriendsandAbi-LahabamongtheenemiesandthenameoftheHolyProphethimselfandifanyoneelse'snamehadcome,thereportofitwouldnothavereachedthroughasolitarytradition.Apartfromourremarksagainstthistradition,itcanbetakenasevidencethatthecelebrated'Mushaf'attributedtotheFirstHolyImamAlibn-Abi-TaalibwasnotconfinedtothetextoftheQuranrevealedasachallengingmiracle,butitcontainedalsothecommentarieswhichtheHolyProphetdictatedtohimortheexplanatorynoteswhichhehimselfaddedtoit.

ThesearethemaintraditionsquotedinfavourofTahreef,inthesenseofadditionoromission.ThereremainsthequestionofTahreefwithregardtothearrangementofwordsinthephrasesandthesentencesintheverseandtheversesinthechaptersandthearrangementofthechaptersinthecollection.AspointedoutalreadytheQuranexplicitlyassertsthatthearrangement,therecitationandtheexplanation,allaretheresponsibilityofGodandthismusthavebeendischargedbeforedeclaringtheperfectionofthereligionandtheHolyProphet'sdeclaration,'IamleavingamongyouTwothings,theBookofGodandtheHolyAhlulBait.'

Referencetothe'Book'bytheHolyProphetcannotbetothefragmentsandthepiecesofbones,wood,skin,leavesoftreesonwhichtheversesoftheQuranhadbeenwrittenwithoutanyproperarrangement.ItmustrefertothecollectionwhichhadbeengiventheshapeofabookeitherbyAli,Zaidbn-Thaabit,ortheotherslateron.ItisunthinkablethattheFounderofIslamwhohasdealtwiththemostminuteaspectsofhumanlife,suchastheetiquetteofsittinginanassembly(58:11)andwassoparticularthatdoubtanddisputeintheordinarytransactionswhethersmallorbigshouldbeavoidedasmuchaspossible,forwhichhehadrecommendedtheirbeingrecordedinwriting-(2:282)-hadfailedtogivethefinalshapetotheBookwhichhedeclaredtobetheguardianoftheformerscriptures,thecriterionforthepost-Islamicliterature,andthefinalinfallibleauthoritytowhichtheMuslimsaretoreferinallmattersofreligiousdisputes.Thereforehecouldnothaveleftthesetwoissuestobefinalisedbythepeoplewhomheconsideredtobeveryunscrupulousinthematteroffaith,particularlyafterhim-(3:143).

TheimpossibilityofsuchafailureisobviousfromthepointofviewoftheShiafaith,thefactsofhistoryandtheQuran'sassertionthatnochanceforanyargumentorexcusewasleftforthepeopleaftertheHolyProphet(4:165).4:165

(Wesent)apostlesasgiversofgladtidingsandwarnersthattheremaynotremainanyargumentforpeopleagainstGod,after(thecomingof)theseapostles,ThereareauthentictraditionssupportingthegenuinenessofthepresentwordingandtheversesintherespectivechaptersoftheQuran.

ThesearethetraditionsfromtheAhlulBaitwhichdealwiththespiritualeffectandtheDivinerewardassignedtotherecitationofeachverseofeachchapter.Besidesthe

traditionswhichallowrecitationofanychapteroftheHolyBook,inthedailycompulsoryprayerswiththeexceptionoffourSurahwhichcontain'Sijda-e-Wajib',theImamsweresocautiousinthisrespectthatinthecaseofChapter93or94,thoughseparatedfromeachotherbyBismilah,theysaidthatthelatterissupplementaryoftheformerandthusbothshouldberecitedtogether;ifreadinanycompulsoryprayers.Anidenticalstatementwasmadeaboutchapters105&106.ItshouldbenotedthataccordingtotheAhlulBait,itisnecessarythatonecompleteSurahoftheQuranneithermorenorlessistoberecitedafterChapter'l,inthefirstandsecondRak'atofprayers.

Therefore,iftherewasanydisarrangementinanychapteroftheHolyBookwhichaffectsitscompletenessandgenuineness,theywouldhavepointeditouttotheirdisciplesastheydidintheabovementionedcases.Oncethegenuinenessofthearrangementoftheversesinthechaptersisproved,therewouldhardlybeanyneedtoarguethattheDivinehandwhichdidnotmissthesaidarrangement,missedthearrangementofthechaptersintheBookasawhole.ThequestionoftheMakkiandtheMadanioriginofsomeversesofsomechaptersoftheearlyorthelaterdates,doesnotariseandthereareauthentictraditionsshowingexpresslythatitwasdonebythedirectionoftheHolyProphethimselfandbynoneelse.KaafiontheauthorityofSa'd-e-IskofrelatesfromtheHolyProphet:

"IwasgiventhelengthiestSurahsintheplaceofTorah(Taurat)andIwasgivenhundredversedchaptersintheplaceofInjeel(theEvangel)andIwasgiventhelengthyonenexttothefirstinplaceofZaboor(Psalams),andIwasmadetoexceedthemwiththeseparatesmallones-theyaresixty-eightSurahsandtheQuranistheguardianoveralltheScriptures.'

Thereremainsacriticismbysomeunscrupulousfriendsormischievousenemiesthatinthepresentarrangement,therearesomeverseswhichdonotfitinwiththeprecedingandthefollowingverses.Asalreadystated,thereplytothiscriticismisthattheQuranitselfdeclaresthatitsmethodofarrangementispeculiartoitselfanditshouldnotbecomparedwiththehumanmethodofarrangingthepartsoftheirclassicalproducts.Suchcomparisonswouldbelikecondemningnaturalsceneriesasmis-arrangedbecausetheyarenotlikeaman-madegarden.However,itshouldberememberedthatthechronologicalarrangementoftheQuranattributedtoAlicannotbebutforthepurposeofacommentaryandnotasachallengingmiracleofthetextwithinthereachofthepublicandtobereciteddailyinprayerandatothertimes.Ifitwereotherwise,AliandtheotherHolyImamsoftheHousewouldhaveguidedthepeopleaboutthepresentarrangementofthemattertofacilitatetheirrecitingtheQuranintheirprayersortheywouldhavesaidthatitwasenoughtoreciteanypartoftheQuran,inanyprayer,whetheracompleteoranincompleteSurahortheverses

withoutthepresentsequence.Buttheydidnotdoso.ItistheunanimousverdictoftheShiatheologiansandjuriststhatanyrecitationdifferentfromthepresentarrangement,orwithanyadditionoromissioninanycompulsoryprayer,renderstheprayervoid.Evenintheoptionalprayersorintheordinaryrecitations,anyarrangementdifferentfromthepresentoneisasin.

TherearesomesolitaryreportsabouttherecitationofsomeQura'nicwordsbytheAhlulBaitotherthanthepresent,viz.verse81:8andsomeotherwords.81:8AndwhenthefemaleinfantburiedaliveisaskedButaccordingtotheauthentictraditionofKaafiandtheunanimousverdictoftheShiatheologians,anyrecitationotherthanthesevenorthetencurrentones,isforbidden.AlltheseshowthatmischievoushandswereworkingsincethedemiseoftheHolyProphetdowntothebeginningofthefourthcenturytocreatedoubtsaboutthegenuineness,infallibilityandtheauthenticityoftheQuraninhandinsomewayorother.TheydidalsotheirbesttocreatedoubtsabouttheinfallibleauthorityofthepersonsoftheAhlulBaitwhoweredeclaredbytheHolyProphetasinseparablefromtheQuranandtobereferredtoinallreligiousmatters.Ontheotherhand,theHolyImamsoftheAhlulBait,theirdisciplesinparticularandtheMuslimsingeneralinsistedthatnothingdifferentfromthepresentversionoftheQuran,inpartorasawhole,shouldbetakenintoaccountanddeclareditastheuniquestandardfortheverificationofthetruthofthepreorpostIslamicreportsonreligiousmatters'"

ItshouldalsoberememberedthatthereportwhichstatesthattheHolyProphetontheeveofhisdemisetoldAlitotakecareofthefragmentsofthedifferentmaterialsonwhichtheQuranwaswrittenandwereinthecustodyoftheHolyProphetdoesnotmeanthattheQuranhadnotbythenbeencollected.IthadalreadybeencollectedintheformofacompleteBookbyAliandtheothersinchargeandreviewedbytheHolyProphet.Butasforthefragmentswhichwerethefirstcopyoftheverses,theHolyProphetdidnotlikethemtofallinthehandsofthepublicastheymightbemisused.HenceheorderedAlitotakecareofthemandnonehaseverclaimedtohaveseenthefragmentswhichtheHolyProphetgaveintothecustodyofAli.ThefragmentsfromwhichZaidbnThaabitattemptedtoproducehiscollectionwerethosefragmentsonwhichpeoplehadmadecopiesforthemselvesotherthanthoseoftheHolyProphet'sown.HowevertheShiatraditionsclearlyassertthattheHolyProphethaddictatedtoAli(a)thedetailsofIslamicprecepts,theoreticalandpractical,evensuchadetailasthefineforabruise,(b)alltheeventswhichhadalreadyhappenedandallthatwouldhappentilltheDayofResurrection,andthatAlinotedthemallintheformofascrolltermedas'Jamea'andintheformofanothercollectionontheparchmentofhideknownas-Ja'fr'.

WhensomuchcarewastakenforconveyingtheDivinemessageminutely,itis

unthinkablethattheHolyprophetomittedtoprepareacollectionof'FinalwordofGod'whichhadtoremainasachallengingmiraclewithinthereachofoneandallforalltimes.InshorttheauthoritativestatusoftheQuraninallagesdeclaredbytheHolyProphetandtheImamsofhishouseimpliesthatanyreportsuggestingtheleastdoubtaboutthegenuinenessofitspresentversionwithitspresentarrangementistobetotallyrejectedasaspuriousproductofsomemischievousorfoolishminds.Thisistheviewadheredtobytheirdisciplesduringtheirpresenceandfollowedbythestandardtheologians,juristsandscholarsofIthnaAsharischoolofallages.None,whoprofessesIslam,towhateverschoolhemaybelong,caneverdoubtaboutthefactthattheQuranbesidescontainingthelastmessageofGod,hasbeenrevealedasanEverCurrentChallengingMiracleandastheGuardianofalltheprecedingscripturesandthestandardoftheverificationofallthepost-Islamicliterature,andassuchitshouldremaingenuineandintactwithinthereachofmankindatalltimes,protectedagainstanyaddition,omission,alterationordistortion,forotherwise,itwouldeffectitsstandardandstatusasamiracleandasaguardianwhichhasbeenexpresslystatedintheQuran-15:9,41:42.ItisabsurdtosaythattheseversesrefertothetruecopyoftheQuranwhichwaswiththeImams,becauseashasbeenstatedrepeatedlytheQuranasastandardandamiraclewasrevealedandmusthavebeenwithinthereachofallandnothiddenandtreasuredbyanysingleperson.GenuinecopiesofalltheancientscriptureswerealsowiththeImamsandtheirhavingacopyoftheQuranwasonlynatural.Inotherwords,thedoubtaboutthegenuinenessofthepresentversionoftheQuranisnothingshortofdoubtingtheveryapostleshipoftheHolyProphetandalltheotherapostlesofGodprecedinghimandtheinfallibleauthorityofthedeclaredImamsoftheAhlulBaitwhowereinseparablefromtheQuranandasaguideforthepeople.Therefore,anydoubtintheinfallibilityofonewillnaturallymeandoubtabouttheother.Butthe,QuranasitisnowinourhandsmirrorstheinfallibilityoftheHolyProphetandtheImamsofhisHouse,inamannerwhichleavesnodoubtforanyonewhodependsentirelyonitwithoutanyprejudice.SimilarlythelivesoftheImams,theirteachingsmirrorcompletelytheHolyBookasitisnow.Werecommendourreaderstoreferto'Kaafi',chapterdealingwiththenecessityofreferringtotheQuranasthestandardinanycontroversialmatter.

SayingsfromAhlulBaitandLeadingShiaScholars

FromtheSeventhImamMusabn-Jafferal-Kazim:WhosoeverderiveshisreligionfromtheBookofGodandtheteachingsoftheHolyProphet,themountainmaymove

fromitsplacebuthewillnotbeshakeninhisfaith.Buthewhotakeshisreligionfromanotherman,willrefuteit.ThepersonwhodidnotunderstandourstatusfromtheQuran,isnotsafefrommischief',whichmeansthepresentQuranistheStandardfortheidentificationofImamat.'

FromtheSixthHolyImam:'SurelyGodhasrevealedintheQuranthenormofeverything.SurelyGoddidnotleaveanythingwhichpeoplewouldbeinneedof,butHerevealeditintheBook,sothatnobodycouldsayIwishithadbeenthereintheQuran.ThereisnomatterunderdisputebetweentwopersonsbutthereisarulingforitintheQuran,butpeople'smindcannotgraspit,whichclearlyshowsthattheQuranisshortofnothingbutthattheshort-comingisfromourside'.

FromtheFifthImam:'WheneverIinformyouaboutsomethingyoushouldaskifitisintheQuran.'TherearemanytraditionsofsimilartonenarratedbyKaafihereandelsewhere,assertingthateverythingisinthepresentQuraninhand,buttheordinarypeoplemaynotbeabletograspit.WewouldlikeheretosummarisethegistofallthesetraditionsinthewordofAli:InnallahaTajallafiKitaabihile-ibadeh=GodmanifestedHimselfinHisBookformankind.

SixthImamnarratesfromtheHolyProphet:Foreverytruththereisawayofverificationandforeveryrightthingthereislighttobethrownonit.ThereforewhateverisinconfirmitywiththeQuran,takeit,andwhateveriscontrarytoit,leaveit.'

TheSixthImamwhenaskedabouttheconflictingreportsnarratedfromtheHolyProphetorfromtheImamsoftheHouseoftheHolyProphetsaid:

'TheonewhichissupportedbytheevidencefromtheQuranorfromthesayingoftheHolyProphettakeit,otherwisereturnittothepersonwhohasbroughtit.EverythingshouldbevaluedbytheBookofGodandtheteachingsoftheHolyProphetandanytraditionwhichdoesnotagreewiththeBookofGod,isspuriousandmustberejected.'

TheSixthImamnarratesthroughthechainofhisancestors,thefollowingastheSermondeliveredbytheHolyProphet:

'Oyepeople!Yeareinanabodeoftruce,andyeareonjourneyandthemovewithyouisfastandindeedyeseethenightandday,thesunandthemoon,bothwearingouteverythingnewandbringingneareverythingwhichwasfarandbringingeverythingpromised.Equipyourselveswithprovisionfortheremotejourney.'StoodupMiqdadbn-Aswadandasked:

'OApostleofGod!Whatistheabodeofthetruce?"

Theabode(halt)totakeprovisionsandleave.'

HerepliedtheHolyProphetandthencontinuedthesermon.

'WhenevertheordealsbecomeforyousoconfusinganddarklikeapartofdarknightyeadheretotheQuran.Verilyitistheintercessorwhoseintercessionisacceptedandthepleaderwhosepleadingisapproved.Hewhokeepsitinview(ashisguideornorm)itguidethhimtoParadiseandhewhoputsitbehind,itwilldraghimtohell-fire.Itistheguidewhichguidethtothebestpath.ItistheBookwhereinaredetailsandexplanationandtheextractanditisthedecreenotajoke.Andithasanouteraspectandaninnerone.TheOutersideislawandorderwhiletheinnersideisknowledgeandenlightenment.TheOuterisafascinatingbeauty,theinnerisdeep.Ithasbottomsandthebottomhasbottomsandsoonitswondersareinnumerableandincomprehensible-notitsmarvelsareeverwornout."

Thereinarethetorchesofguidanceandtheminaretsofwisdom,andguidancetowardsknowledgefortheonewhounderstandsthedescription.

"ThusitisfortheseekertocontinuehissearchsothathissightshouldreachthefactdescribedbyGodandthusberescuedfromperditionandentanglements.Verilythemeditationonitisalifedirectinganawakenedheartjustasthetorchilluminatesonewhowalksindarkness.Therefore,itisonyetodevoteItoitdulywithouttheleasthesitation.

'ItwouldhavebeenimpossiblefortheSixthImamtoreferpeopletotherecommendationoftheHolyProphetabouttheQuranifitwasnotwithinthereachofthepublic.TheabovementionedstatementsoftheImamsareafewexamplesoutofthemanynarratedintheauthenticbooksofShias.Inconfirmationofthosetraditions,thestatementsofleadingscholarswhoarerelieduponassupremeauthorityafterthedisappearanceofthelastImam,arementionedhereunder.

ShaikhKulaini

Kulaini(AbuJa'farMohammedbn-Yaqoob-e-Kulaini329A.H,authorofKaafiintheintroductionofhiscelebratedworkKaafistates:

"PassedawaytheHolyProphet,leavingbehindamonghispeople(Ummat),theBookofGodandtheExecutorofhiswill,Ameerul-Mo-mineen,theCommanderoftheFaithfulandImamul-Muttaqeen,theleader,theguideofthepiousones(PeaceofGodbeonhim)asthetwoinseparableassociates,eachoneofwhom,standsasawitnesstothetruthoftheother.'PointingoutthesourcesofthetrueknowledgeofGod'sreligion,Kulainiquotesthetwotraditionswhichhavealreadybeenquotedabove,andinansweringthequestionabouttheconflictingtraditionsnarratedbydifferentreportsandthemethodfortheirverificationhesays:

'BeholdOmybrethren!MayGodguideyouthatnoneamongthescholarscandistinguishthetrueandfalseonesoftheconflictingtraditionsexceptinthewayshownbytheHolyImamswhosaid.'

ReferthemtotheBookofGodandthentheonewhichagreeswiththeBookofGod,takeit,andtheonewhichdisagreeswiththeBookofGod,rejectit.'(Ref.IntroductionofKaafi)

ThisquotationfromKulalniprovesbeyonddoubt,thattohimtheQuranandtheAhlulBaitweretwoinseparableandinfallibleauthoritiesleftbytheHolyProphetamongthepeoplefortheirguidanceandthattheQuranwasthecriterionforthescrutinyofthetraditions.AssuchitisutterlyunfairtoallegethatKulainihaddoubtsaboutthegenuinenessoftheQuransimplybecausehehadmentionedinhisbooksomesolitaryreportsandnewswhichtosomemayappearasindicatingTahreefnotwithstandingthefactthatthereportsinquestionarecapableofdifferentinterpretationasalreadypointedout.Itneedstoberememberedthatinattributingadoctrinetoapersonoracommunity,meretraditionsandreportscontainingintheirbooksshouldnotbetakenintoconsideration.Onlystatementswhichshowtheirviewsbasedonthetraditionsandtheothersourcesofthefaithshouldbetakenintoconsideration.TheabovestatementistheviewofKulainiabouttheQuran.

ShaikhSadooq

NexttoKulaini,theoutstandingauthority,isAbuJa'farMohammedbn-Alibn-BabawaiQummiknownasSadooqwhohasexpresslydealtwiththesubjectinhisfamousbook'E-teqadaat=theBeliefs'.ButhereSadooq'sviewsarequotedthroughtheauthorityofMullahMohsin-e-Faiz,inhisworkWaafitoproveunanimitybetweenthetwogreatauthoritiesseparatedfromeachotherbyaboutsixcenturies.TheMullah

reportsofSadooq,saidourShaikh,(Mayhebeblessed)inhis'Eteqadat'asfollows:

'OurbeliefisthattheQuranwhichGod,theMostHigh,revealedtoHisProphetMohammed(Peacebeonhimandonhisfamily)iswhatisbetweenthesetwopads,thecollectionwhichisinthehandsofthepeople(theQuran)wasnevermorethanthis.ThenumberofitschaptersaccordingtothepeopleareonehundredandfourteenandaccordingtousChapters93&94areoneandChapters105&106arealsoone.Whoeverascribestousthatwesaythatitwasmorethanthis,heisaliar.'

TheabovestatementclearlyshowsthatitisnotonlythepersonalviewofSadooqbutistheunanimousverdictofalltheShiaauthoritiesprecedinghim,anditdoesnotreferonlytothequantitybutitalsoindicatesthegenuinenessinarrangementasitisinthehandsofthepeople.HadtherebeenanydiscrepancyotherthaninthenumberoftheSurahorthequantityofmatterregardingthearrangements,Sadooqwouldhavepointeditoutinthesamemannerashedidaboutthetwosetsofthefourchaptersreferredtoabove.SadooqgivesouttheproofinsupportoftheShiaviewabouttheQuran,andMulla-e-FaizconfirmingSadooq'sviewssays:

'Whatevertraditionhascomeaboutthe'Tahreef'ordistortion,itmustbetakentomeandistortiononlyintheinterpretation,applicationandthesignificanceoftheversesoftheQuranandnotinitswording.(WaaficlosingchapterontheQuran).Sadooqdiedin381A.H.nearly82yearsafterKulaini.

ShaikhMufeed

TheviewthattraditionindicatingthedistortionoftheQuranbyprofanehandsaftertheHolyProphetmeansdistortionintheinterpretationoftheQuranbutnotintherecitativemiraculoustext,asconfirmedbythefamoustheologianandjuristofhistimeMohammedbn-NaomanknownasShaikhMufeedwhosucceededSadooqastherecognisedauthorityandDivineofShiafaith.Hediedin413A.H.HeassertsinhiscommentaryonE-teqaadatofSadooqthatallthetraditionsandreportsaboutdistortionoftheQuranreceivedfromAhlulBaitrefertowhatwasrecordedinthecollectionofAli(A.S.).Ali'scollectioncontainedbesidesthetext,commentariesandinterpretationandsomeinnermeaningsofthetextinhand.Theomissionorchangeofarrangementorevenadditionmighthavetakenplaceintheexplanatorypassagesofthecollectionandnotinthetextinhand.Forexamplealongwiththerevelationofthetwoverses5:3and5:67regardingthedeclarationofAli'sImamat

atGhadeer-e-Khumseverallengthyexplanatorypassageswererevealed,asrecordedinTafseer-Saafi,buttheywerenotthepartofthetextofthetwopassagesinquestion.5:3

Thisdayhavethosewhodisbelievedespairedofyourreligion,sofearthemnot,andfearMe

ThisdayhaveIperfectedforyouyourreligionandcompletedMyfavoronyouandchosenforyouIslamasareligion5:67OApostle!deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLordSyedMurtazaA-lmulHudaNexttoMufeedcomeshisleadingdisciple,thegreatscholarandtheheadoftheShiaDivines,Alibnal-Husainbn-Moosa,descendantof7thImamMoosabn-Ja'far(popularlyknownasSyedMurtaza,'A-lmulHuda=thebannerofGuidance).HisyoungerbrotherMohammedbn-Husainbn-MoosaknownasSyedRazithefamousscholar,hascollectedtheselectionsofHazratAli'sspeeches,conversationsandlettersknownasNahjulBalagha.SyedMurtazadiedin426A.H.HeisknownforhisrationalapproachtoalltheoreticalandpracticalteachingsofIslam.HisviewsabouttheQuranarethecondensedextractofallnarrationsfromAhlulBaitandtheviewsoftheprecedingShiatheologians.HisviewsweretakenasastandardandquotedbytheShiatheologianswhocameafterhim.HeinsiststhattheQuraninhandisinletter,word,sentence,verseandchapterthesameasitwascollectedandarrangedunderthedirectionsoftheHolyProphetandwasleftbyhimamonghisUmmatalongwithhisItratasthesupremesourceofguidance.TheQuraninwholeandparthasreachedusgenerationaftergenerationthroughthousandsandthousandsofpeoplewhohadlearntitwiththeutmostcarefromtheirpredecessors.SyedMurtazasaysthattodoubtthegenuinenessoftheQuranasawholeorinpartmeanstodoubttheexistenceofwellknowncitieslikeMeccaandMedina.

OtherShiaScholars

NextcomestheShaikh-ut-TaifapopularlyknownasShaikhToosi,theauthorof'Kitaab-e-Tahzeeb'and'Istibsaar',whohascarefullydealtwiththesubjectinhiscommentaryknownas'Tibyan'andnarratedthereintheviewofhismasterSyed-e-Murtaza.:NexttoShaikh-e-ToosiwasthecelebratedShiaCommentatorShaikh-e-Tabarsi,theauthorofthewellknowncommentary,'Majma-ulBayaan.

'ThesameviewwascontinuedtobeadheredtobythemostcelebratedDivinesof

Shias,generationaftergenerationtilltheestablishmentoftheShiaDynastyofSafawiteinIran.Duringthisperiod,thesameviewwasadvocatedbytheShiaDivines,thenamesoffewofthemarementionedhere:Mohaiqiq-e-Karakiwhohaswrittenaseparatebookonthesubject,hassaidthatanystatementinsupportofTahreefshouldbeinterpretedifpossibleastomeanTahreefinapplication-otherwiseitshouldbetotallyrejectedbecauseitisagainsttheQuranandauthenticSunnatandtheunanimousverdictofscholars.MullaMohsin-e-Faizalreadyreferredto.SyedHashimBahrani-TafseerBurhan.

Thoseamongthescholarsofthelastthreecenturiesare:

'ShaikhMohammedHusaintheauthorofthePrinciplesofJurisprudencewhohasdiscussedinhisstandardbook'Fusool'aboutthegenuinenessoftheQurananditssupremeauthority.Thecelebratedjurist-scholarShaikhJa'farinhisbook,'Ka-shiful-Ghita'claimstheunanimousverdictoftheScholarsaboutthegenuinenessoftheQuranwithoutanyomission,additionoralteration.-LateDivineHajiMohammedEbrahimK'albasi-MohaqiqBaghdaditheauthorofCommentaryon'Waafia.ThencomesthecelebratedScholarsonallSemiticScriptures,lateShaikhMohammedJawadBalagh,whoinhisintroductionoftheCommentaryknownas'Alaa-urRahmaan'advocatesthesameview.ThelateDivineAyatullahBuroojerdialsoheld,andadvocatedthesameviewindetail.SyedShah-ShahanibeforeBuroojerdi'authorof'OrwatulWothqa'supportedit.ThesameviewisheldbythepresentDivinesmentionedbelow:AyatullahSyedMahmoodShahroodi(Najaf).Inabriefanswerreceivedfromhim,hehassaidthatnoadditionhadtakenplaceintheQuran.Thereisnothingnon-QuranintheversionoftheQuraninhand.Inthelightofhisstatementanargumentisevolvedthatanyalterationintheformormatterofthepresentversionwouldmeantheexistenceofnon-QuraninthepresentversionwhichthelearnedDivinehasrefuted.-AyatullahSyedMohsinHakim(Najaf).AyatullahSyedAbulQasimKhoi(Najaf)theauthorofthecommentaryknownas'Albayan'thevaluableworkwhichhelpedusthemostinpreparingthisnote.Hisworksarerecommendedtoourreaders.-AytullahSyedHadiAl-HusainyAl-Meelani/Mashhad.-AgaHajiMohammedHussainTabatabai,authorofAl-Meezan.Inshort,theoverwhelmingmajorityofShiaDivinesofUsooliSchool,whosemainobjectistherationalisationofrevelation,whichmeansuseofsound

reasoningingraspingtherevelation,havealwaysbeenthefirmadvocatesofsupremeauthoritativestatusoftheHolyBookanditsgenuinenessasitisineveryhand.ItisonlyafewAkhbariortraditionalistScholarsandmaybeaveryfewusooliwhohavenotpaidproperattentiontothequestionandhavebeenmisledbythecontradictorytraditionsmentionedandrefutedabove.

TheVariousRecitationsoftheHolyQuran

BeforeclosingthischapteritisnecessarytonotedownafewpointsaboutthevariousrecitationsoftheHolyBook.Nodoubtthatthereexistsvariousrecitationsaboutcertainwords,phrasesandsentencesoftheHolyBook.TherearesevendifferentrecitationsascribedtothesevencelebratedrecitersoftheHolyBookwholivedbetweenthelastpartofthefirstcenturyandthethirdcenturyHijra.Thesesevenrecitersareveryfamous;thenextthreearenotsofamous.NoneoftheserecitershaveseenorheardtheHolyProphetnordoanyofthemclaimtohavereceivedhisparticularrecitationdirectlyfromtheauthorisedcompanionsoftheHolyProphet.Itseemsthatsomeoftheirrecitationsarebasedontheirownpersonaldiscretionofthelinguisticconsideration;andforsomeoftheirrecitationstheyclaimthattheyreceivedthemfromthereciterswhohadreceivedinturnfromtheirpredecessors(companionsordisciplesofthecompanions).

AnywayonedoesnotfindthevariousrecitationsbeingproperlytracedbacktotheHolyProphet.Theyaremereconjecturesbasedonsomenon-authenticreportsthatalltheserecitationswereallowedbytheHolyProphet.HoweveritisgenerallybelievedthatallthesesevenortenrecitationshavebeenallowedbytheImams(AhlulBait).Besidesthesesevenortenrecitations,therearesolitaryreportsaboutsomedifferentrecitationsascribedtoImams(AhlulBait)orsomeauthorisedcompanionsoftheHolyProphet.Thesearetermedas'Qiraat-e-Shaazza=SporadicandUnpopularRecitations.NoneoftheShiatheologianshasallowedsuchrecitationsincompulsory,oroptionalprayeroringeneralrecitations.Thevarietyofrecitationsinquestionshouldnotbeconfusedwiththequestionof'Tahreef'alterationbyaddition,omissionorarrangementofletters,words,phrases,sentences,passagesandSurah(Chapters)whichmayaffecttheexactmeaningandsignificancesofthewordinginquestion.Varietyofrecitationmeansvariouspronunciationsofletters,words,phrases,changeofvowelsandpunctuationsetc.whichdonotaffectthemeaningandsignificanceofthewordingatall.Forexample,to

recite'MalikorMaalik'therewillbenochangeinthesignificanceofthesetwopronunciationswhichbotharetrueofGodandcarrythesamesignificancesofar'HE'isconcernedthoughtheymayhaveslightlydifferentshadesofmeaningiftheyhaveuseditaboutsomeoneelse.Fromthegrammaticalpointofviewalsobothpronunciationsreferredtoabovearecorrectandpermissible.Havingalltheabove

mentionedpointsinview,weshouldliketoreconcilebetweenthecontroversialviewsheldbydifferentexpertsofrecitationsandthecelebratedreportsofImams(AhlulBait),whichassertthattheQuranisthewordoftheAbsoluteOne,revealedinonerecitativeformandnomoreandthatthedifferencesinrecitationshavebeenbroughtaboutbythereciters.WetakethisreportasgenuineandworthyofbeingsaidaboutthewordofGod,butitisnotimpossiblethatsomeofthecompanionsoftheHolyProphethadthewordsinquestioninadifferentwaywhichisgrammaticallycorrectalso,andtheHolyProphetendorsedthepronunciationforthesakeofconvenience.

ThismighthavehappenedinsomecasesbutafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphetthecompanionsmighthavethoughtitaprivilegeforthemtorecitedifferentlyifaccordingtothemnochangewouldbeaffectedinthemeaningandsignificanceoftheword.Andsodidthedisciples.Eachbegantoadvocatetheappropriatenessofhischoiceofrecitationswhichgraduallybegantowidenthegapbetweenvariousrecitations.ItcausedthecompanionslikeHuzaiafutbnYamaniandtheotherloyalfollowersoftheHolyProphettheapprehensionthatthistendencymightleadtofurthercontroversieseveninthetextoftheQuran;sotostopthistendencyfromgainingstrength,itwasdeemedadvisabletogiveofficialrecognitiontotheoriginalrecitationwhichusedtobefollowedbytheHolyProphetandtodisallowtherecitationschosenbythecompanionsafterhisdemise.

However,therulingpartycouldnotsucceedinsuppressingtheotherrecitationswhichhadcometousbutitstoppedfurtherdevelopmentofvariousrecitations.Duetotheabsenceofsubstantialdifferencesinthoseofficialandnon-officialrecitationstheHolyImamsofAhlulBaitallowedpeopletochooseanyofthecurrentrecitationsandstoppedthemfromrecitingunpopularandsporadicrecitationsascribedtothe'House'oftheHolyProphet(AhlulBait)orothercompanions.HoweveritseemsthatrecitationsbyImamsofAhlulBaitwerealmostthesameastherecitationsascribedtoObaibnKa'bThisrecitationandtheKoofirecitationoftheQuranandtheirpunctuationswerealmostthesameastaughtbypersonswhohadlearntfromAli(A.S.).TherecitationofA-asimHamzahbnHabibHumranbnAyoon,ThaabitbnDinar,Amrbnal--Ullaandmanyotherswereveryclosetoeachother,anditissaidthattheirrecitationsdifferfromtheofficialrecitationadoptedbyCaliphOthmaanattenplaceswhichwerealmostinsignificant.However,itshouldbenoteddownthatitiswrongtoascribetheofficialrecitationtoZaidbn-ThaabitashasbeendonebysomecontemporarySunniwriters.

TheHolyProphetwouldnotfollowanycompanion'srecitationparticularlyofapersonlikeZaidbn-ThaabitwhoisnotatalltherecognisedstudentoftheQuran.OnthecontraryCaliphOthmaanandZaidbn-Thaabitmaybegivencreditthattheyhad

triedtoadopttheHolyProphet'srecitationintheirofficialcollectionandsotheyhavesucceededtoagreatextent.AsitwaspointedouthereandelsewherethevarietyofrecitationsmeansonlythedifferenceinpronunciationoftheQuranicwordingwhichisgrammaticallycorrectandalsodoesnotaffectanychangeinthemeaningandsignificanceofthewordings,therefore,oneshouldbecarefultoavoidunpopularrecitationsascribedtoAhlulBaitandotherauthoritieswhichaffectthemeaningandsignificanceofthewordings.TherearesuchunpopularrecitationsinthebookofQiraat=RecitationswrittenbyMohammedbn-AhmedSaiyariacontemporaryoforseniortoKulaini.Heisquotedhereandtherebysomeprominentjuristsasanauthoritybutheisnotsoundandreliableandhasnogoodrecord.HisbookKitaab-ul-QiraatcontainssuchunpopularrecitationswhichunderminesomefundamentalarticlesofShiafaith;e.g.in14:41insteadofpopularrecitation(/),hegivestheunpopularrecitation(x)withtheexcusethatEbrahim'sfatherwasnotaMuslimtobeprayedforthoughitisthefirmfaithofShiasthatEbrahim'sfatheraswellasotherprophets'parentswereMuslimsandthatthenon-believer'Azar'wasnotthefatherofEbrahim.14:41

OourLord!grantmeprotectionandmyparents414:41

OourLord!grantmeprotectionandmysons

'TheotherexampleisthatSaayeriassertsthatHazratAlialsoconfirmedCaliphaOmar'sclaimthatthepassageconcerningthestoningofadulteresswasapartoftheQuran.Thisstatementissoabsurdthatitnaturallydiscreditsitsauthor.IfCaliphaOmarbelievedthatthiswasthepartoftheQuranandAliconfirmeditwhichpoweronearthcouldhavepreventedthesetworivalstoinsertthepassageintheQuranandwhatmadeCaliphaOthmaannottotakeintoconsiderationtheirview.TheTafseerofImamHasanAskari(theeleventhImamoftheHouseoftheHolyProphet)asitisinourhandsnowcontainsstatementswhichlikeSaayari'sbookshouldbediscredited.ThereisnodoubtthattheeleventhImam(A.S.)dictatedabriefcommentaryoftheQurantosomeofhisdiscipleswhohadapproachedhimwhenhewasinSammaraunderhousearrest.Thedictationundoubtedlywasofgreatvaluebutitseemsthatitwastamperedwithbeforeitspublication.ThepersonaccusedofdoingthisprofaneactisAhmedbnSahlDeebaji.

ConfusedArguments

Explaination

Afterthepublicationofauthor'sfirsttreatiseonthegenuinenessoftheHolyQuranasapartofintroductiontotheTranslationofQuranbyMirAhmedAli,hereceivedlettersandarticlesagainstthegenuinenessofthearrangementoftheQuran(inhand).He,thereforeconsidersitimperativetorefertotheargumentsadvancedagainstthearrangementoftheQuranandtoaddafewlinestowhatwehavealreadysaid.Themainargumentsforwardedintheaforesaidarticlesandletterswithourrepliesareasfollows:

1.TheQuranwasnotcollectedandarrangedduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphet.Wehaveprovedbeyonddoubtthattheallegationisentirelyunfoundedandthatitwasmadeandpublicisedforpoliticalreasons.

2.HazratAli'scollectionproducedaftertheHolyProphetanditsarrangementwasdatewise.Ithasbeenprovedthatthisallegationalsoisnotcorrect.ThetextanditsrevealedcommentarywereputintowritingbyHazratAliasithadbeendictatedtohimbytheHolyProphetthenandthere;sothetextanditsarrangementwasthesameastheonewhichisinourhand.Thedifferencebetweenhimandhisopponentswasonthequestionofinterpretationasdeclaredbyhimandhisfollowersinpublicrepeatedly.TheQuranwhichAlibroughttothemosqueduringthereignoftheFirstCaliphalsocontainedcommentarywhichwasnotacceptabletotherulingparty.SoAlitookbackhiscollectionandafterwardsnobodyhadthechanceofseeingitexceptthesuccessiveImamsofhisHolyhouse.Ashasalreadybeenpointedout,thereisnosinglereliabletraditionfromtheImamsofAhlulBaittoshowthatthearrangementofhiscollectionwasdifferent.Allthatissaidinthisconnectionismereconjecture.

3.SomeofthetraditionsassertthatthedeviationsmadebythefollowersofthepreviousprophetsincludingtamperingwiththeirscriptureswererepeatedbyMuslims.Wehaveexplainedthattraditionsofthisnaturedonotmeantherepetitionofthosedeviationsinthesameform.ItistruethatsuchmisdeedshavebeenrepeatedinIslaminspiritbutindifferentforms.ForexamplethefollowersofMosesworshippedthegoldencalfduringtheabsenceofMoses.SuchamisdeedapparentlydidnottakeplaceinIslam.ButastudentofIslamichistorywillrealisethatthesamerebelliousspiritmanifesteditselfafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphetwhenthe

questionofobedienceto'Hujat=Supremeauthority'arose.Mischievoushandshadtamperedwiththetextofpre-Qura'nicscriptures;butinthecaseoftheQuran,thetextcouldnotbetamperedwithduetoitswidepopularityandpublicityeversincethebeginningofitsgradualrevelation.Soeffortwasmadetotamperwithitsinterpretation.

4.TheotherargumentforwardedbytheprotagonistsofthisviewisthatinthepresentQurantheMadaniandMakkiChaptersarenotarrangedchronologically.Thesameisthecasewithsomeversesi.e.someversesofMakkiSurahareinMadniSurahandviceversa;andthatsomeabrogatingpassageshaveprecededtheabrogatedpassages.Wehavealreadyrefuted,thenecessityofchronologicalarrangement.ThereisnoargumentwhatsoevertojustifythatthearrangementoftheQuranshouldbedatewiseaccordingtothedateofitsgradualrevelation.Onthecontrary,ithasbeenprovedthatthegradualrevelationmeansnothingbutpiece-mealrecitationandquotationsfromthebookwhichhadalreadybeenrevealedinitsentiretytotheheartoftheHolyProphetontheesteemednightinthemonthofRamazan.ImportanceisattachedtothedateofMakkiorMadniSurahorpassagesonlybythosewhohavefailedtotakeintoconsiderationtherevelationoftheQuranasawholementionedafore,anditsarrangementinthestagesofgradualrevelation.SecondlythereisnosuchabrogatedpassagesinthepresentversionoftheQuranwhichhavecomeaftertheabrogatingpassage.Moreoverthereisnoargumenttoprovethattherecitationshouldbeinaccordancewiththeorderofabrogatedandabrogatingpassages.ForrecitationalpurposesandmemorisingHolyQuranbyeveryone,therhythmicalandotherfactorsaretakenintoconsideration.

5.Themainargumentadvancedbytheadvocatesofthisviewisthesupposednon-appropriatenessofthepresentpositionofcertainpassagesoftheQuran.ThismadethemtoevolvetheideaofmisarrangementoftheHolyBookbymischievoushands.Afewexamplesofsuchpassages(accordingtothem)aregivenbelowtowarnthestudentsoftheQurannottotrytocovertheirinadequacybydiscreditingthewordsofGodwhich'HE'has:promisedtoprotectforever.

Verse2:142andChangeofQibla

Accordingtothem,thisverseshouldhavebeenplacedaftertheverse2:144,becauseoftheobjectionofthefoolishdisbelieversthatthereasonforthechangeofQibla

shouldhavecomeafterthepassagewhichdeclaresthenewdirectiontowhichoneshouldturninprayersasQibla.ThisargumentprovesnothingbutlackofproperstudyoftheQuranbythecritics.TheolddirectiontowardswhichtheMuslimsusedtoturnintheirprayersasQiblawasabolishedinverse115ofthesamechapterwhichannounces,'God'sistheeastandwest,therefore,toanydirectionyeturn,thatdirectionwillbeGod's.'

Thiswasenoughtogiveroomtothe'foolishpeople'toaskastowhatmadetheMuslimstogiveupthatparticulardirectiontowardswhichtheyusedtoturnintheirprayers.Thisquestionhadnothingtodowiththefixationofthenewdirectionwhichcomesaftertheverse142.Thereforethearrangementofthepassagesbeginningwiththeverse106abouttheabrogationofonesignofGodbyanothersignuptotheverse150withwhichthequestionofabrogationofoldQiblareachesitscompletionisentirelylogicalandsystematic.Everypassagehasbeenplacedappropriatelyinitspresentposition.Ifapersonfailstounderstand,heshouldblamehisownshort-comingsandnotthearrangementoftheQuran.

Verse2:234andtheRequisitePeriodofIddah

And(asfor)thoseofyouwhodieandleavewivesbehind,theyshouldkeep234:2themselvesinwaitingforfourmonthsandtendaysItmeansthatawomanafterthedeathofherhusbandshouldnotremarrybeforetheexpiryofthesaidperiod=4months10days.Itissaidthatthisverseabrogatesverse240whichisadirectiveeithertothehusbandbeforehisdeathortotheheirstofixforayearsomemonetaryallowanceforawidowandallowhertocontinueresidinginthesamehouseofherhusbandforthesameperiod,ifshelikestodoso.2:240

Andthoseofyouwhodieandleavewivesbehind,(make)abequestinfavoroftheirwivesofmaintenanceforayearwithoutturning(them)out.Aproperstudyofthetwoversesprovesbeyonddoubtthatthereisnoconflictbetweenthetwopassagestoestablishabrogationofonebytheother.Verse234isadirectivetothewidowtoobserveIdaah=4months10daysafterthedemiseofherhusband.Verse240isarecommendationaddressedtothehusband,beforedeath,ortotheheirstofinancethewidowandallowhertocontinuetostayinthesameresidentialhouseofthedeceasedhusband,forayearifshelikes.Onepassageenjoinsonhernottomarryapersonforaparticularperiodandtheotherpassagerecommendsotherrelevantpersonsabouther

stayattheplacewiththeprovisionofhermaintenanceduringtheperiodofstay.Thereisnoconflictbetweenthetwopassagesatall.Onthecontraryverse240indicatesthattheheirscanaskthewidowtovacatetheplaceafterayear.ThissupportstheShiaschoolofFeqh(jurisprudence)thatthewidowdoesnotinheritthelandoftheresidentialhouseofherhusband;andthisrestrictsthedirectivegivenin4:12whichshowsthatsheshouldhavenoshareintheresidentiallandleftbythehusband.4:12

Andyoushallhavehalfofwhatyourwivesleaveiftheyhavenochild.Butiftheyhaveachild,thenyoushallhaveafourthofwhattheyleaveShemaybeentitledtoitsvaluebutnottothelanditself,otherwisetheheirswouldhavenorighttoaskhertovacatethehouseafteroneyearbecauseshehasashareintheproperty.Thereforeinsteadofholdingthepassagesinquestionascontradictorytoeachother,verse2:240shouldbeconsideredtobestillinforcerestrictingtheabovementionedverse4:12concerningtheshareofawidowinthepropertyofherhusbandinthesensethatsheisnotentitledtotheresidentialland.

Verse5:3andtheCompletionoftheMessage

Itissaidthatverse5:3isnotinitsproperplace.Itshouldhavecomeaftertheverse5:67:5:3

Thisdayhavethosewhodisbelievedespairedofyourreligion,sofearthemnot,andfearMe.ThisdayhaveIperfectedforyouyourreligionandcompletedMyfavoronyouandchosenforyouIslamasareligion.5:67

OApostle!deliverwhathasbeenrevealedtoyoufromyourLordThecriticthoughtthatthecompletionofreligiondependsonthedeliveryofthelastmessage.HethoughtthereligioniscompletedwhenitslastvitalissueisdeliveredtomankindandignoredthefactthatthedeliveryofthismessagetomankindisastagewhichcomesafteritsbeingcompletedfullybyGod.AreligioniscompletedwhenitsvitalandfinalissueisdecidedbyGod,notwhenthemessageaboutthevitalissueisdeliveredtomankind.Thecompletionofreligiondepends,onDivinedecisionanddecreewhichshouldproceeditsdeliveryorannouncement.ThisissupportedbythereportsfromtheImams(AhlulBait)whichshowthatthepassagedealingwiththe'completionofthemessage'wasrevealedwhentheHolyProphetwasstillinMinaorArafatandthepassage,orderingtheHolyProphettoannouncethe'Completion'wasrevealedafter

theHolyProphetleftMeccaforMadina(referTafseereSaafi.Itshouldbeborneinmindthatthephrase'Al-Yaum=TodayortheDay'usedtwiceinverse3andonceinverse5ofthesameChapterdoesnotrefertoaparticulardayoftwenty-fourhoursofourcalendar.ItalsodoesnotrefereithertotheDaywhenonepassagewasrevealedatMinaortheDaywhentheotherwasrevealedatGhadeer,on18thZilhija,becausethecontentsofthesetwoverseshadbeenrevealedonvariousoccasionslongbeforethedayofLastPilgrimageoftheHolyProphettoMakka.

Thereforethephrase,'Al-Yaum'shouldbeinterpretedtomeanoneof'Ayyaamul-Allaha=God'sDays'whichmeansvariousperiodsorstagesofdevelopmentofevolutionintherealmofcreation,Divineadministrationandlegislation.Accordinglyinthehierarchyofthearcofascent,thestageatwhichtheDivinedecisionconcerningthevitalandfinalissueofIslamwasrevealedtothelastpropheti.e.prophetofIslamshouldbecalledtheDay=Alyoum,becausetheDivinedecisionconcerningthisissuemeansthefinalityofallpreviousissues.Withoutdecisionofthisfinalissue,noissuecanbeconsideredassettled.So'Al-Youm'referstothelaststageinthearcofascentwherethequestionof'Wilayat=leadership'issettled.

Anotherobjectionofthecriticsregardingthepassagesinverse3isthatithascomebetweenthepassagesoftheversewhichdealswiththevariouskindsofprohibitedfoodssuchascarrion,blood,pork.Attheendofthisverseafterthepassageof'completion'theQuranallowsoneinunavoidablecircumstancestousetheprohibitedfoodtotheminimumextentpossible.Accordingtothecritics,thepassageofcompletionisirrelevantbetweenthepassagesbeforeandafterinthisverse.Thecriticsignorethesuperrhetoricalhintwhichmakesthepassageofcompletionquiterelevanttothepassagesmentionedbeforeandafterit.Itshowsthatnobodycandisregardthevitalissueofreligioni.e.thequestionofImamatandfollowtheleadgivenbyothersexceptinunavoidablecircumstancesinthesamemannerthatoneisnotallowedtoeattheprohibitedfoodexceptinunavoidablecircumstances.Inshort,theQuranhasplacedobediencetoundeservingleadersinthesamelineasthatofprohibitedfood.

Verse33:33andtheWivesoftheProphet

Theverse33:33knownasAyaTat-heerhasbeenplacedbetweenthepassageswhichcontainwarningtothewivesoftheHolyProphet.Thismadesomecommentatorsto

includethewivesoftheProphetalsointhetermof'AhlulBait'usedinthepassage.33:33Andstayinyourhousesanddonotdisplayyourfinerylikethedisplayingoftheignoranceofyore.Andkeepupprayer,andpaythepoor-rate,andobeyAllahandHisApostle.Allahonlydesirestokeepawaytheuncleanessfromyou,OpeopleoftheHouse!Andtopurifyyoua(thorough)purifying.Thusthecriticsthoughtthatthisparticularpassagehasbeenmischievouslyshiftedfromanotherplace.Butboththecommentatorsandthecritics,ignoretheDivinepurposeofplacingthisparentheticalsentencebetweenthepassagesofwarningtothewives.Allthepronounsusedinthepassagespertainingtothewivesareinpluraloffemininegender,butthepronounsinthisparentheticalsentenceareplural,masculinegender.

Moreoverthestructureofthesentencewiththeparticularparticle'Innama'denotingexclusivenessanduseoftheobjectivephrase'A-nkum'governedbythepreposition'A-n'beforethephrase'Ar-Rijis'whichisalsoinobjectivecasegovernedbytheverb'Yuzheba'denoteinclusionofAhlulBaitexclusivelyastheobjectofDivineintentionforpurification.Thusthestructureoftheverseshows,beyonddoubtthat:-somemalesarealsoincludedwhichjustifiestheuseofmasculinegender;-theobjectofDivineWillisaparticularpersonexclusiveofallotherpersons;sothatwillandintentioncannotbeconsideredlegislativewhichisgeneralincludingall,itmustbecreativeone;-thewivesoftheHolyProphet,someweresubjecttoreproach,andsomethoughtheyweregoodyet,therewerepersonsbetterthanthemamongthefemalebelievers(66:5)buttherecanbenonebetterthanthemembersincludedinAyat-Tat-heermentionedabove.66:5Maybe,hisLord,ifhedivorceyou,willgivehiminyourplacewivesbetterthanyou,submissive,faithful,obedient,penitent,adorers,fasters,widowsandvirginsHavingalltheseconsiderationsinview,inclusionofwivesinthispassagebecomesimpossible.Therefore,thejustificationofbringingthisparentheticalsentencebetweenthepassagesconcerningwiveswasafurtherwarningtothemnottohavetheideaofbeingincludedinthepassage.Thustheappropriatenessofthepositionofthepassagehereisveryclear.ThisissupportedbythereportindicatingtheplaceandmannerinwhichtheHolyProphetannouncedtheinclusionofparticularpersons.Accordingtowhat'Muslim'(BookofTraditions)hasrecordedinhis'Saheeh'whenthepassagewasrevealed,theHolyProphetwasintheroomofAyesha.TheHolyProphetaskedforasheetMurte-ArjalandorderedAli,Fatima.HasanandHusaintojoinhiminsidethesheetandsaid,

'OhmyLord,thesearemyAhlulBait'.AccordingtoAyesha,theHolyProphetexcludedheranddidnotallowhertojointhem,thoughtheoccasiontookplaceinherroom.Accordingtosomeotherreports,theeventtookplaceinthehouseofUmeSalemah.AndwhenUmeSalemahaskedtheHolyProphetifshecouldgetunderthesheet,hesaid,

'Althoughthouartagoodlady,yetthesearetheonlymembers,myAhlulBait.'

HoweverwhetherinthehouseofAyeshaorUmeSalemahortheincidentwasrepeatedatbothplaces,theinclusionofAli,Fatima.HasanandHusainunderthesheetinquestionandexclusionofthewives,isinaccordancewiththeexclusivenatureofthisparentheticalsentencebetweenthesepassages.Thepassageislikeagemstuddedinthering.Theringcannotbeincludedinthegem,andthegemisnotlikethering.Insupportofthis,thereisareportfromthe5thImamMohammed-e-Baqer(A.S.)thatthepositionofthispassageamongthepassagesconcerningthewiveshavemanyindications(videSafi).

Verses42:23andtheNearRealatives

Itissaidthatthecelebratedpassageinverse42:23knownasAyaMawaddat-ul-Qurbaisnotinitsproperplace.ThechapterwasrevealedinMeccamostprobablyevenbeforethebirthofFatima(A.S.)thoughtheSunniandShiatraditionsassertthatthetermQurba(nearness)herehasbeenappliedtothesamepersonstowhomAyat-Tat-heer(33:33)andAya-e-Mubaahala(3:61)havebeenappliedi.e.Ali,Fatima,HasanHusain,whoweretheclosesttotheHolyProphetinrespectofspiritandblood-relationshipandmanyatimetheHolyProphetdeclaredthattheywereidentifiedwithhimandhewasidentifiedwiththem.42:23Say:Idonotaskofyouanyrewardforitbutloveformynearrelatives3:61Butwhoeverdisputeswithyouinthismatterafterwhathascometoyouofknowledge,thensay:Comeletuscalloursonsandyoursonsandourwomenandyourwomenandournearpeopleandyournearpeople,thenletusbeearnestinprayer,andprayforthecurseofAllahontheliars33:33

llahonlydesirestokeepawaytheuncleannessfromyou,OpeopleoftheHouse!Andtopurifyyoua(thorough)purifying.

TheantagonistsofAhlulBaitrejectedthetraditionsonthepleathatitisafabricationofpro-AhlulBaitgroup.ButboththecriticsandantagonistsarelackinginaproperappreciationofthesignificanceandapplicationofthepassageinquestioninthelightofotherpassagesandversesoftheQuran.GrantingthattherevelationofthewholeSurahincludingthispassageatMeccawasbeforethebirthofFatima,HasanandHusain,yetnobodycandenythattheSurahandthepassagewererevealedafterverse26:214'andwarnthenearestofthykin'.

ThiswasrevealedinconnectionwiththeinvitationofthekinbytheHolyProphettohelphiminhisDivinemission.OnthisoccasionnoneoftherelativesorkinrespondedandacceptedhisofferbutAli.Itprovesthatheandnoneelse,then,wasthenearestpersontotheHolyProphetinrespectofboththespiritandbloodrelationship.SoevenifitisgrantedthatallthemembersoftheHouseoftheHolyProphetwerenotbornandpresentatthetimeofrevelationofverse42:23,thereisnodoubtthatAliwasthere.Itwouldbeenoughfortheappropriatenessofrevelationandapplication,ifoneofthememberslikeAliwaspresent.Theapplicationoftheversetoothermembersofthesamestatuswhowouldbebornlateronwouldbequitenatural,asacorollary.ThetraditionswhethernarratedbySunniorShiatraditionalistsshownothingmorethanquotingofthisversebytheHolyProphetinthecaseofAli,Fatima,HasanandHusainrepeatedlytoconfirmthesignificanceoftheverseandtheextentofitsapplicabilitytothepersonsofaparticularstatusi.e.thosewhoenjoynearnesstotheHolyProphetinspiritandrelationship,whoareneartoorratheridenticalwithhiminpurityofspirit,birthandconduct.ItincludesnotonlytheabovementionedfourpersonsbutthesuccessiveImamsofthe'HolyHouse'too.ItexcludesthosewhosenearnesstotheHolyProphetwasduetomerebloodrelationshipbutwhowerelackinginhighdegreeoffaithandpurityofconduct.Nexttothosepurifiedpersons,italsoincludesthosewhohavethehonourofcompleteattachmentinspirit,faithandconducttothoseabovementioned'purifiedpersonalities'likeSalmaan.However,deliberateefforthasbeenmadetomakethisversevagueanditsapplicationdoubtfulbytheanti-AhlulBaitgroup,eversinceitsrevelationuntilnow.Thisattemptmadesomecreduloustraditionalistsofpro-AhlulBaitgrouptodenytheappropriatenessofitspositionintheMakkiChapter.

StupidInterpretationofVerse42:23

ItisnotoutofplacetorefertovariousinterpretationsofthisversebytheantagoniststhattheversedoesnotmeanthattheHolyProphetshouldaskanyrewardtowardsthedeliveryoftheDivinemessagetomankind.

Theysaythat:

1.theexceptionalphrase'excepttheloveforthesakeofnearness'maymeanthatnoexpectationofanyrewardmadetopreachtoyou(addressinghisrelativesQurashites)exceptmyloveofyouforthesakeofyourrelationshiptome.

2.itmaymean'Idonotaskforanyrewardfromyousavethatyoushouldloveeachotherforthesakeofrelationship.

3.theHolyProphetwasorderedbyGodtoaskhisopponentrelatives(theQuraish)tolovehimbecauseofhisbeingrelatedtothemandnottogivehimtrouble.ThefirsttwointerpretationshaveonepointincommonthattheHolyProphetdoesnotaskforanyreward.Intheformer,itshowsthatthemotiveofhispreachingistheloveofhisrelatives,andinthelatterthemotiveistomakethemloveeachotherforthesakeofrelationship.Boththeinterpretationslimithismotiveofpreachingthatheiseitherconcernedwithhisrelativesandnone-elseoronlyadmonishespeopletoloveeachotherforthesakeofrelationshipignoringallotherimportantteachingsofIslam.

Moreover,bothinterpretationsareagainstverse34:47.'Say,OhProphet!therewardwhichIhaveaskedyouisinyourinterest.'TheverseassertsthattheHolyProphetwasorderedtoaskforsomereward,buttherewardinquestion,isconsequentlyintheinterestofthosefromwhomheisorderedtoaskforit.ItisobviousthattheHolyProphet'smissionwasnotconfinedtothings,whichwouldbebenefitingtheQuraish,hisrelatives,becausehewas'RahmatulilA-alameen=Universalgrace'.

Norwasthemissionconfinedtomakingrelativesloveeachother.ThepurposeofhismissionandtheextentofhisteachingsweretoenableapersontoattainthehigheststageofnearnesstotheAbsolute,andtobeawayfromthedeedswhichdragonetohell.ThethirdinterpretationmeansthattheHolyProphetorderedtoasktheunbelieversforreciprocallove.Thisisquiteagainstthespecificdeclarationin58:22thatnoreciprocalloveshouldexistbetweenthebelieversandnon-believers,particularlythosewhoopposeGodandHisapostleeveniftheyarecloserelatives.58:22ThoushaltfindnotapeoplewhobelieveinGodandthehereafterbefriendingthosewhoopposeGodandHisApostle,betheyeventheirownfathers.

ortheirsons.

ortheirownbrothersortheirkinsmen.58:

TheyarethoseGodhathinscribedfaithintheirheartsandhath.

strengthenedthemwithaSpiritfromHimself;58:

andHewilladmitthemintogardens'neathwhichflowrivers,theyshallabidetherein;58:

withGodwell-pleasedwiththemandtheywillbewell-pleasedwithGod;58:

TheyarethepartyofGod;Beitknown.58:

VerilythepartyofGodaloneshallbethesuccessfulones.Thatbeingso,howcoulditbepossiblefortheHolyProphettorequesthisantagoniststolovehimforthesakeofrelationship.Accordingto19:96,thereciprocalloveisbestowedbyGodonthosewhobelieveandpracticerighteousnessandnotbetweenthebelieversandnon-believers:19:96Verilythosewhobelieveandworkgooddeeds,theBeneficent(God)willappointloveforthem.

TheOnlyPossibleInterpretationofVerse42:23

Thefourthinterpretationreferstowhatisadheredtobyallthepro-AhlulBaitcommentatorswhetherofSunniorShiaschoolandsupportedbyseveraltraditionalist.

TheversemeansthattheHolyProphetwasorderedbyGodnottoaskanyrewardexcept'Mawadda=Love'forcertainpersonsforthesakeoftheirnearnesstohim.Thisnearnesscannotbemereblood-relationshipornearnessinspiritregardlessofbloodrelationship,becausecertainpersonswhowererelatedtohimweredeclaredasthemembersofhisHousefreefrominwardandoutwarduncleanlinessandpurifiedtotheutmostextentof'purification.'Thusthesepeopleenjoybothnearnessinspiritandbloodrelationship.Thisinterpretationisfurtherdefinedandclarifiedin34:47whichsaysthattherewardaskedforwasintheinterestofthosefromwhomtherewardwasaskedfor.34:47Saythou:WhateverrecompenseIhaveaskedforyou,itisonlyforyourselves;Myrecompenseis(tobeexpected)fromGod(alone),AndHeisWitnessoverallthings.In25:57theQuranassertsthattherewardinquestionwasaskednotfromeverypersonbutonlyfromthosewhointendtoadoptawaytowardstheirLord(God):25:57Saythou(OurapostleMohammed!)'Iaskyenotaughtofanyrecompense(formyministry)savethathe,whowilltakethewayuntohislordThismeansthatthosewhointendtoapproachGodinspiritshouldlovethosewhoenjoynearnesstotheHoly

Prophetinspiritandbloodrelationship.ThetrueloveforthosepersonsisthesolemeansforapproachingGod.Ifallthepassagesgivenabovearetakenintoconsideration,therewillnotbetheslightestdoubtthatthewordQurbaintheexceptionalsentenceilalMawaddatfel-Qurba'(i.esaveloveforthesakeofnearness)istheonlymeanstohelponetoapproachGod.IsnotapplicabletoanyonebutthemembersofAhlulBait,thepurifiedImamsoftheHouseandtheQueenof

ParadiseFatimaandnexttothemtothosewhoareattachedtotheminsoulandspirit.Thereisthusnoroomfortheotherthreeinterpretations.

TheFirmnessoftheChallenger

Inverses2:3&4,10:37&38,theQuranchallengesthescepticsanddisbelieverstoproducethelikeofoneofitsChapters.

ThisistheminimumtheyareaskedtoproducebecausethesmallestChapteroftheQuran,Al-Kowthar,containsonlythreeveryshortverses.Inverse11:13,thescepticsanddisbelieverswereaskedtobringtenchapterslikeit.Inverse17:88,theJinnandInnswerechallengedtojointogethertoproducesomethingresemblingtheQuran.Inverses52:33and34thechallengeisthattheyshouldproducesomethingliketheQuran.Accordingtothecritics,thepassagesdifferfromeachother.Insomechapterslike2&10,thechallengeismadeforonewholeSurah.

InChapter.11,thechallengeisfortenSurahs.Inchapters18&52,thechallengeisabouttheQuranasawhole.Sotheycriticisethataccordingtothepresentarrangementinthebeginning,thechallengewasmadeinrespectofoneSurahandwhenthescepticsanddisbelieverstriedtoanswerthatchallengethenumberwasincreasedtoten;andwhentheyshowedreadinesstoanswerthatalso,thenthechallengeextendedtothewholebook,andthisshowsthatthe'Author'wasnotfirminhischallenge.ThisargumentagainsttheQuranwasevolvedbytheopponentsofIslamandtheearlywritersofthepseudoreligionsofmoderntime.ItwillbesurprisingifanyShiaorSunnitheologianfallsintothetrapofthisfallacy.ThereisnottheslightestdoubtthatChapter.2oftheQuranisthelatestChapteramongthechapterscontainingtheabove-mentionedchallengingverseandthereinthechallengeisforoneSurahandnothingmore.Thisshowsthatthe'Author'(God)hasalwaysbeensureofHisstandandthatnonewouldeversucceedinproducingthelikeofeventhesmallestchapteroftheQuran.Thisverseleavesnoroomfortheabovefallaciousargumentagainstthefirmstandofthe'Author.TheaboveargumentshowsthatduetothelackofproperstudyoftheQuran,theadvocatesofthetheoryofmisarrangementcouldnotunderstandtheappropriatenessofthepositionoftheverses.Theyfounditeasiertodiscreditthearrangementthantoadmittheirownignorance.Thisisthereasonwhytheadvocatesofthisviewdifferfromeachotheringivingreferencetotheverse.ThereisnotasingletraditionfromtheHolyProphetorImamstoshowthatany

oftheaforesaidversesorChaptersarenotintheirproperposition.Theattackonthearrangementoftheversesisnothingbutaconjecturebasedonwhimsandfancies.SuchinnovationshavegainedpopularityamongsomeschooloftraditionalistsparticularlyinIndia.Itseemstohavebecomeamatterofpersonalprestige.HoweverrespectablemaybethisgroupbutgenuinenessoftheQuranwithitsauthoritativestatusismoreimportantasanarticleoffaiththananyotherconsiderations.HazratAlitoldTalha:

'TheQuraninitsentiretygivenforrecitationinthehandsofthepeopleisthesameQuranwhichhasanirrefutableproofofAhlulBait'sauthoritativestatus,thenecessityoftheirbeingobeyedbythepeopleandtheirrightstobeobservedbyall.'OntheResurrectionDaytheHolyProphetwillcomplaintoGodthatthis'Quran'wasforsakenbyhisfollowers:25:30

Andshallsay(out)theApostle(thatday)

"MyLord,verilymypeoplehaveheldthisQuranasavainforsakenthing!ThiscomplaincannotbetrueunlesstheQuraninitsentiretyfromallaspectsbewithinthereachofthosewhohaveforsakenit,otherwisethetoneofcomplainwouldhavebeendifferentandtheHolyProphetwouldhavesaidthatthepeoplehavetamperedtheQuran.Itwouldmeanthatwhatwasleftamongthem,itwasnotQuran.TheproperstudyofthisverseisthebestproofagainstTahreefinanyshapeandform.TheQuranitselftermsasLight.

TheHolyProphetandalltheinfallibleImamsofhishousehavealsotermeditas'lightofguidance'whichifadheredto,willilluminatethedarkest(unknown)regionsandaspectsofcreationinitsrelationtomankind,providedastheHolyProphethassaid,

'Onekeepsitbeforehimalwaysasatorchlight.'

Theveryfactofitsinimitabilityisenoughtoanswerandrefuteallthatissaidagainstitsgenuinenessandauthoritativestatus.Thosewhoclaimthatthearrangementoftheletters,words,phrases,sentences,passagesorchaptersoftheQuraninhandisnotthesameaswasleftbytheHolyProphetamongthepeoplewithItrat,meanthatthearrangementisnon-revealed;sotheQuranrequiresofthemimperatively:toproducetheQuraninanyotherarrangementprovideditssuper-rhetoricalstandardandrecitativeandrhythmicalbeautyisnotaffected.Itistruethatmanynon-MuslimsandsomecreduloustraditionalistsandtheologianshavetriedtoproducetheQuraninachronologicalform,buttheyfailedmiserablytokeepthatinvinciblebeautyandsuperrhetoricalstandard.Howeveritisamatterofregretthatthosewhoclaimtobenot

onlytrueMuslimsbutqualifiedstudentsofIslamictheologyshouldsaythattheQuranasrevealedtotheHolyProphetandleftbyhimamongthepeopleasanever-lastingmiracle,didnotremainintactforsixteentoseventeenyears,butthattheQuraninitsnon-revealedarrangementproducedbyZaidbn-ThaabitandafewOmayidyouthsofnoacademicsignificancehasremainedintactuntiltoday.

LastSermonofCaliphOmarThereisalengthytraditioninBukhari,Vol.4.Chapter,StoningofPregnantAdulteress.

Bukharinarratesitfrombn-Abbaas.ItcontainsimportantmatterwhichthrowslightontheeventsimmediatelytakingplaceafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphet,ofwhichoneistheviewofOmar(SecondCaliph)abouttheOmissionofsomeversesfromtheHolyQuran.ItshowsthathewasthefirstonewhoannouncedtheincompletenessoftheQuraninhand.Thetranslationofthetextisgivenheretoenlightenthereaders.TextFromBukhariAccordingtobn-Abbaas,heusedtoteachtheQurantosomedignitariesamongMohajireen.OneofthemwasAbdur-Rahmaanbn-Auf.Oncebn-AbbaaswenttoAbdulRehman'sresidenceatMinawherehewasnotavailableandhadgonetoanotherpartofMinatomeetOmarbn-KhattabwhowasonhislastpilgrimagetoMecca.HewaitedforAbdulRehman.OnhisreturnAbdulRehmansaidtobn-Abbaasthathewishedthatbn-AbbaaswaspresentatOmarbn-Khattab'sresidencewhenacertainpersoncametotheCommanderofFaithful(Omar)andinformedhimthatsomeonehadtoldhimthatwhenOmarwoulddie,hewouldgivehisvoteofallegiance(doBaia-t)toacertainpersonanditwouldbelikeAboBakrcomingtopowerbyunconstitutionalmethod(FAL-TA)regularisingitlateron.Onhearingthisstatement,Omargotenragedandsaid:

'Atthatevening,Iwillpubliclywarnthosepeoplewhointendtousurptherightofpeople.'

AndfurtherAbdulRehmanadvisedOmarnottodoittherebecauseinHajSeasonpeoplehadgatheredfromallthecornersofthecountryandtheywouldtrytobenearOmar.Theymighthearsomethingfromhim(Omar)andwithoutunderstandingwould

narrateitimproperly.Itwouldbebettertokeepquiet.AbdulRehmanhadsuggestedOmarthatifhewentbacktoMedina,sensibleandnoblepeoplewouldhearhimandreactproperly.OmarrepliedtoAbdulRehmanthatonthefirstoccasionafterarrivalinMedinahewouldfollowhisadvice.BnAbbaassaysthatonthefirstFridayaftertheirarrival(inMedina)hehurriedtotheMosquenearnoonandfoundSa-eedbn-Zaidsittingclosetothepulpit.Hesatnearhim.MeanwhileOmarenteredtheMosque.BnAbbaastoldSa-eedthatOmarwoulddeliverasermonthelikeofwhichwasnotutteredbefore,butSa-eeddidnotbelieve.OmarsatonthepulpitquiettillAzan(callforprayer)wasover.ThenhestoodupandafterpraisingGodsaid:'Iamgoingtosaysomething.

ItisdestinedformethatIshouldsay.ItmaybemylastsermonbeforeIdie.Whoeverhearsandunderstandsshouldconveymystatementwhereverhegoes.Whoeverdoesnotproperlygraspmyutterance,Idonotallowhimtotellliesaboutme.Godhassent'Mohammed'HisTrueProphetandrevealedthebooktohim,ofthepartofitwastheverseconcerningthestoningtheonewhocommitsadultery.Wereadtheverse,understoodanddigestedit.Theprophetdidstoneandwetooafterhim.IamafraidthataftersomelengthoftimesomepeoplemaysaythattheydonotfindtheverseinquestionintheBookofGodandwillgoastraybygivinguptherevealedordinanceofGod.

ThestoningofanadultererisapartoftheBookofGodwhethertheactiscommittedbyamanorawoman,whenprovedbyawitness,pregnancy,orconfession.Besidesthat,weusedtoreadintheQuran'Donotturnawayfromyourparents.Itisingratitudetoturnawayyourparents.(ThestructureofboththesentencesutteredbyCaliphOmardiffersfromtheDivinestyleoftheQuran.Itseemstobeapieceofimaginationofthespeaker.)

ThenOmaruttered:'ProphethassaidthatheshouldnotbeworshippedinthesamemannerasitwasdoneinthecaseofJesussonofMary.Concerningme,youallcansaythatIamaservantofGodandtheProphet(AbduhooWaRasooloh.).IhavebeeninformedthatsomeofyouhavesaidthatifOmarwoulddie,hewoulddoBaia'tonthehandsofsomeone.OneshouldnotbemisledbytheBaia't-e-AbiBkr=VoteofAllegiancetoAbiBakr.Itwasunconstitutionalandlateronitwasregularised.Yesitwasso.ButGodsavedusfromitsevilconsequences.OfyounoneislikeAbiBakrtowhompeoplemaysubmit.WhosoeverreceivesBaia'twithoutconsultingMuslimsshouldnotbefollowednorthepersonwhodidBaia'twithsuchperson,lesttherewillberiftandfightamongtheMuslims.'(CaliphOmaracceptstheBaia'tofAbiBakrwasunconstitutionalwhichmighthaveresultedinevilconsequences.InthefaceofthisconfessionbyhimtodefendtheunconstitutionalactwhichhascontinuousrepercussionsontheMuslimsisworthconsidering.)

ThenOmarstatedtheeventsafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphet:'TheAnsargatheredinSaqeefa.AliandZubairandthosewhowerewiththemremainedaloof.TheMohajirsapproachedAbiBakr.ItoldAbiBakrthatweshouldgotoSaqeefa.OnthewaywemettwopersonsfromAnsars.Weinformedthemofourintention.TheysaidthatweshouldnotgothereandsettleouraffairswithoutapproachingtheAnsars.IinsistedtoproceedSaqeefa.Wefoundapersontherewrappedinmantle(Chadar).Iaskedhimastowhowashe.HesaidthathewasSa'adbnObadahsufferingfromfever.WhenwesatatSaqeefa,thespeakerfromAnsarsafterpraisingGodremindedustheservicesofAnsarsforIslamandaddressedtheMohajirsthattheyweredrivenoutfromtheirhomeandwereshelteredbyAnsarsandnowtheMohajirswantedtodeprivetheAnsarsoftheirrights.Whenhefinishedhisspeech,IwantedtotalkwhichIhadpreparedinmymindbutAbiBakrdidnotallowmetotalkandIhadtosubmittohimasIdidnotliketoannoyhim.AbiBakrspokeextemporebetterthanwhatIhadpreparedinmymind.HeacceptedtheservicesofAnsarsforwhichtheydeservedthepostbutsaidthepostsuitsnonebutthetribeofQuraishonaccountoftheirancestralsuperiorityandsacrednessoftheirnativeplace(Mecca).ThenAbi-BakrproposedoneofthetwopersonsofQuraishwhowerewithhim(i.e.OmarandAbi-Obaidah).AtthattimeIfeltmyselffarbelowtherankofbeingtheheadofthepeopleamongwhomAbiBakrwasone.MeanwhileaspeakerfromtheAnsarssaidthathewouldsettlethedisputeinthefollowingmanner,'youhaveyourownheadandwehaveourownhead.'Whenthedisputeincreasedandthevoiceraisedtothehighextent,thenIfearedthesituationmaybecomeworse,thereforeIforcedAbi-Bakrtostretchouthishand.IdidBaia'tandwithmeotherMohajirsalsodidBaia't.SomeoftheAnsarsfollowedthem.ThenwemanhandledSadbn-ObaidhawhorefusedtodoBaia't.Somebodysaid,'YoupeoplekilledSa'dbn-Obaidah.'

Isaid,'Godmaykillhim!'

FurtherOmarsaid:WethoughtthattherewasnothingbetterthandoingBaia'twithAbiBakrbecausewewereafraidofleavingthem(i.e.theoppositeparty)withoutBaia't.IfweleavetheoppositepartywithoutBaia't,theymayhavedoneBaia'twithsomeoneamongthemafterus.ThenwetoohadtodoBaia'twiththepersonwhomtheyhavechosen.Itwassomethingunavoidableandifopposed,therewouldhavebeenriftandquarrel.Therefore,whosoevertakesBaia'twithapersonwithoutapprovalandconsultationwiththeMuslims,hisBaia'tshouldnotbefollowedbyothers.NorthepersonwithwhomhehasmadeBaia'tshouldbeacceptedasCaliphlesttherewillberiftandquarrel'.

ThegistofthesermonofCaliphOmarinthisconnectionshowsthatthefirstBaia'ttookplaceaftertheHolyProphetwasnotbasedonanycertifiedvirtue.ItwaspurelybasedontribalbureaucracytowhichtheywereaccustomedbeforeIslam.Therift,of

whichhewasafraidcontinuedthroughoutthehistoryofIslamandnostableformofGovernmentcametopowerwithoutuseofforcewhichwasagainsttheQuranicguidance.

AStudyoftheBook:FaslulKhitabAfterdiscussingindetailtheviewsofthecelebratedtheologiansandjuristsonthegenuinenessoftheQurananditsauthoritativestatus,onefeelsitisinevitabletoremovethefallaciousnotionscreatedbycertainauthorsandafewsolitaryandweaktraditionsrelatingtoTahreefi.e.,thedistortionoftheletters,words,versesorthearrangementoftheQuran.InthelasttwocenturiesofHijrasometraditionalisthadtriedtoquestionthestatusoftheQuranwithintheverynarrowfieldofthesporadictraditionswhicharedearertothemthanreasonandtheQuran.

Inthebeginningofthepresentcentury,LateHajiMirzaHusainNooriwhobelongstothisgrouphaswrittenmanyvaluablebookswhichearnednameforhim,butunfortunatelyhisbook'FaslulKhitaab'abundleofcontradictionsrepresentstheviewsagainsttheunanimousverdictofShiascholarsofallcenturiesregardingthegenuinenessoftheQuranandmadehimsubjectedtotheseverecriticismofhiscontemporarieswhosesuperiorityisunquestionable.Thestudyofthebookwillshowthatitrefutesitsowncontentions.WhileheinsiststhattheQuranwasnotputintobook-formasitisnow,heassertsatthesametimethatAli(A.S.)usedtowriteeveryverseoftheQuranwithitsrevealedcommentaryanditsinnersignificancebytheorderoftheHolyProphet.HerethequestionariseswhetherAli'swritingoftheQuranwasbasedonparticularorderorsystemorwasitsomethinghaphazard?

SecondlyitisobviousthattheHolyProphet'sreferencetotheBookofGod,thetextofwhichhewasleavingamongthepeoplewithAhlulBait,wasincompleteaccordwiththetextwhichhehadalreadydictatedtoAli.

ThereforethereisnoroomleftfortheauthorofFASLULKHITABtoassertthattheQuranwasnotputintowritingduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphet.ThestorythatAlihadkepthimselfengagedincollectingtheQuranafterthedemiseoftheHolyProphetisnothingbutamerefabricationoftherulingpartyjusttogivereasonforAli'sdelayinparticipatingBaia't.TheywantedtoprovethatAlithoughtthatthecollectionoftheQuranwasmoreimportantthantheissueofBaia't,otherwisehewasnotopposingtoAbi-BakrbeingCaliph.ThisbaselesspropagandagaveachancetotheunscrupuloustraditionalistofthelateperiodtoacceptthefactthattheQuranwasnotcollectedandarrangedduringthelifetimeoftheHolyProphet.AnotherpointwhichtheauthorofFaslulKhitabtakesitforgrantedisthatthearrangementofsocalledcollectionofAliwaschronological.Withoutrepeatingthedetailswhichhavebeenalreadydiscussedpreviously,itisanacceptedfactthatnoShiatraditionalisthas

ascribedthechronologicalarrangementtoanyImam(Masoom).ThefirstpersonwhoattributedthistypeofarrangementtoAli,isbnSirreenwhosefidelitytoAhlulBaitisquestionable.

AllthatwehavereceivedfromAhlulBaitaretwotraditionsinthisconnectionnarratedbyKaafifromthefifthImamthroughJaber-e-Jaufi.Jabersays:'IheardthattheHolyfifthImamAba-Ja'farusedtosaythatexcludingAlibnAbi-TaalibandtheHolyImams=Aima-MasoomeenafterAli,nobodyexceptaliarcouldclaimthathehadcollectedtheQuranaswholeasitwasrevealedcompiledandpreservedasGodhassentitdown.'

NexttothistraditionKaafinarratesthroughthesametraditionalistJaberfromthesameImamthathe(theImam)saidthatexceptthesuccessorsoftheHolyProphet(i,e.HolyImams)nobodycouldclaimthathewasinpossessionoftheQuranasawholewithitsouterletters,exotericformandinnersignificance,esotericform.ThesecondtraditionfromKaafiexplainswhattheImammeantbytheword'Quranasawhole'asitwasnarratedinthefirsttradition.TheImammeantthatnobodyexceptAliandhissuccessiveImamswereinpossessionoftheHolyQuranwithbothitsexotericandesotericaspectswhichwererevealedtotheHolyProphetanddictatedtoAli(A.S.)thenandthere.ThistraditionisageneralexplanationforallthetraditionswhichhavebeennarratedfromAhlulBaitgivingvariousversionsofparticularverses.Theseparticularversesarenotfoundinthetextinhand,theyrefertotheinnersignificanceoftheverses.

ItissurprisingtheauthorofFaslulKhitabinordertoprovethattheQuraninhandisnotthewholewhatwasrevealed,quotesthefirsttraditionignoringthesecondwhichexplainstheformer.Itisverydifficulttosaythatthesecondtraditionescapedhisnotice.

NoorihascriticisedMullaFaiz-e-KashanifornotnarratingthetraditionwhichstatestheQurancontainsseventeenthousandversesandconfinedhimselftonarratethetraditionsofseventhousandverses.HehasboldlyaccusedMullaFaiz-e-Kashaniofdishonesty.Thequestionofnumberofverseshasalreadybeendiscussedatlengthtodisprovethisstatement.Moreoverhehimselfalsowillnotbefreeofsimilarcharges.Anyhow,allhiscontemporariesandscholarsoflaterperiodwishedthatthelateNooriwouldnothavewrittenthisbookwhichhasdamagedhisreputation.WeliketopointoutherethatMullaFaiz-e-KashaniisfaraboveanyallegationandheisalinkinnarratingthetraditionbetweentheauthorofFaslulKhitabandtheHolyImams(Masoomeen).WhentheaboveauthordiscreditsMullaFaiz-e-Kashani,loosestheimportantlink.SuchinnovationshavegainedpopularityamongsomeschoolsoftraditionalistparticularlyinIndia.Itseemsthatithasbecomeamatterofpersonal

prestige.HowrespectablemaybethisgroupbutgenuinenessoftheQuranwithitsauthoritativestatusismoreimportantasanarticleoffaiththananyotherconsiderations.HazratAlitoldTalha:

'TheQuraninthepeople'shandwhichismeantforrecitationistheQuraninitsentiretyandinthisQuranthereis,airrefutableproofofAhlulBait'sauthoritativestatus,thenecessityoftheirbeingobeyedbythepeopleandtheirrightstobeobservedbyall.OntheResurrectionDaytheHolyProphetwillcomplaintoGodthatthisQuranwasforsakenbyhisfollowers:25:30Andshallsay(out)theApostle(thatday)

"MyLord,verilymypeoplehaveheldthisQuranasavainforsakenthing!

ThiscomplaincannotbetrueunlesstheQuraninitsentiretyfromallaspectsbewithinthereachofthosewhohaveforsakenit,otherwisethetoneofcomplainwouldhavebeendifferentandtheHolyProphetwouldhavesaidthatthepeoplehavetamperedwiththeQuran.OtherwiseitwouldmeanthatwhatwasleftitwasnotQuranwhichwasintheirreach.TheproperstudyofthisverseisthebestproofagainstTahreefinanyform.

ENDNOTE[1]AcomparativestudyoftheQuranwiththeOldandNewTestamentsbringstolightthefactthattheQuraninmanyplaceshasdirectlyorindirectlyrefutedmanystatementsrecordedintheJewishandChristianscripturesheldbytheiradherentsasauthentic;forexample,theQuranrefutes(1)OldTestamentwhichdepictsHaroonthebrotherofMoosa(Moses)asidol-makeroridol-worshipper.(2)Dawood(David)asadultereroramanoflooseconduct,(3)Sulaiman(Solomon)asidol-maker,idolater,amanpractisingwitchcraft,TheQuranpurifiesMariam(Marry)asavirginmotherofEsa(Jesus)whomnomanhadtouchedbeforeorafterthebirthofEsa(Jesus)againstthestatementoftheNewTestament(seeSt.LukeandSt.Matthew'sgenealogy).TheQurandoesnotattachanyimportancetowhattheNewTestamentemphasisesviz.thatEsa(Jesus)wasadescendantofDawood(David)throughtheancestralgenealogyofYusuf(JosephtheCarpenter)whomtheNewTestamentintroducesasthehusband

ofMariam(Marry).TheQuranpurifiesfromallungodlythoughtsandactionsEsa(Jesus)andallotherprophetsfromAdamtothelastoneandtheirtruesuccessorschosenbyGod.TheQuranexpresslynegateswhatthefourGospelsaffirmconcerningcrucification,resurrectionandphysicalsufferingsofEsa(Jesus)atthehandsoftheJews.ItdeniesthedoctrineofsonshipbelievedbytheJewsandChristians,theincarnationtheoryofChristiansandHindus.TheHindutheoryoftransmigrationandunionofAtmaandBrahamaetc.

[2]SofarasAli'stasteandabilityareconcerned,weneednotsayanythingmorethanwhathesaidabouthisown'Mus-haf=collection'.ItwasbasedentirelyontherevealedexplanationdictatedtohimbytheHolyProphet.ThefollowingstatementindicatesnotonlyAli'stasteandabilityregardingthecommentaryoftheQuran,butalsocoverseveryminuteaspectofhislifefrombirthtodeath:

'"TheProphetdidnotfollowbutdivineguidanceandIdidnotfollowbutProphet'sguidance,"(Ali).

ThepoetRumidescribesAliinAli'swordsasfollows:'Iamfaraboveusingmyowndiscretionandconjecturalresearch.IhavetiedmyselftotheonewhohastiedhimselftotheAbsoluteTruth."(VidelastportionofthefirstsectionofRumi'sMasnaviabout'Ali'whichbeginswiththeselines).

[3]AliZainul-A-abideenMohammedAl-Baaqir,Ja'farAs-Saadiq.MoosaAl-Kaazim.AliAr-Riza,MohammedAt-Taqi,HasanAl-A'skari,MohammedAl-Mahdi.

[4]ExampleofIgnoring:Versesinconnectionofinheritanceandpreferencegiventonearestkin'omissionofthephraseZawil-QurbawhenquotingtheverseontheissueofFadak.Exampleofminimisation:PreferencegiventoimaginedadvantagesandexpedienciesagainstthecleardirectivesoftheQuran.RefertotheverseconcerningTayamumandtheversedealingwith'Tamatu'inpilgrimage.

BukharitheBookofTraditions,isitselfanexampleonthissubject.Exampleofcounteracting:

'Wethegroupofprophetsdoneitherreceiveinheritancenorgiveinheritance.

Thisoft-quotedHadeethisagainstclearQuranicstatement:SulaimantheProphetreceivedinheritancefromhisfatherDawood(David)anotherProphet27:16.

[5]TheHolyProphetdeclaredattheassemblyofthedignitariesofQuraish,inthethirdyearofhisministryatAboTaalib'sHouseknownas:TheCallingoftheClosest

KinDa-watel-AsheerathatAliwashisbrother,hisassistant,theexecutorofhiswillandhissuccessortobelistenedtoandobeyedafterhimbyeveryoneasapersonidentifiedwithhiminallrespectsandaspectsofperfectionandattainments'He(Ali)beingwiththeQuranandtheQuranwithhim,theyareinseparablefromeachother,whosoevermasterwouldbetheHolyProphet,Aliwouldbehismasteretc.

[6]Oneshouldhavethefollowingexampleinview,BukharirecordsthestatementofShaubiwhodiscreditedmostofthereportsnarratedfromAli,andMuslim(abookofTraditions)saysthatJa'farJaufiwasinpossessionofalargenumberofHolyProphet'ssayingsnarratedbythefifthImamMohammedbnAlibnal-HusainbutJa'farwasdiscreditedjustbecausehebelievedinRaja't(MinorResurrection).ThesetwoexamplesthrowsufficientlightonthefactthatpeoplewereinpossessionofaverylargenumberofsayingsofHolyProphetnarratedbythemembersofhis'House'andtheirdevotedfollowersbutthepartyinpowerandpriestlysatelliteswereadamantnottogivepublicitytothereportsreceivedthroughtheHolyHouseoftheProphet.HereitisworthnotingthatbnAbbaas,thoughoneofthedevoteddisciplesofAlibnAbi-TaalibandtheadvocateofthecauseofAhlulBait,isfrequentlyquotedbycontemporarycompilersoftraditions.ThemotivebehindtheprominenceattachedtobnAbbaasisnothingbuttopleasetheAbbasidrulersofthetime.

[7]TheauthordoesnotagreewithsomeofthemostspuriousreportsmentionedbyBukhariaboutherbecauseHazratAli(A.S.)saidaboutheraftertheBattleofJamalthatsheshouldberespectedtothesamedegreeandregardedasbefore.ButthequestionishowdoesBukharirecordsuchdamagingreportsabouther?StillhecreditedherwithnumerousreportsaboutthelifeoftheHolyProphetandhisteachings.Onthecontrary,BukhariinspiteofpresentingAliasapersonidentifiedwiththeHolyProphetandtheHolyProphetwithAliseldomquotesanyreportfromhimabouttheHolyProphet.

[8]ReferFootnotesofQurantranslatedbyMirAhmedAli.

[9]ThissystemwasstartedbyAbul-AswadDoeliandcompletedbytheorderofHajjaj.AbulAswadDoeliwasacelebratedgrammarianandoneofthedevoteddisciplesofHazratAli.ForhisachievementsintheserviceofArabicgrammar,heusedtoreceiveinstructionsfromAli.

[10]ItissaidthatfortythousandcopiesoftheQuranwereburntbytheorderofthirdCaliphOthmaan.ThisnumbershowsthewidepopularityoftheHolyBookamongtheMuslimsthroughouttheempire.Itisobviousthattheydidnotsucceedinburningallthecopieswhichpeoplehadwiththem.

Thepeoplewereanxioustocarryouttheorderoftherulerofthetimebuttheywerenothappy.

[11]ThestandardQuranisatranslationorMus'hafulImamanArabictermusedinHadeeth.

[12]Ali(A.S)confirmedthisfactinhisconversationwithTalhathatthethencurrentQuraninhandwasentirelyQuraninpartandwhole.Therewasnothingnon-Quraninit,thatitcontainedtheirrefutableproofsupportingtheauthoritativestatusofAhlulBait,theirrightoverthepeopleandthefactthatthepeoplewereenjoinedtoobeythem.(VideSaafi-Introduction).

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