๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฌโ ๐:๐๐๐-๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซโ๐๐ง
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter:@NassarMohamadMR
ICRAA
Certain Orientalists, Christian Missionaries and cultists, followers of Rashad Khalifa, often raise the issue of the last two verses of Surah (No. 9) Al-Barโaa/At-Tauba that were found only with one companion. It happened during the compilation of Qurโan in time of Abu Bakr (RA). Such Christians allege that these two verses are therefore of dubious authority and the claim of Qur’anic infallibility is thus invalid.
Let’s analyze the actual situation.
In Sahih Bukhari we read: Zaid bin Thabit, the chief of the committee formed to compile Qur’an, said;
“… I started locating Quranic material and collecting it from parchments, scapula, leaf-stalks of date palms and from the memories of men (who knew it by heart). I found with Khuzaima two Verses of Surat-at-Tauba which I had not found with anybody else, (and they were):– ‘Verily there has come to you a Messenger (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves.
It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty He (Muhammad) is ardently anxious over you (to be rightly guided).'(9.128) the manuscript on which the Quran was collected, remained with Abu Bakr till Allah took him unto Him, and then with ‘Umar till Allah took him unto Him, and finally it remained with Hafsa, โUmar’s daughter.” (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 4311)
Polemicists allege that the narration means the verses were known only to Khuzaima (RA) and no one else even memorized it. On the contrary the fact is that all Zaid (RA) meant to say was that he did not find it with anyone else who could testify that he had written them in front of the Prophet (PBUH).
Methodology employed to collect the text:
Firstly we need to understand what methodology was actually employed during the time of Abu Bakr (RA). Ibn Abi Dawud mentions a narration;
โAbu Bakr told Umar and Zaid, โSit at the entrance to the Mosque. If anyone brings you a verse from the Book of Allah along with two witnesses, then record it.โ (Ibn Abi Dawudโs Al-Masahif Hadith 18)
Although the chain of narrators is interrupted for this particular narration there are many other narrations of the same import. Commenting on this Hafiz Ibn Hajr says;
โWhat was meant by two witnesses were memory [backed by] the written word. Or, two witnesses to testify that the verse was written verbatim in the Prophetโs presence. Or, meaning they would testify that it was one of the forms in which Qurโan was revealed. The intention was to accept only what had been written in the Prophetโs presence, not relying on oneโs memory alone.โ (Ibn Hajrโs Fath al-Bari 14/193)
Similarly Al-Suyuti quotes Abu Shama to have said about the method employed and the case under consideration. He writes;
โAbu Shama said; โTheir contention was not to transcribe anything [as part of the Qurโan] except for what was written in the presence of the Prophet relying not merely on oneโs memory.โ [Further] he said: โAnd for this reason Zaid said about the ending of Surah Al-Barโaa, โI did not find it with anyone else.โ i.e. he did not find it written with anyone else for he did not rely on memory without written evidence.โโ (Al-Ittiqan 1/67)
Answer to a possible objection:
Someone may argue that Zaid (RA) was infact contended with collecting Qurโan from peopleโs memories as he is reported to have said;
โI started locating Quranic material and collecting it from parchments, scapula, leaf-stalks of date palms and from the memories of men (who knew it by heart) โฆโ
Ibn Hajr responds to this;
โThe [letter] waโo (i.e. the conjunction โandโ) means to find it with those who had it written down agreeing with what was memorized in the heart.โ (Fath Al-Bari 14/193)
Proof that Khuzaima was not the only one to know these verses:
In order to bust the myth that Khuzaima (RA) was the only one to have memorized the verses in question, we bring evidences that other Companions also knew it and Khuzaima (RA) was unique only in having it written with him as done in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH);
ุนู ุฃุจู ุจู ูุนุจ ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนูู ุ ูุงู : ุขุฎุฑ ู ุง ูุฒู ู ู ุงููุฑุขู ( ููุฏ ุฌุงุกูู ุฑุณูู ู ู ุฃููุณูู ุนุฒูุฒ ุนููู ู ุง ุนูุชู ุญุฑูุต ุนูููู ุจุงูู ุคู ููู ุฑุกูู ุฑุญูู
Ubay bin Kaโb said; โLast of what was revealed in the Qurโan is, โ‘Verily there has come to you a Messenger (Muhammad) from amongst yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty He (Muhammad) is ardently anxious over you (to be rightly guided).'(9.128)โ (Mustadrak Al-Hakim Hadith 3254. Classified as Sahih by Hakim. Dhahbi agreed with him)
ุนู ุงุจู ุนุจุงุณ ุฑุถู ุงููู ุนููู ุง ุ ูุฑูุนู ุฅูู ุงููุจู ุตูู ุงููู ุนููู ูุณูู ูุฑุฃ : ููุฏ ุฌุงุกูู ุฑุณูู ู ู ุฃููุณูู
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (RA) that he related the Prophet (PBUH) recited; ‘Verily there has come to you a Messenger from amongst yourselves โฆโ (Mustadrak Al-Hakim Hadith 2899)
ุนู ุฃูุณ ูุงู : ูุฑุฃ ุฑุณูู ุงููู ; ููุฏ ุฌุงุกูู ุฑุณูู ู ู ุฃููุณูู
It is narrated from Anas (RA) that he said; โThe Messenger of Allah (PBUH) recited, ‘Verily there has come to you a Messenger from amongst yourselves โฆโ (Durr Manthur 5/196)
These narrations prove that Ubay, Ibn Abbas and Anas, (RA), all knew these verses. This fact proves our contention that Khuzaima (RA) was not the only one to know these verses. He was the only one to have a record of the verses transcribed in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH).
There could be no reason for these verses to be fabricated:
Logically the idea of these two verses being fabricated is absurd as they hold nothing new theologically. They do not praise some particular tribe or family. They have nothing in them not known to the Muslims otherwise in essence. Therefore a conspiracy to concoct such verses is irrational because they are of no apparent benefit in any sense.
LET ME TURN THE TABLES!
An eye-opener for the Christians:
We see though these verses are said to have relatively meager evidence compared to other verses many Companions had learnt these verses from Prophet (PBUH) in person. This gives a glimpse of the Qurโanic authority. On the other hand in the case of the Holy Bible we have a much different situation.
To pick up just one example we have an overwhelming evidence of fabrication. And unlike the Qurโanic verses in question the Biblical reference has tremendous theological importance. The Biblical passage is the Comma Johanneum.
The closest some Biblical passage goes to the arcane doctrine of trinity is the very same Comma Johanneum i.e. 1-John 5:7-8. According to the King James Version, the most widely used of all versions, it reads;
โFor there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.โ (1Jn 5:7-8)
Interestingly, the Revised Standard Version (RSV) – 1952 Revision pub. Oxford University Press New York 1962- omits the most crucial words (i.e. verse 7) italicized above.
About these words editors of the New International Version write in the footnote;
โNot found in any Greek manuscript before the sixteenth century.โ (N.I.V. pub. Hodder & Stoughton London 1998 p.1228)
Bruce M. Metzger writes;
โThat thee words are spurious and have no right to stand in the New Testament is certain โฆโ (A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament pub. United Bible Societies, Stuttgart 1975 p.715)
This should be enough for anti-Islamic polemicist missionaries to atleast stay mum if they cannot talk sense!
Exposing Rashad Khalifa
The importer of recent times, Rashad Khalifa, also tried to question the authority of these verses. He alleges that these verses were injected at the end of Surah 9 by some scribe nineteen years after the death of the Prophet (PBUH).
These verses and differences after Uthman (RA):
He brings no real evidence his assertions. Rather he makes an argument in way that becomes a perfect show of his ignorance. He links the issue to a dubious narration with no direct relevance and contends that Ali (RA) was enraged at the alleged addition. Then trespassing all the limits of absurdity as he claims that the same โtamperingโ became the diving line during the civil war after the death of Uthman (RA).
Let us expose the blatant lies of the insane pseudo-scholar;
1- The narration from Sahih Bukhari that speaks of the last two verses found only with one Companion evidently refers to the time of Abu Bakr (RA) and not to โnineteen years after the Prophetโs death.โ
2- The narration he uses to argue that Ali (RA) was enraged about the โadditionโ in the Qurโan goes as;
ุนู ุนูุฑู ุฉ ูุงู: ูู ุง ูุงู ุจุนุฏ ุจูุนุฉ ุฃุจู ุจูุฑ ูุนุฏ ุนูู ุจู ุฃุจู ุทุงูุจ ูู ุจูุชูุ ูููู ูุฃุจู ุจูุฑ: ูุฏ ูุฑู ุจูุนุชูุ ูุฃุฑุณู ุฅูููุ ููุงู: ุฃูุฑูุช ุจูุนุชู. ูุงู: ูุง ูุงูููุ ูุงู: ู ุง ุฃูุนุฏู ุนููุ ูุงู: ุฑุฃูุช ูุชุงุจ ุงููู ูุฒุงุฏ ููู ูุญุฏุซุช ููุณู ุฃู ูุง ุฃูุจุณ ุฑุฏุงุฆู ุฅูุง ูุตูุงุฉ ุญุชู ุฃุฌู ุนู
It is narrated from Ikrama, he said; โAfter the [public] allegiance to Abu Bakr (RA) Ali (RA) stayed at his home. Abu Bakr (RA) was told, โHe dislikes allegiance to you so call for him.โ So Abu Bakr asked. โDo you dislike allegiance to me?โ Ali replied, โNo! By Allah, this is not case.โ Abu Bakr inquired, โWhy did you stay away from me?โ Ali said, โI saw that Qurโan was being added upon so I made my mind not to put on my clothes [to move out] except for prayers until I gather it.โ (Al-Ittiqan 1/67)
About this narration following points need to be considered;
a- Rashad Khalifa has no moral standing to use this narration to meet his end for he doubts the entire Hadith treasure and terms it as โsatanic innovation.โ If he contends that he refers to it as historical evidence then why not accept all the Ahadith as historical evidence? If done, can one reject a saying of the Prophet (PBUH) having known it and still remain a Muslim?
b- The narration itself is not authentic according to the rules of reporting for Ikrama did not listen anything in person either from Abu Bakr (RA) or Ali (RA) and thus the report is unauthentic. See Al-Ittiqan with research by team of Markaz Dirasat Al-Qurania part 2 section 18 p. 381.
c- This narration too relates to the time of Abu Bakr (RA) thus exposing the first contention of Rashad Khalifa about alleged tampering some 19 years after the death of the Prophet (PBUH).
3- Infact we have evidence that Ali (RA) was full of praise for Abu Bakr (RA) for his endeavor to gather the Qurโan within two bindings.
โConcerning Musahif (codices) the greatest reward will be for Abu Bakr. May Allah have mercy on Abu Bakr for; he is the first one to gather (the Book of Allah) between two bindings.โ (Ibn Abu Dawudโs Al-Masahif 1/16-20 Hadith 8-12)
Had he actually known some tampering under Abu Bakr (RA) he would never utter these words.
4- Although the whole issue does not refer to Uthman (RA) and the Compilation under him, but as Mr. Khalifa is making a false claim on these lines, let me quote a couple of sayings of Ali (RA) about Uthman (RA);
Al-Suyuti writes;
ูุฃุฎุฑุฌ ุงุจู ุฃุจู ุฏุงูุฏ ุจุณูุฏ ุตุญูุญ ุนู ุณููุฏ ุจู ุบููุฉ ูุงู: ูุงู ุนููู ูุง ุชููููุง ูู ุนุซู ุงู ุฅูุง ุฎูุฑุงูุ ููุงููู ู ุง ูุนู ุงูุฐู ูุนู ูู ุงูู ุตุงุญู ุฅูุง ุนู ู ูุฃู ูุง
And Ibn Abi Dawud narrated with a Sahih (i.e. authentic) chain from Suwaid bin Ghafala that Ali said; โDo not speak of Uthman except what is good; by Allah he did nothing concerning Masahif except with our consent.โ (Al-Ittiqan 1/69 section 18)
And further;
ูุงู ุนููู: ูููููุช ูุนู ูุช ุจุงูู ุตุงุญู ุงูุชู ุนู ู ุจูุง ุนุซู ุงู
Ali said; โIf I were the ruler, concerning Masahif I would do what Uthman did.โ (Al-Ittiqan 1/69 section 18)
These reports bulldoze the complete structure of lies erected by Mr. Khalifa!
Were these verses revealed in Makkah?
Rashad Khalifa contends that these verses are said to have been revealed in Makkah. He argues further;
โHow could these `Meccanโ verses be found with Khuzeimah, a late `Medinanโ Muslim?โ (Appendix 24 of his translation of the Qurโan)
We saw a narration above in which Ubayy bin Kaโb termed these verses as the last ones to be revealed. That is why addressing this issue Al-Suyuti in his โclassicalโ Al-Ittiqan fi Uloom ul-Qurโan writes;
โAl-Barโaa: Ibnul Gharas said this [Surah] is Medinan except the verses โVerily there has come to you a Messengerโ towards the end of Surah. I say, โThis is strange [narration]. How can this be while it is proved that this was the last part to be revealed?โโ (Al-Ittiqan 1/14)
One may refer to narrations in which other Companions called some other verses, the last ones to be revealed. Classical scholar Baihaqi responds that such reports may be as per the knowledge of each of those Companions.
Baqilani also says that Companions made those statements as per their best estimates. (Al-Ittiqan 1/30)But that could only be about the verses revealed towards the end. A person as learned as Ubayy (RA) cannot say such a thing about verses revealed more than 11 years before the death of the Prophet (PBUH).
Mr. Khalifa then comes up with an image of a page from what he calls โa standard Quranโ but he fails to tell us where was it published and by whom?
Let me also reproduce images from a โstandard Qurโanโ and expose the lie.
This is from Al-Qurโan al-Karim published by King Fahad Qurโan Complex, Medina 1423 A.H.
It mentions that Surah (9) Al-Tawba (also called Al-Barโaa) is Medinan and has 129 verses. It makes no exceptional reference to the last two verses.
The reality of the โ19 codeโ and authenticity of the Qurโan:
1- Firstly, we must know the Qurโanic recital is a Sunnah so the criteria for deciding as to what is Qurโan or not is a continuous chain back to the Prophet (PBUH) and nothing else.
2- The โ19 codeโ has absolutely no basis.
a- Qurโanic passage 74:27-31 talks of the angels appointed over hell and do not even give a hint about its being linked to some mathematical miracle.
โAnd what will explain to thee what Hell-Fire is? Naught doth it permit to endure, and naught doth it leave alone! Darkening and changing the colour of man! Over it are Nineteen. And We have set none but angels as Guardians of the Fire; and We have fixed their number only as a trial for Unbelievers,- in order that the People of the Book may arrive at certainty,
and the Believers may increase in Faith,- and that no doubts may be left for the People of the Book and the Believers, and that those in whose hearts is a disease and the Unbelievers may say, โWhat symbol doth Allah intend by this?โ Thus doth Allah leave to stray whom He pleaseth, and guide whom He pleaseth: and none can know the forces of thy Lord, except He and this is no other than a warning to mankind.โ (Qurโan 74: 27-31)
b- We need to understand verse 31 in particular. Sayyid Maududi writes;
โThe Holy Prophet Muhammad (upon whom be Allahโs peace and blessings) knew fully well that he would be ridiculed as soon as the disbelievers heard that 19 angels had been appointed over Hell, but in spite of this, he presented without the least hesitation and fear publicly before the people what had been revealed to him from Allah, and did not at all mind the jesting and mocking by the people.
The pagans of Arabia were unaware of the unique distinction of the Prophets, but the followers of the earlier scriptures were fully aware that the Prophets in every age used to convey to their people intact whatever they received from God, whether it pleased them or displeased them.
On this very basis it was to be expected of the Jews and the Christians that they would be convinced of the Prophet Muhammadโs truth for only a Prophet could present an apparently strange thing without any hesitation before the people in an environment charged with antagonism and hostility.โ (ONLINE SOURCE)
c- If still someone, impressed by the glare of the โ19 codeโ and shocked by the โrevelationโ of its being unfounded, wants to argue. The reason a unique number is mentioned in this case is same for which a particular number is mentioned in the following verse;
โAnd the angels will be on its sides, and eight will, that Day, bear the Throne of thy Lord above them. โ (Qurโan 69:17)
3- Rashad Khalifa in the first edition of his translation of the Holy Qurโan included these two verses. In the second he removed them. And interestingly even though word โAllahโ is there in these verses his count of the word remain the same before and after the casting aside of the verses! You can find the evidences HERE.
Conclusion:
As usual we have proved the assertion of the critics of Islam as baseless and found that their own sources are stand utterly unsound when put to similar tests.
And moreover also we saw the cultists exposed!
More such lies to be exposed in forthcoming articles, inshaโAllah!
INDEED ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST
References:
Refuting The Christiansโ Lies That Allah Is Satan
Is Satan in Islam the same as Satan in the Bible? Bible Refutes That Quran is From SATAN!