🔥 Examination: Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light

14.3. Allegations of Missing Verses

Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq mentions alleged missing verses or tampering with the Qur'an. Let’s refute this:

3.a. The Stoning Verse Allegation:

The claim made by Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq of a "stoning verse" being lost is derived from weak and isolated narrations. Scholars such as Imam Nawawi and Ibn Hajar explain that:The verse of stoning was abrogated in its recitation but remained in application as a ruling (hukm). This is an established principle in Islamic jurisprudence, supported by Hadith:

This does not mean the Qur'an was incomplete but that the verse was divinely removed from its recitation while retaining its legal ruling.

3.b. The Goat-Eating Allegation

Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq claim that a goat ate parts of the Qur'an comes from an unreliable narration in Sunan Ibn Majah. Scholars such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Albani classify this narration as weak or fabricated. Furthermore, such claims contradict the numerous companions who memorized and recorded the Qur'an.

The "Goat-Eating Allegation" is often misrepresented and used to cast doubt on the preservation of the Qur'an. However, when critically examined in its historical, textual, and theological context, this claim does not undermine the authenticity or completeness of the Qur'an. The allegation originates from a narration found in Sunan Ibn Majah , which states:

This narration is often taken out of context, ignoring key Islamic principles and the mechanisms that ensured the Qur'an's preservation. The primary mode of preserving the Qur'an during the Prophet's time was through memorization. Hundreds of companions committed the entire Qur'an to memory, ensuring its protection regardless of any written materials. The parchment mentioned in this narration was likely a personal note, not an official part of the Qur'anic compilation. The loss of one written record would have no effect on the Qur'an, which was memorized collectively by the community.

The Qur'an was compiled into its final, universally accepted form under the guidance of the Caliph Abu Bakr and later standardized by Uthman. This compilation was based on the collective memorization and written records of the companions, ensuring that only the authentic, divinely preserved verses were included. Any abrogated verses or personal notes, like the parchment mentioned in this narration, were deliberately excluded as they were not part of the Qur'an's final revelation.

Islamic scholarship also recognizes the concept of abrogation ( naskh ), where Allah, through divine wisdom, may remove certain verses from recitation while retaining their rulings or lessons. The verses mentioned in the narration�regarding breastfeeding and stoning�were abrogated in recitation during the Prophet's lifetime. Thus, their absence from the Qur'an is not due to the parchment's loss but due to divine instruction.

The narration's chain of transmission ( isnad ) has been critiqued by scholars. Some have classified it as weak ( da'if ), meaning it does not meet the rigorous standards of authentication applied to hadiths. Even if accepted as authentic, the narration does not imply a loss of Qur'anic content but rather refers to notes or rulings no longer applicable to the Qur'an's recitation.

The Qur'an's preservation is a divine promise explicitly mentioned in the Qur'an itself:

This verse affirms that the Qur'an is safeguarded by Allah from any form of alteration, loss, or corruption. The consensus of the Muslim community ( ijma' ) and the historical record provide overwhelming evidence that the Qur'an has remained intact since its revelation.

The claim that the goat's actions resulted in the loss of Qur'anic verses is based on a superficial and incorrect reading of the narration. Critics fail to consider the broader historical and textual context, which clearly demonstrates that the Qur'an's integrity was never dependent on any single written record. The meticulous preservation process, involving memorization, written documentation, and communal consensus, ensured that no part of the Qur'an was lost.

The allegation also assumes that any reference to omitted verses implies a deficiency in the Qur'an. However, abrogation is a well-documented and divinely guided process that does not compromise the Qur'an's completeness. The rulings of the abrogated verses may still be valid in Islamic law, but their absence from the Qur'an's recitation is intentional and part of Allah's plan.

In conclusion, the "Goat-Eating Allegation" does not undermine the Qur'an's authenticity or preservation. The Qur'an's transmission through oral memorization, collective documentation, and divine protection ensures its completeness and integrity. The allegation reflects a misunderstanding of Islamic concepts like abrogation and the historical methods of preservation, rather than any genuine deficiency in the Qur'an itself.

3.c. Narrations of "Missing Verses"

The narrations cited by Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq are largely weak, fabricated, or misunderstood. Islamic scholarship emphasizes that authenticity of Hadith is a prerequisite before using it to make theological claims. Even if companions discussed variations, this reflected dialectical differences or misunderstandings, not corruption of the Qur'an. The allegations of "missing verses" in the Qur'an are baseless and stem from a misinterpretation or reliance on weak and fabricated narrations. Such claims challenge the Qur'an’s divine preservation, which is explicitly affirmed in the Qur'an itself. These allegations primarily revolve around isolated reports concerning verses like the "verse of stoning" or supposed narrations of lost material, but they lack credible evidence and are refuted by Islamic scholarship and historical facts. The most commonly cited example is the so-called "verse of stoning," which some claim was once part of the Qur'an but is now missing. This claim is derived from narrations, such as those attributed to Umar ibn al-Khattab, that reference a verse about stoning adulterers. Scholars have consistently clarified this issue. The "verse of stoning" is not missing but was abrogated in its recitation while remaining applicable as a legal ruling (hukm). This principle of abrogation (naskh) is well-established in Islamic jurisprudence. For example, the Prophet (peace be upon him) implemented the punishment of stoning, as noted in the following Hadith:

This Hadith demonstrates that the ruling of stoning remains valid despite the verse not being part of the Qur'an’s text. The concept of abrogation does not imply corruption or incompleteness but reflects the dynamic nature of Islamic law during its revelation.

Another common allegation involves the claim that a goat ate a portion of the Qur'an, as mentioned in a narration in Sunan Ibn Majah. This narration is weak and deemed unreliable by scholars such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Albani. Even if taken at face value, it does not undermine the Qur'an’s integrity, as the Qur'an had already been memorized and documented by numerous companions during the Prophet’s lifetime. The Qur'an’s oral and written preservation ensured that no verse could be lost due to such an incident.

Isolated narrations suggesting lost or altered verses are often weak or fabricated. For instance, there are reports of companions discussing variations in the wording or length of certain verses. These discussions often reflect dialectical differences or individual errors in oral transmission, not actual corruption of the Qur'an. For example, reports about the supposed loss of long Surahs, such as a claim that Surah Al-Ahzab was once as long as Surah Al-Baqarah, are found in weak narrations and are rejected by scholars. Such claims are inconsistent with the consensus of the companions who meticulously preserved the Qur'an in its current form.

In some cases, narrations from Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), are misinterpreted to suggest missing verses. For example, a narration about breastfeeding adults has been misconstrued to imply lost verses. Scholars clarify that this was a specific ruling abrogated in both recitation and practice. Aisha’s statements do not imply any loss or corruption of the Qur'an but reflect her understanding of particular rulings during her lifetime. Islamic scholars have consistently maintained that the Qur'an is complete and unaltered. Imam Al-Qurtubi states:

Ibn Hajar, a prominent Hadith scholar, emphasizes:

Moreover, the claim that Umar ibn al-Khattab and other companions acknowledged lost verses is often taken out of context. Umar himself declared:

This statement reflects the companions’ unanimous agreement on the Qur'an’s completeness.

The Qur'an’s oral tradition provides an additional layer of protection. Millions of Muslims have memorized the Qur'an in its entirety throughout history. If any verse were missing or altered, it would have been immediately noticed by the vast number of memorizers (Huffaz), both during the Prophet’s time and in subsequent generations. This oral tradition, combined with written manuscripts, ensures the Qur'an’s integrity.

In conclusion, allegations of missing verses in the Qur'an are unfounded and lack credible evidence. Weak and fabricated narrations, misunderstandings of Islamic principles like abrogation, and isolated reports have been used to create confusion by Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, but they have no impact on the Qur'an’s authenticity. The Qur'an remains, as Allah promised, a complete and divinely protected scripture.