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A Study of Sunni and Shii Traditions Concerning Tahrif [of Holy Quran] Part 1

In this text, a three-part series written by Rasul Ja'fariyan, the author analyzes traditions from Sunni and Shia sources regarding Tahrif (alterations) [of Holy Quran], also from semantic and textual point of view. Evidences for the absence of Tahrif are presented via historical events and traditions.

Author(s): Rasul Ja'fariyan

Translator(s): Ali Quli Qara'i

Table of Contents

A Study of Sunni and Shii Traditions Concerning Tahrif [of Holy Quran] Part 1  3

[Introduction] 3

1. Semantic Alteration. 4

2. Textual Alteration. 5

The Reasons for Believing in the Absence of Tahrif 5

Evidence of the Absence of Tahrif from Tradition. 7

Collection of the Qur'an During Prophet's Time 10

Evidence from History. 13

Tahrif in Sunni and Shii Traditions 14

Sunni Traditions About Tahrif 14

Umar's Reading. 14

Ubayy's Reading. 14

Ibn Masud's Mushaf 15

Ibn `Abbass Reading. 16

Ibn al-Zubayr's Mushaf 17

'A 'ishah 's Mushaf 17

Hafsah's Mushaf: 17

Umm Salamah's Mushaf 17

Variant Readings amongst the Tabiun. 18

Tahrif in the Sihah and other Works 18

An Evaluation of the Sunni Traditions Regarding Tahrif 24

The Bismalah and Tahrif 25

Al-Huruf al-Muqatta'ah and Tahrif 26

Abolishment of Tilawah. 26

Endnotes 29

A Study of Sunni and Shii Traditions Concerning Tahrif [of Holy Quran] Part 1

[Introduction]

A1-Raghib al-'Isfahani, in his Mufradat al-Qur'an, defines `tahrif as a way of interpreting a certain speech or writing so that it appears to denote two different meanings.' According to this definition, tahrif is not an alteration of the actual words and phrases of a text but the alteration of its meanings.1 It is in this sense that tahrif has been used in the following Qur'anic verse:

مِنَ الَّذِينَ هَادُوا يُحَرِّفُونَ الْكَلِمَ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ….

Some of the Jews pervert words (yuharrifuna) from their meanings…(4:46)

The verse indicates that the Jews used to alter the meanings of the scripture while keeping its actual words. Although tahrif literally means semantic alteration (al-tahrif al-ma`nawi), the term has also been in use for textual alteration (al-tahrif al-lafzi). Thus tahrif is of two kinds: semantic and textual.

1. Semantic Alteration

This kind of tahrif has definitely been committed in regard to the Qur'an, particularly in some of its exegeses whose authors have tried to impose meanings on the Qur'anic verses different from their literal sense, in order to justify the doctrines and ideas of certain schools. It is about this kind of tahrif that al-'Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) said:

وكان من نبذهم الكتاب أن أقاموا حروفه وحرفوا حدوده، فهم يروونه ولا يرعونه

“They have recorded its letter but changed its meaning. They narrate its text without heeding its contents” 2