Preservation of the Revelation Received
by the Prophets Muhammad and Jesus
By:
Dr. Ahmad Shafaat
(First published in the Journal of the Muslim Research Institute,
July-August 2001, Vol. 5, No. 2)
(© Copyright: Ahmad Shafaat 2001)
The booklet may be reproduced
for Da`wa purpose with proper references.
Please pray for the mercy of God for the author.
Contents
Introduction
Part 1:
REVELATION RECEIVED BY PROPHET MUHAMMAD
The Qur'an
A general but conclusive argument
against allegations of alteration
“Collection” after the death of the
Prophet
Copies made under ‘Uthman
Alleged verses about ‘Ali or the
Umayyads
Alleged verse about stoning for
adultery
Other allegations
Non-Muslim writers
The Hadith
Part 2:
REVELATION RECEIVED BY PROPHET JESUS
Extensive observable alterations at every stage
Christian responses to the unreliability of most
gospel reports
SUMMARY
Part 3. APPENDICES
I: Pre-Islamic and Islamic Arabic script
II: The nature of provable variants of the
Qur'an
Written text
Comparison with the New Testament
Recitation
A simple mathematical calculation
The original can be completely
recovered
Provable variants may be considered a
part of revelation
III: Seven ahruf
Examining the reliability of the
ahadith about ahruf
Difficulty in interpreting the seven
ahruf
Wide disagreement among scholars
The positive message in the ahadith
about ahruf
Christian missionaries’ rejection of the ahaditth
about ahruf: an example of double standards
IV. Detailed examination of some alleged variants
without textual support
V: Earliest Qur'an manuscripts
VI: Some theological comments
The promise of preservation
The function of traditions alleging
variations
The function of provable variants
Introduction
Muslims believe that the revelation brought by
the Prophet Muhammad consisted of the verbal teachings as well as
actions. The Qur’an and the Hadith, the sources of this revelation,
contain both the teachings delivered through the Prophet Muhammad
and the reports of, or references to events in his life. Muslims
further believe that the Qur'an was memorized during the life of the
Prophet and recited in prayers with exactly the same text in which
it has come down to us. The reliability of Hadith however is not
asserted with the same degree of certainty.
Christians also believe that Jesus' words and
works formed part of the Christian revelation. The sources of these
revelatory words and works are primarily the Gospels. Sometimes the
Gospels are compared with the Qur'an. Christians also often compare
Jesus himself with the Qur'an. But actually neither comparison is
adequate. The Gospels should be compared
with the Hadith and Jesus should be compared with Muhammad.
The Qur'an should be compared, if at all, with the revelatory
sayings and deeds of Jesus, had they been written down under the
supervision of Jesus and then passed on to us.
In this article I briefly discuss the historical
question of the extent to which the revelations received by Muhammad
and Jesus have been preserved. |