Prolegomena Lesson 11 Chapter 7 Alteration of the Qur'an There are six types of alterations regarding Qur’an: 1-In the meaning. 2-Increase or decrease in the letters or vowel signs beside the secured Qur’an. 3-Increase or decrease in word or two words beside the secured Qur’an. 4-Increase or decrease in a verse or a chapter beside the secured Qur’an. 5-An increase in the existing text. 6-A decrease in the existing text.

1- Alteration in the meaning: Meaning of “Tareef” or alteration: It as several different meanings, based on that some of the types they differed. The Muslims agree that there has been alteration in the meaning, due to the sectarian or political reasons. This type of alteration is condemned and prohibited

2- The decrease or increase in the letters or signs, with security of the correct text of the Quran such can be proved by the existence of the several recitation, so if the real text is one of the recitations then it means that other of recitations and altered.

3. Increase or decrease by a word or two words, with the security of the correct text, this type happened in the beginning of Islamic history, and one of the reasons for the 3rd caliph to burn the copies, other than the correct copy, which was inherited by the Prophet (S), and which is in our hands today, and all the altered copies were destroyed in the time of the 3rd caliph. But if any one claims that the recitations are not solitary narration, but are uninterrupted (Tawator), narrations, then he will have to submit that the alteration happened in the original secured copy of the Qur'an which is in our hand and was transmitted without any interruption.

4. An increase or decrease in a verse or chapter, beside the original secured test. This type has defiantly happened, for the example the issue of Bismillah, the Muslims unanimously claim that the Prophet (S) recited it before any surah except surah Towba (Repentance). - The school of companions differed in Bismillah being a part of the Qur'an, some said yes and some others opposed. So that means that some consider it an addition in Qur'an, some decrease in the Qur'an, both blame each other for making alteration in the Qur'an. -The School of Ahlul Bayt(AS) agrees unanimously that it is a part of each surah, except surah Towba (Repentance).

The agreed and the disagreed type 5. An increase in the existing text, this opinion is invalid with the consensus of the Muslims. 6. A decrease in the existing text, this type of alteration is a differed type, some say it happened and some opposed.

Conclusion: There is a general consensus of the Muslim schools that the text of the existing Qur'an is the one which was descended on the Prophet (S) free from any type of alteration in the text. - Except few of Mohaditheen (Ekhbarians) from Shia, and a few scholars from Sunni, they claim that the existing text is altered, relying on very weak arguments, on of the issues discussed in this matter is Abrogation of Recitation, that means, the verse was removed from the Quran and the ruling remained, they based their opinion on some solitary narrations.

Narrations of Abrogation in recitation (Telawa): (We will just mention the content of the narrations, for details, refer to the book pg. ) There are 12 narrations in the book, the content of these are: 1+3. The verse of stoning(Rajm): Umar narrates that it was there, the Prophet(S) implemented it, but Abu Bakr did not accept it. This claimed verse mentions that if an elder male and female commit adultery, they must be stoned to death. So if such a claim is correct, then one verse is less in the existing text. 2. Omar narrates: That the Quran in our hand does not reach one third of the real Quran descended, so more than two-thirds has been dropped off. 4. Son of Omar narrates that a lot of Quran has been lost.

More narration of alteration 5. Aesha: Surah Ahzaab was 200 verses, and we were able to collect from 12 whatever exists. 6. In the scripture of Aesha there was a suffix to verse of Purification_and the blessings fall on those who offer their prayer in the front rows. 7. Abu Musa Al Ashari- there was a verse in the chapter of Towba: If son of Adam had 2 valleys of wealth, he would have desired for a third one, and nothing will fill inside son of Adam except dust. 10. Aesha: the nuring which prohibits were 10 known feeds, the Prophet(S) died and it was part of Quran. 12. Ibn Abbas had two chapters in his scripture (Khala and Hafd).

Conclusion: If these and other similar narrations are proved, then those who support such narrations consider Qur'an altered, because it is based on such opinion, the existing Qur'an is incomplete. So those who support Abrogation of text, are considered those who believe that Qur'an has been altered. - For sure such type of Abrogation has not proven by the Prophet (S). And if it happened after the death of the Prophet (S), then it is obvious alteration. - The school of companions have this type of abrogation, which is alteration. - The Shia scholars have a consensus that such type of abrogation is alteration and did not happed, and consider these narrations fabricated.