According to Muslims:
The first complete written compilation of the Quran was written during the time of Abu Bakr's caliphate. The task was commissioned by him to Zaid bin Thabit, an official scribe to Prophet Muhammad PBUH. This first manuscript contained every verse that had ever been revealed by Prophet Muhammad PBUH.
The Question:
Muslims often contrast the Quran with the Bible in that there are multiple versions of the Bible but only ONE version of the Quran. Can you really be sure of that?
Sources:
Muslims also believe in a collection of documents called Hadith. Hadith's are of the writing genre of history. They are believed to be written accounts of people who were close to Prophet Muhammad PBUH. They are not believed to be the literal words of God and are not divine texts in that sense. Their accounts give important insights into the life of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH and key events in the history of Islam.
The Difficulty:
Consider the following hadith's.
Narrated Umar bin Al-Khattab:
I heard Hisham bin Hakim reciting Surat Al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle and I listen to his recitation and noticed that he recited in several different ways which Allah's Apostle had not taught me. I was about to jump over him during his prayer, but I controlled my temper and when he had completed his prayer, I put his upper garment around his neck and seized him by it and said, "Who taught you this Surat which I heard you reciting ?" He replied, "Allah's Apostle taught it to me". I said, "You have told a lie, for Allah's Apostle taught it to me in a different way from yours". So I dragged him to Allah's Apostle and said, "I heard this person reciting Surat Al-Furqan in a way which you haven't taught me!". On that Allah's Apostle said, "Release him (Umar) recite, O Hisham!" Then he recited in the same way I heard him reciting. Then Allah's Apostle said, "It was revealed in this way", and added, "Recite, O Umar", I recited it as he had taught me. Allah's Apostle then said, "It was revealed in this way. This Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite of it whichever is easier for you."
Bukhuri: vol. 4, hadith 682, book 56
Narrated Ibn Mas'ud:
I heard a person reciting a (Quranic) Verse in a certain way, and I had heard the Prophet reciting the same Verse in a different way. So I took him to the Prophet and informed him of that but I noticed the sign of disapproval on his face, and then he said, "BOTH OF YOU ARE CORRECT, so don't differ, for the nations before you differed, so they were destroyed."
"Many (of the passages) of the Qur'an that were sent down were known by those who died on the day of Yamama ... but they were not known (by those who) survived them, nor were they written down, nor had Abu Bakr, Umar or Uthman (by that time) collected the Qur'an, nor were they found with even one (person) after them." (Ibn Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Masahif, p. 23)
Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle heard a man reciting the Qur'an at night, and said, "May Allah bestow His Mercy on him, as he has reminded me of such-and-such Verses of such-and-such Suras, which I was caused to forget." (Bukhari, Volume 6, Book LXI, Number 558)
When he gave the salutation, he was asked: Has something new happened in the prayer, Apostle of Allah? He said: What is it? They said: You prayed so many and so many (rak'ahs). He then relented his foot and faced the Qiblah and made two prostrations. He then gave the salutation. When he turned away (finished the prayer), he turned his face to us and said: Had anything new happened in prayer, I would have informed you. I am only a human being and I forget just as you do; so when I forget, remind me, and when any of you is in doubt about his prayer he should aim at what is correct, and complete his prayer in that respect, then give the salutation and afterwards made two prostrations. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 3, Number 1015)
Narrated Abdullah:
I recited before the Prophet 'Fahal-min-Mudhdhakir'. The Prophet said, "It is Fahal-min Muddakir." (Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 397)
Abu Harb b. Abu al-Aswad reported on the authority of his father that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari sent for the reciters of Basra. They came to him and they were three hundred in number. They recited the Qur'an and he said: You are the best among the inhabitants of Basra, for you are the reciters among them. So continue to recite it. (But bear in mind) that your reciting for a long time may not harden your hearts as were hardened the hearts of those before you. We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bar'at. I have forgotten it with the exception of this which I remember out of it: "If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust." And we used so recite a surah which resembled one of the surahs of Musabbihat, and I have forgotten it, but remember (this much) out of it: "O people who believe, why do you say that which you do not practise: (lxi 2.) and "that is recorded in your necks as a witness (against you) and you would be asked about it on the Day of Resurrection" (xvii. 13) (Sahih Muslim, Book V, Number 2286)
Bukhari: vol. 6, hadith 510, pp. 478-479; book 61
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 (Quran) 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, Said 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. Said bin Thabit added, "A Verse from Surat Ahzab was missed by me when we copied the Qur'an and I used to hear Allah's Apostle reciting it. So we searched for it and found it with Khuzaima bin Thabit Al-Ansari. (That Verse was): 'Among the Believers are men who have been true in their covenant with Allah.' (33.23)
In summary, if we consider the above hadith to be accurate and true historical accounts, we can make the following observations:
Review:
There are variances between archaeological manuscripts of Bible texts, but only the oldest manuscripts are used for translating into the currently published Bibles. But even with textual variances in the manuscripts, none of them are of any theological significance and they do not differ in meaning. The agnostic/atheist former head of New Testament Studies and current head of Religious Studies at University of North Carolina, Dr. Bart Ehrman, wrote a book called Misquoting Jesus as a critique of the variances in New Testament manuscripts. None of the examples discussed in his book are textual variances of theological significance.
With the Bibles published today, it is true that there are multiple "versions" or translations. Many Muslims insist that the Quran should only be recited in Arabic, even translated Quran's still come with the Arabic text alongside the other language. However, for Christians, there is no such mandate to read the bible texts in their original languages. Just as there are multiple English translations of the Quran, there are multiple translations of the Bible in various languages and even within certain languages. There is however, no discrepancy in anything of theological significance. This is true of all of the currently published translations of the Bible, and of all the archaeological manuscript findings.
There are disagreements between Christians of different denominations and these are not because of differences in the texts or translations but because of differences in interpretation of texts which have the same content. We see the same phenomenon amongst different types of professing Muslims. For example, a small minority who are labelled as terrorists sincerely believe that the Quran mandates their horrific acts of violence, while the majority of Muslims outright condemn such acts. This is only one example amongst many other issues including, eating prohibitions, hand positions and posture while praying, touching dogs, smoking.
According to the final excerpt the differences were drastic enough that Uthman, the third caliph, felt the need to rewrite the manuscripts into a single standardised version and destroy all other Quranic materials, fragmented or whole. Such gross differences in Quran readings and texts which warranted such extreme measures existed only some 10-20 years after the passing of Prophet Muhammad, and even less time after the first manuscript was produced during the first caliphate of Abu Bakr.
Conclusions:
The evidence above strongly indicates that the Muslims claim of there only ever being one version of the Quran is false. Instead, what is more likely true is that only one version of the Quran exists today, because all other versions were purposefully destroyed and purged.
However, just as there are variations in wording without any change in meaning with the Bible manuscripts and current translations, the same can be said of the differences in Quran versions mentioned in the above hadith excerpts. Even with the existence of such variances, it doesn't justify that we reject Islam as the only true one among competing world-views. Instead, we can continue to treat today's Quran as an accurate representation of the message and meaning of the Quran verses circulated orally during the time of Prophet Muhammad PBUH.
The first complete written compilation of the Quran was written during the time of Abu Bakr's caliphate. The task was commissioned by him to Zaid bin Thabit, an official scribe to Prophet Muhammad PBUH. This first manuscript contained every verse that had ever been revealed by Prophet Muhammad PBUH.
The Question:
Muslims often contrast the Quran with the Bible in that there are multiple versions of the Bible but only ONE version of the Quran. Can you really be sure of that?
Sources:
Muslims also believe in a collection of documents called Hadith. Hadith's are of the writing genre of history. They are believed to be written accounts of people who were close to Prophet Muhammad PBUH. They are not believed to be the literal words of God and are not divine texts in that sense. Their accounts give important insights into the life of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH and key events in the history of Islam.
The Difficulty:
Consider the following hadith's.
Narrated Umar bin Al-Khattab:
I heard Hisham bin Hakim reciting Surat Al-Furqan during the lifetime of Allah's Apostle and I listen to his recitation and noticed that he recited in several different ways which Allah's Apostle had not taught me. I was about to jump over him during his prayer, but I controlled my temper and when he had completed his prayer, I put his upper garment around his neck and seized him by it and said, "Who taught you this Surat which I heard you reciting ?" He replied, "Allah's Apostle taught it to me". I said, "You have told a lie, for Allah's Apostle taught it to me in a different way from yours". So I dragged him to Allah's Apostle and said, "I heard this person reciting Surat Al-Furqan in a way which you haven't taught me!". On that Allah's Apostle said, "Release him (Umar) recite, O Hisham!" Then he recited in the same way I heard him reciting. Then Allah's Apostle said, "It was revealed in this way", and added, "Recite, O Umar", I recited it as he had taught me. Allah's Apostle then said, "It was revealed in this way. This Qur'an has been revealed to be recited in seven different ways, so recite of it whichever is easier for you."
Bukhuri: vol. 4, hadith 682, book 56
Narrated Ibn Mas'ud:
I heard a person reciting a (Quranic) Verse in a certain way, and I had heard the Prophet reciting the same Verse in a different way. So I took him to the Prophet and informed him of that but I noticed the sign of disapproval on his face, and then he said, "BOTH OF YOU ARE CORRECT, so don't differ, for the nations before you differed, so they were destroyed."
"Many (of the passages) of the Qur'an that were sent down were known by those who died on the day of Yamama ... but they were not known (by those who) survived them, nor were they written down, nor had Abu Bakr, Umar or Uthman (by that time) collected the Qur'an, nor were they found with even one (person) after them." (Ibn Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Masahif, p. 23)
Narrated 'Aisha: Allah's Apostle heard a man reciting the Qur'an at night, and said, "May Allah bestow His Mercy on him, as he has reminded me of such-and-such Verses of such-and-such Suras, which I was caused to forget." (Bukhari, Volume 6, Book LXI, Number 558)
When he gave the salutation, he was asked: Has something new happened in the prayer, Apostle of Allah? He said: What is it? They said: You prayed so many and so many (rak'ahs). He then relented his foot and faced the Qiblah and made two prostrations. He then gave the salutation. When he turned away (finished the prayer), he turned his face to us and said: Had anything new happened in prayer, I would have informed you. I am only a human being and I forget just as you do; so when I forget, remind me, and when any of you is in doubt about his prayer he should aim at what is correct, and complete his prayer in that respect, then give the salutation and afterwards made two prostrations. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 3, Number 1015)
Narrated Abdullah:
I recited before the Prophet 'Fahal-min-Mudhdhakir'. The Prophet said, "It is Fahal-min Muddakir." (Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 397)
Abu Harb b. Abu al-Aswad reported on the authority of his father that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari sent for the reciters of Basra. They came to him and they were three hundred in number. They recited the Qur'an and he said: You are the best among the inhabitants of Basra, for you are the reciters among them. So continue to recite it. (But bear in mind) that your reciting for a long time may not harden your hearts as were hardened the hearts of those before you. We used to recite a surah which resembled in length and severity to (Surah) Bar'at. I have forgotten it with the exception of this which I remember out of it: "If there were two valleys full of riches, for the son of Adam, he would long for a third valley, and nothing would fill the stomach of the son of Adam but dust." And we used so recite a surah which resembled one of the surahs of Musabbihat, and I have forgotten it, but remember (this much) out of it: "O people who believe, why do you say that which you do not practise: (lxi 2.) and "that is recorded in your necks as a witness (against you) and you would be asked about it on the Day of Resurrection" (xvii. 13) (Sahih Muslim, Book V, Number 2286)
Bukhari: vol. 6, hadith 510, pp. 478-479; book 61
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 (Quran) 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, Said 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. Said bin Thabit added, "A Verse from Surat Ahzab was missed by me when we copied the Qur'an and I used to hear Allah's Apostle reciting it. So we searched for it and found it with Khuzaima bin Thabit Al-Ansari. (That Verse was): 'Among the Believers are men who have been true in their covenant with Allah.' (33.23)
In summary, if we consider the above hadith to be accurate and true historical accounts, we can make the following observations:
- There existed variations in the Quran verse recitations both during and after Prophet Muhammad's PBUH time
- Some believers, including Prophet Muhammad PBUH by his own confession, were unable to memorise some Quran verses or parts of them.
Review:
There are variances between archaeological manuscripts of Bible texts, but only the oldest manuscripts are used for translating into the currently published Bibles. But even with textual variances in the manuscripts, none of them are of any theological significance and they do not differ in meaning. The agnostic/atheist former head of New Testament Studies and current head of Religious Studies at University of North Carolina, Dr. Bart Ehrman, wrote a book called Misquoting Jesus as a critique of the variances in New Testament manuscripts. None of the examples discussed in his book are textual variances of theological significance.
With the Bibles published today, it is true that there are multiple "versions" or translations. Many Muslims insist that the Quran should only be recited in Arabic, even translated Quran's still come with the Arabic text alongside the other language. However, for Christians, there is no such mandate to read the bible texts in their original languages. Just as there are multiple English translations of the Quran, there are multiple translations of the Bible in various languages and even within certain languages. There is however, no discrepancy in anything of theological significance. This is true of all of the currently published translations of the Bible, and of all the archaeological manuscript findings.
There are disagreements between Christians of different denominations and these are not because of differences in the texts or translations but because of differences in interpretation of texts which have the same content. We see the same phenomenon amongst different types of professing Muslims. For example, a small minority who are labelled as terrorists sincerely believe that the Quran mandates their horrific acts of violence, while the majority of Muslims outright condemn such acts. This is only one example amongst many other issues including, eating prohibitions, hand positions and posture while praying, touching dogs, smoking.
According to the final excerpt the differences were drastic enough that Uthman, the third caliph, felt the need to rewrite the manuscripts into a single standardised version and destroy all other Quranic materials, fragmented or whole. Such gross differences in Quran readings and texts which warranted such extreme measures existed only some 10-20 years after the passing of Prophet Muhammad, and even less time after the first manuscript was produced during the first caliphate of Abu Bakr.
Conclusions:
The evidence above strongly indicates that the Muslims claim of there only ever being one version of the Quran is false. Instead, what is more likely true is that only one version of the Quran exists today, because all other versions were purposefully destroyed and purged.
However, just as there are variations in wording without any change in meaning with the Bible manuscripts and current translations, the same can be said of the differences in Quran versions mentioned in the above hadith excerpts. Even with the existence of such variances, it doesn't justify that we reject Islam as the only true one among competing world-views. Instead, we can continue to treat today's Quran as an accurate representation of the message and meaning of the Quran verses circulated orally during the time of Prophet Muhammad PBUH.
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