> Compilation of Qur'an: Worst Case Scenario

[Al Habeshi]

I would like some feedback please;

Uthmaan , RadiyaAllahu anhu, and the worst case scenario

As Salaamu ‘Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh,

May Allah send his salaah wa salaam upon Prophet Muhammad and his companions. May Allah reward those who were means through which the Qur’an was preserved!

The notes on the subject of ‘Uthmaan and the Qur’an will be in three parts:

Part I :Links to outlines and studies in this, you need to read this if you are seeking truth!

Part II :A note on ‘Uthmaan and the worst case scenario – Even if we accept your argument. A Note against the arguments advanced by some.

Part II

‘Uthmaan, radiyaAllahu ‘anhu, and the worst case scenario

A note on the arguements of some apologists

In the world of apologetics it has become a trend for individuals to read half the evidence and reinterpret the evidence with disregard for other evidence without justifying this disregard.

In the case of the compilation of the Qur’an this method of reasoning hits a peak. Though this, if anything, shows the superiority of the compilation of the Qur’an over other supposed sacred books from old. For even if we allow for the disregard of evidence, as done by some Christian apologist, and we accept the arguments put forward, then what we are left with is still amazing.

The argument they use comes to this as the result, with my points in [ ].

Uthmaan [RadiyAllahu 'anhu, the third best Muslim in the Ummah of Muhammad, a man who Muhammad, alayhis salaatu wa salam, trusted and married his daughters to and many other wonderful things] was confronted with worries of variants[1] arising in the far lands where new Muslims were entering Islam. ‘Uthmaan then [remembering this is no more than 20 years or so from the passing of the Prophet Muhammad] gathered the companions of the Prophet. [Who had learned the Qur'an from him directly or from the scholars amongst them] produced Qur’ans in writing in single books [remember these individuals had memorised the text and had written text too] and sent them out with teachers. [All this whilst those companions [disciples] of the Prophet whom had lived with him for more than 2 decades were in authority and did not have to hide their religion.]

This is interesting, so we have the companions of the Prophets, producing official Qur’ans and giving them out. I don’t know how anyone can then doubt the preservation of the Qur’an, even if the story was as given above. Though of course the true account is superior than the above.[2]


Footnotes;

[1] When using words which are famous in one fields one should be wise in realising the connotations these words have. Variants in the Biblical field refers to changes introduced by writers which are wrongly put there, knowingly or unknowingly, thus textual criticism is the science of removing these variants to get to the original text. Within the Islamic field, variants in the Qur’an are words which have variation but are from the Prophet Muhammad. This is where knowledge of Islaam is important, for one to understand what some call variants in the Qur’an one should understand the huroof! Thus when you read variants in Islamic works, they are not, generally, refering to changes introduced by writers but differences allowed and given by Allah!


[2] It is also interesting to note that even if the above reconstruction is taken then this is much more than can be said for the compilation of the Gospels, let alone the New Testament, which are written by unknown people at unknown times, anyone ascribing names and dates is guessing, some guesses more probable than others. (you may refer to the category index on this Blog to find scholarly opinions on authorship)

Br.al-Habeshi