NO CHANGES IN THE ONE QUR’AN? TRUE or FALSE?

Eusebio Tanicala

Introduction: Let us note several Islamic claims which we often hear from Muslims or read in Islamic literature: (1) Allah wrote the Qur’an in heaven 2,000 years before the creation of the universe, (2) The Qur’an is mother of Books which means it is the first and source of information, (3) The Qur’an has been completely preserved and no change has ever been made since the time of Muhammad, and (4) There is only one Qur’an.

1. Mother of Books?

(a) “a) Abdul-Wahid bin Sulaim narrated: x x x x x 'He said: 'O my son! Do you recite the Quran?' I said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Then recite Az-Zukhruf to me.'" He said: 'So I recited: Ha Mim. By the manifest Book. Verily, We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic that you may be able to understand. And verily, it is in the Mother of Book with Us, indeed exalted, full of wisdom. Then he said: 'Do you know what Mother of Books is?' I said: 'Allah and His Messenger know better.' He said: 'It is a book that Allah wrote before He created the Heavens, and before He created the earth...”

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2155

2. Qurán Written 2000 Years Before Creation

(a) “Narrated An-Nu'man bin Bashir: that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Indeed Allah wrote in a book two thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth, and He sent down two Ayat from it to end Surat Al-Baqarah with. If they are recited for three nights in a home, no Shaitan shall come near it."

Grade: Hasan (Darussalam) Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2882

3. Different Recitations

(a) During Uthman’s time, third caliph, circa A.D. 651-652, different recitations in the general area of Iran-Iraq existed when Islam spread into central Asia like Armenia and Aserbijan. After a battle, the Muslims assembled in a mosque. Varied recitations irritated many which resulted to fisticuffs among the Muslims. Caliph Uthman commanded his men to collect Qur’an copies and burned then. Then he ordered a re-writing of the Qur’an. He sent out copies of this new canon of the Qur’an to Five cities which were re-copied in those regions. The above incident proves that within 20 years after Muhammad died in A.D. 632, changes had taken place in the Qur’an. So, the claim of Muslims that their original Qur’an had been faithfully preserved is a false claim. Note the documentary evidence below:

Uthman Burn Qur’an Copies

(b) “Narrated Anas bin Malik: Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman came to `Uthman at the time when the people of Sham and the people of Iraq were Waging war to conquer Arminya and Adharbijan. Hudhaifa was afraid of their (the people of Sham and Iraq) differences in the recitation of the Qur'an, so he said to `Uthman, "O chief of the Believers! Save this nation before they differ about the Book (Qur'an) as Jews and the Christians did before." So `Uthman sent a message to Hafsa saying, "Send us the manuscripts of the Qur'an so that we may compile the Qur'anic materials in perfect copies and return the manuscripts to you." Hafsa sent it to `Uthman. `Uthman then ordered Zaid bin Thabit, `Abdullah bin AzZubair, Sa`id bin Al-As and `AbdurRahman bin Harith bin Hisham to rewrite the manuscripts in perfect copies. `Uthman said to the three Quraishi men, "In case you disagree with Zaid bin Thabit on any point in the Qur'an, then write it in the dialect of Quraish, the Qur'an was revealed in their tongue." They did so, and when they had written many copies, `Uthman returned the original manuscripts to Hafsa. `Uthman sent to every Muslim province one copy of what they had copied, and ordered that all the other Qur'anic materials, whether written in fragmentary manuscripts or whole copies, be burnt.

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 4987

COMMENT: The above hadith proves that within 20 years after Muhammad died, the Qur’an had been corrupted which needed a re-copying for distribution to major cities. Where is the Hafsa manuscript? Where is a sample copy of a manuscript in Iraq? Islamic claim of perfect preservation is therefore not true. Where is the Uthman manuscript? That was year 651-652 A.D. Another Muslim historian places this event at 645 A.D. We remember that the Latin Vulgate of Jerome was finished in 404 A.D. Copies of the Christian Bible existed in Greek, Coptic, Aramaic, and other national languages. Many Church Fathers have made quotations of scriptures in their apologies. So, the Christian Bible is more believable than the Qur’an.

4. Warsh Qur’an Different from Hafs Qur’an

Why is there a Warsh Qur’an which is popular in North Africa and Hafs Qur’an version in other parts of the globe? Initial investigation reports that no less than 5,000 variants exist between the Warsh Quran and the Hafs Quran.

5. Reproduction of Surah (chapter) 16 Warsh Qur’an is different from Hafs Qur’an Version

Conclusion: The claim of Muslims of One Qur’an, completely preserved since time of Muhammad is FALSE.

Hereunder is an undeniable proof that the Qur’an has been corrupted. Chapter or Sura 16 is the proof submitted by this writer by comparing the two versions of the Qur’an: the Warsh Qur’an versus the Hafs Qur’an in the English translation. We quote the first ten verses of the two Quranic versions:

WARSH VERSION 16. AnNahl

In the name of Allah, All-Merciful and Merciful!

1. Alif, lam, ra. The following [verses] are signs of the Scriptures and the clear Koran.

2. Perhaps the infidels would like to become Muslims.

3. Do not be disturbed by their fate, and let them eat, enjoy [the goods of the world] and amuse themselves with hope. Afterwards they will know [what are the fruits of their deeds].

4. We did not subject any settlement to death, if it was not ordained by [Us].

5. Not a single community will perish before the [predetermined] date and [not for a moment] will postpone [destruction].

6. [The Meccan polytheists] said [to Muhammad]: “O you, to whom the revelation [ie the Quran] has been sent down! Indeed, you are a possessed one.

7. Why did you not come to us accompanied by angels, if you are one of those who speak the truth?

8. [But] We send down angels only with truth, and then no one will be given respite.

9. Verily, We sent down the Koran, and verily, We protect it.

10. And before you [, Muhammad,] We sent messengers to the former nations.

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Verse 99. Worship thy Lord until death appears to you. (NOTE: Verse 99 is the last verse of chapter 16 in the Warsh Qur’an. This wording is different from verse 99 of Hafs Qur’an which is shown below.)

[Quoted from: The Quran, The Original Arabic Text with English Translation for the Holy Quran (a narration of Warsh on the authority of Nafi) Translated by Dr. Sheikh Nasir al-Din Musa © 2022 Arab Islamic Library Publications Limited]

(NOTE: Last verse of this Surah or Chapter of AnNahl is ninety nine (99) in number. Following is the Hafs Version of the Qur’an as material proof that there is another version of the Qur’an. Frankly tell a Muslim propagandist he/she is not telling the truth if he/she insists there is only ONE Qur’an version. Their Qur’an is the book that is truly corrupted! -- ET)

VERSUS

HAFS VERSION An-Nahl (The Bees) XVI

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1. The Commandment (the Hour or the punishment of disbelievers and polytheists or the Islamic laws or commandments ordained by Allah will come to pass, so, seek not to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted is He above all that they associate as partners with Him.

2. He sends down the angels with the Ruh (revelation) of His Command to whom of His slaves He wills (saying): ‘Warn (mankind) that La ilaha illa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I), so fear Me (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds).

3. He has created the heavens and the earth with truth. High is He, Exalted above all that they associate as partners with Him.

4. He has created man from Nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge), then behold, this same (man) becomes an open opponent.

6. And the cattle, He has created them for you; in them there is warmth (warm clothing), and numerous benefits, and of them you eat.

7. And they carry your loads to a land that you could not reach except with great trouble to yourselves. Truly, your Lord is full of Kindness, Most Merciful.

8. And (He has created) horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and as an adornment. And He creates (other) things of which you have no knowledge.

9. And upon Allah is the responsibility to explain the Straight Path.[1] But there are ways that turn aside (such as Paganism, Judaism and Christianity). And had He willed, He would have guided you all (mankind).

10. He it is Who sends down water (rain) from the sky, from it you drink and from it (grows) the vegetation on which you send your cattle to pasture.

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Verse 99. Verily, he has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord (Allah).

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(NOTE: Hafs Version quoted above is the translation of al-Hilali & Khan, printed and published by the King Fahd Complex, Madinah, K.S.A. This Hafs Qur’an version in the English translation has one hundred twenty-eight (128) verses while the Warsh Qur’an Version has 99 verses. Clearly, Muslims are not consistent when they say there is only ONE Qur’an. Take a screen shot of these two versions so that you will have proof of Qur’an corruption to counter Muslims’ claim that the Christian Bible has been distorted or corrupted. When the Warsh Qur’an Arabic text is analyzed, there are 128 verses. Why is the English translation that this writer possesses has only 99 verses? Ask an Islam advocate which version is the true copy of the original if there is one such in heaven? The Warsh Qur’an OR the Hafs Qur’an?  

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