First let me start by making it clear that you understand the difference between Shia and Sunni when it comes to hadith. The Shia do not believe in the perfection (immunity) of any writer, commentator or narrator from mistakes and therefore, they do not take any collection of hadith to be completely valid and correct. The only book which is completely perfect from any mistake is the Quran.
There is no dispute among Muslim scholars, whether they are Shia or Sunni concerning the fact that Imam Ali (as) had a special collection of the text of Quran which he had collected himself and not only that but he was the FIRST who compiled the Quran. There are a great number of traditions from Shia and Sunni which states that after the death of Prophet Muhammad(saw), Imam Ali(as) was in his house and said that he had sworn an oath that he would not leave his house until he had collected together the Quran. (Kanzul Ummal by Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi V:15 pp: 112-113, Al-Masahif by Ibn Abi Dawud, p:10).
The compiled Quran Imam Ali(as) had with him had the following:
1). It was collected according to its revelation, in the order in which it had been sent down. This is the reason that Muhammad Ibn Sireen, the famous scholar and Tabi’i (disciples of the companions of the Holy Prophet), regretted that this transcript had not passed into the hands of the Muslims, and said: “If that transcript were in our hands, we would found a great knowledge in it.” (At-Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa’d V:2 part: 2 p:101, Al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami Ch: 9 Section 4 p:197).
Both Shia and Sunni both agree that the first chapter in the Quran to have been revealed was the 96th chapter, Surah Al-Alaq but yet it’s not the first chapter. Also in Surah Al-Maidah (5) verse:3 was one of the last verses revealed (but some say not the very last one), yet it is found in the fifth chapter of the Quran. This clearly proves that although the Quran that we have available is complete, it is not in the order that has been revealed. (Al-Burhan by Al-Zarkashi, V:1 p:259 Fathul Bari by Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani V:10 p:417). This begs the Question WHY? Where these few misplacements done by some companions on purpose or out of ignorance? It was for this reason that Imam Ali(as) always said when giving speeches “Ask me before you lose me. By Allah, if you ask me about anything that could happen up to the Day of Judgment, I will tell you about it. Ask me, for by Allah, you will not be able to ask me a question about anything without my informing you. Ask me about the Book of Allah, for by Allah, there is no verse about which I do not know whether it was sent down at night or during the day, or whether it was revealed on a plain or in a mountain.” (Al-Riyadh Al-Nadhirah by Al-Muhib Al-Tabari, V:2, p:198).
2). It contained commentary and exact interpretation (Tafsir and Ta’wil) from the Holy Prophet some of which had been sent down as revelation but not as a part of the text of Quran. Some of theses texts can be found in some hadith books like in Usul al-Kafi. These pieces of information were the Divine commentary of the Quran which were revealed along with Quranic verses. Thus the commentary verses and Quranic verses could sum up to 17,000 verses. As Shia’s and Sunnis both know hadith al-Qudsi (the hadith in which the speaker is Allah) is also direct revelation but they are not a part of Quran. In fact Quran testifies that anything that Prophet Muhammad(saw) said was either direct or indirect revelation. (Quran Surah An-Najam(53) Verses:3-4). Whenever it was a direct revelation of the Quran it included the interpretation and commentary too. In addition, this unique collection contained the information from the Holy Prophet about which verses are abrogated or abrogating (Quran Surah Al-Baqarah(2) verse:106), which verses are clear and general and which are ambiguous and metaphorical. (Quran Surah AlI-Imram(3) verse:7).
3). This unique collection also contained references to the persons, the place of revelation, when the verse was revealed, about why the verse was revealed (Asbab al- Nuzul). Since the Imam Ali(as) knew all these things, he would say: “By Allah, no verse has been sent down without my knowing about whom or what it was revealed and where it was revealed. My Lord has gifted me with a mind which has a quick and retaining understanding, and a tongue which speaks eloquently.” (Kanzul Ummal by Al-Muttaqi Al-Hindi V:15 P:113).
After he compiled the Quran, Imam Ali(as) took it and presented it to Abu bakr and Umar and said: “Here is the book of Allah, your Lord, in the order that was revealed to your Prophet.” But they did not accept it and replied: “We have no need of this. We have with us what you possess.” Thereupon, Imam Ali(as) took the transcript back and informed them that they will never see it again. It is reported that Imam Ali(as) recited the following verse of the Quran: “And when Allah took a Covenant from the People of the Book to clarify it to mankind and not to hide its (clarification); but they threw it away behind their backs and purchased with it some miserable gain! and what an evil was the bargain they made!” (Quran Surah AlI-Imran(3) Verse:187). (Hey Sunni’s I have a Question for you. If Uthman arranged the order of the Quran we have today and it was his Idea to put it in the order it is, then what Quran did Abu bakr and Umar use? Exactly you ignorant people it was the same Quran but it was in a different order. But now it’s ok because it was Abubakr and Umar loool. Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 61, Hadith 510).
Imam Ali(as) then concealed that copy and after him it was passed to the Imams who also kept it concealed. It remained concealed with the Imams one after the other to this day because they wanted there to be only one sequence of Quran among the Muslims. Because otherwise if people had two different sequences, it might later result to some alteration in Quran by some evil twisted people. And in fact once again for you ignorant people, this was starting to happen already without this copy because of the confusion of different translation of languages. So it was ordered by your third Khalifa (Uthman)to gather all the other kinds of Quran’s to be burned and he then issued only one language of the Quran (the tribe of Quraish) and chose the order its in. So Ahlul Bayt(as) wanted people to have only one sequence of Quran. Now the Quran and its commentary which was collected by Imam Ali(as) is not available for ANY Shia in the world except to the Imam Al-Mahdi(as). If only Imam Ali’s(as) copy had been accepted wow we would have been in perfection of religion w’Allah. But we should thank the **Great** Abu bakr and Umar for not having it. So now when you read in Usul al-Kafi which says that no one but Imam Ali(as) and the Imams(as) have the Quran in the order it was revealed and that they only have the true meaning of the it’s verses it’s because they had Imam Ali’s collection of it and once again with it, it contained commentary and interpretation noted directly from Prophet Muhammad(saw).
Now when it comes to tahrif we see that sometimes the word is used in some hadith and Quran. It must be made clear that the meaning of this word which has multiple meanings like: change something from its proper place to another place, like changing the right position of sentence or giving it a meaning other than its true or intended meaning. Therefore, it has absolutely nothing to do with the meaning of addition or subtraction from the text. So from the Quranic verse in Surah Nisa that says: “Some of the Jews distort words (Yuharrifuunal-kalima) from their meaning” (Quran Surah Nisa(4) Verse:46). It is this tahrif with this meaning, that the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt(as) have constantly sought to oppose because the other kind of tahrif taking out and putting extra verses is protected by Allah(swt)— (Surely We have revealed the Reminder (Qur’an) and We most surely are its Guardian) (Quran Surah Al-Hijir (15), Verse: 9).
As one example, Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir(as) is quoted about the situation of the Muslims and their corrupt rulers and said: “One of the manifestations of their rejecting the Book (of Allah behind their backs) is that they have fixed its words. but they have altered the limits of its command. They have correctly narrated it, but they do not observe what it says. Ignorant people delight in their preservation of its narration, but the knowledgeable people deplore their ignoring to observe what it says.”
Understand that all Grand Scholars of the Shia sect are in agreement that the Quran which is present among the us today is the very same Quran that was sent down to Prophet Muhammad(saw) and that it has not been altered. Nothing has been added to it and nothing is missing from it. The Quran which was compiled by Imam Ali(as) excluding the tifsir and commentary is the Quran that we have today. No word, verse or chapter is missing. The only difference is that the current Quran is not in the order that was revealed. Abu Ja’far Muhammad Ibn Ali Ibn al-Husain Ibn Babwayh also known as Shaikh Saduq, one of the greatest Shia scholars if not the best on hadith writes: “Our belief is that the Quran which Allah revealed to His Prophet Muhammad is the same as the one which is in the hands of the people, and is not greater in extent than that. The number of Surahs as generally accepted is one hundred and fourteen. And he who asserts that we say that it is greater in extent than that, is a liar.” (Al-Itiqadat Al-Imamiyyah by Shaikh Saduq English version, p77).
Now I find it so funny that the Sunni’s accuse the Shia of not believing that the Quran we have today is the real copy when there own books Question it and say other wise looooooooooooooool.
Sahih Al-Bukhari- Volume 8, Book 82, Number 817– states that Umar Al-Khatabb says that “I am afraid that after a long time has passed, somebody will say, ‘By Allah, we do not find the Verse of the Rajam (stoning of male & female who commits illegal sexual intercourse) in Allah’s Book”. Umar also says in this hadith that they recited this verse “ ‘O people! Do not claim to be the offspring of other than your fathers, as it is disbelief (unthankfulness) on your part that you claim to be the offspring of other than your real father. But that verse is not in the Quran, Hmmm.
Sahih Al-Bukhari- Volume 6, Book 61, Number 509- states that Umar says to Abu Bakr “ Abu Bakr then said (to me), “Umar has come to me and said: “Casualties were heavy among the Qurra’ (READING OF THE QURAN) of the! Qur’an (i.e. those who knew the Quran by heart) on the day of the Battle of Yalmama, and I am afraid that more heavy casualties may take place among the Qurra’ on other battlefields, whereby a large part of the Qur’an may be lost”. READ THE WHOLE HADITH WOW!!! Why didn’t they just take Imam Ali’s copy hmmm. Even Sunni scholars except that he was the first to do so. I gave some references in the beginning.
Some Sunni traditions even claim that the Surah Al-Ahzab (Surah 33) was as lengthy as the Surah of al-Baqarah (Surah 2)!!! The Surah of al-Baqarah is the biggest Surah of the Qur’an. The hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim even detail some of the missing verses. (Sahih Al-Bukhari vol. 8 p. 208) Not only that these Sunni hadith allege that two chapters from the Qur’an are missing with one of them similar to the Surah of al-Bara’ah (Surah 9) in length!!! Sahih Al-Muslim Kitab al-Zakat vol. 2 p. 726
As for the ignorant people that say the Shia apply Taqiyya (lying for the cause of Allah) and we do not release our actual belief on Quran I have this to say. I suggest you go read when and study when this can be applied. You ignorant people never try to understand that Taqiyya is for the time when someone’s life is in danger.
- “[Yusuf Ali 16:106] Any one who, after accepting faith in Allah, utters Unbelief, except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in Faith, but such as open their breast to Unbelief, on them is Wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a dreadful Penalty.”
- “[Yusuf Ali 3:28] Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah.”
Ibn Kathir says:“(unless you indeed fear a danger from them) meaning, except those believers who in some areas or times fear for their safety from the disbelievers. In this case, such believers are allowed to show friendship to the disbelievers outwardly, but never inwardly.For instance, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Ad-Darda’ said, “We smile in the face of some people although our hearts curse them. Al-Bukhari said that Al-Hasan said, “The Taqiyya is allowed until the Day of Resurrection
September 15th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
[…] Taqiyya is in the Qur’an (3:28; 16:106). We will be the first to agree with you that the Shirazi’s have misused and misunderstood the tafseer for the application of taqiyya. Yet, this does not negate this choice given to us by Allah(swt) and if you think you can overrule the Qur’an with your bid’aa, you are gravely incorrect. […]
September 21st, 2008 at 1:40 am
[…] not accepted hadith astagfar’Allah. Unlike you we filter hadith. I wrote about it in an article explaining how there is only one Quran. Go read it. When you bring me a hadith that goes […]
January 11th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
You answer is given by your scholar: “THE ISSUE OF TAHRIF IN THE HOLY QUR’AN 12/01/2011 http://www.followislam.net/quran/tahrif.htm
Tahrif refers to tampering with the letters or words of the verses of the Holy Qur’an, changing them from the original revealed form. There are many weak Hadith about such changes. Indeed, the Shi’ah are often accused of believing in a different Qur’an than the one in common use; one that contains many more verses, including some that clearly state the merits of Imam Ali (A). These accusations are baseless, as we do not and have never had a Qur’an any different from the one all Muslims use today.
The Holy Qur’an itself denies that any verses have been changed because Allah Himself pledges to guard it:
“Verily, We have sent down the Reminder (Qur’an) and We will most surely be its guardian.” (al Hijr, 15:9)
The Holy Qur’an further says:
“Verily those who disbelieve in the Reminder (Qur’an) when it comes to them (should know) that it most surely it is a mighty Book. Falsehood shall never come to it from before it or from behind it, a revelation from the Wise, the Praised One.” (Ha Mim Sajdah, 41:41,42)
From the above verses we see that the Holy Qur’an is divinely protected from any tampering.
The issue of Tahrif is based on the original collection and compilation of the verses of the Holy Qur’an, because there is no question that after the time of the third Caliph, the verses have been transmitted from Muslim to Muslim with any change. If there was any tampering, it would have occurred just after the passing away of the Holy Prophet (S).
From Hadith we know that this cannot have happened. Here are three proofs;
1. The Hadith of Thaqalayn is famous and undisputed. The Holy Prophet (S) said, “I am leaving behind “Thaqalayn” (the two weighty things). The Book of Allah (Qur’an) and my Ahlul Bayt….” The fact that he said he was leaving the Qur’an meant that it was already in a compiled form, and was known to the Muslims.
2. The Holy Prophet (S) said, “Jibrail had placed before me the Qur’an for review once a year and in the last year of my ministry, he did so twice which indicated that the time of my departure from this world was close at hand.” This shows that both Alláh and the Holy Prophet (S) acted to ensure that no alteration in the verses could occur.
3. Various Ahadith from the Holy Prophet (S) describe reciting particular Suras in certain prayers. If these Suras were not known to the people, they would not have understood what to do. It therefore follows that the Holy Qur’an was available already compiled in the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (S).
References:
The Collection & Preservation of Qur’an (Al Bayan fi Tafsiril Qur’an), By: Ayatullah Syed Abul Qasim al Khu’i.
The Holy Quran, S. V. Mir Ahmad Ali.
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