Textual Variations of the Koran by D. S. Margoliouth.

Refuting & Exposing the Ignorance of D. S. Margoliouth!

 

By: Shahid Bin Waheed شاهد بن وحيد

 

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمدلله رب العالمين والصلوة والسلام على اشرف الانبياء وسيدالمرسلين نبينا محمد صل ا لله عليه وعلى آله واصحابه وازواجه اجمعين - امابعد

All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, Sustainer of the Universe, and blessing and salutation to be the most distinguish of the Messengers and foremost among the Prophets, our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allaah be on him and on his wives, children and Companions.

 

Orientalist D. S. Margoliouth claimed that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم had once forgotten a verse (See Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics p. 543) using a Hadeeth from Sahih Bukhari (Sahih Bukhari Fadail al Qur’aan v2. p.753 & Sahih Muslim v1, p276). By citing this Hadeeth Margoliouth has attempted to suggest that if Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم can forget one verse at any time, it may possibly happen with other verses as well.

 

Margoliouth’s objection is so absurd and baseless that even an individual with average intelligence will not accept it. It happens to all of us sometime that we may not remember something and/or may not have something on the forefront of our memory and/or may have in our memory but we don’t have that at the tip of our tongue etc. due to prolonged dissociation with it. So, if we do not have something fresh in our memory, but as soon as some one mentions about it or we come to think or we come to read; that becomes fresh in our memory again. In fact, this is not forgetfulness; it is rather a temporary dissociation of thought. That is what we read in Sahih Bukhari, thus, terming it forgetfulness on the basis of such incident is the peak of travesty that is nothing but sheer bigotry.

 

Had D. S. Margoliouth exercised his brain with insight and justice, he would have realized that this incident he has cited actually proves that Allaah has safeguarded the Glorious Qur’aan in such as extraordinary fashion that there exist no possibility for any part of Glorious Qur’aan to become lost. Thus, the incident cited by the D.S. Margoliouth simply proves the reality that every single Ayaah (verse) of the Glorious Qur’aan was made to be memorized by so many people including Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم {who was the first Hafiz-e-Qur’aan} that if ever an Ayaah (a verse) did not remain fresh in the memory of any Muslim let alone Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم for the time being, there was no possibility of it getting lost. Please read Preservation of Glorious Quraan & Sunnah.

 

As I have pointed out that according to Margoliouth’s citation of Hadeeth in which we read that the Ayaah (verse) was revived in the memory of Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم by its recitation (by a Companion). But it does not prove and/or mean that the Glorious Qur’aan was not found and/or existed in written form.

 

The irony of Margoliouth’s character is, his mental instability and ignorance of Arabic let alone Glorious Qur’aan and Ahadeeth; that is obvious since first he cited Imaam Bukhari in the above rhetoric as his source and then later he slandered against Imaam Bukhari, as we read:

 

Margoliouth says that Imaam Bukhari has stated that the sentence:

 

ان تصلوا ما بينى و بينكم من القربة اِلَّا

“Except that you respect the relation that exist between me and you”

 

was a divine revelation through Wahy, but the commentators say that this sentence does not exist in the Glorious Qur’aan (where is the proof?). Therefore, they consider this sentence as an explanatory note to the Qur’aanic Ayaah (verse 23) of Surah Ash-Shura. (See Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics V. 1, Page 543)

 

Surah Ash-Shura 23

ذَلِكَ الَّذِي يُبَشِّرُ اللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى وَمَنْ يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَزِدْ لَهُ فِيهَا حُسْنًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ

 

That is (the Paradise) whereof Allâh gives glad tidings to His slaves who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds. Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم): "No reward do I ask of you for this except to be kind to me for my kinship with you." {1} And whoever earns a good righteous deed, We shall give him an increase of good in respect thereof. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (the deeds of those who are obedient to Him).

{1} (V.42: 23) i.e. I do not ask for any reward from you (in the form of wealth, money, etc.) for my preaching of Islamic Monotheism, but I only request you not to harm me for the kinship between you and me, as you are my tribesmen, and you have more right to obey me and follow me in my doctrine of Islamic Monotheism.

 

The absurd claim made by Orientalist D. S. Margoliouth is a classic example of dishonesty and prejudice not to mention sheer ignorance of Arabic and Glorious Qur’aan. Margoliouth’s slander against great Imaam Bukhari is his desperate attempt to create a false impression that Imaan Bukhari considered a sentence (cited above) as part of Glorious Qur’aan, which is not found in the Qur’aan as present. Any individual with knowledge to Arabic (especially) and English in general can look into Sahih Bukhari and find that he has copied the verse (Ayaah) in exact words as it is found in the Glorious Qur’aan. And the sentence ILLA ANN TASILOU (spelling in Roman?)  is written as its explanation.

 

Sahih Bukhari: 1 -CHAPTER: The saying of Allah (the Exalted and Almighty): -

«Except to be kind to me for my kinship with you (42:23)

[4818] Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he was asked (regarding): -

 

«Except to be kind to me for my kinship with you. (42:23) Sa'id bin Zubair (who was present then) said: «It means here (to show what is due for) the relatives of Muhammad (The blessing and peace of Allah be upon him. On that Ibn Abbas said: You have hurried in giving the answer! There was no branch of the tribe of Quraish but the Prophet (The blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) had relatives therein. The Prophet (The blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) said: «(I do not want anything from you) except to be kind to me for my Kinship with you».

 

The same Hadeeth حديث in original language Arabic:

 

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ مَيْسَرَةَ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ طَاوُسًا عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ قَوْلِهِ إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى فَقَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ قُرْبَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ عَجِلْتَ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بَطْنٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ إِلَّا كَانَ لَهُ فِيهِمْ قَرَابَةٌ فَقَالَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَصِلُوا مَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ مِنْ الْقَرَابَةِ

 

Compare it again with Ayaah 42:23!

 

Surah Ash-Shura 23

ذَلِكَ الَّذِي يُبَشِّرُ اللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى وَمَنْ يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَزِدْ لَهُ فِيهَا حُسْنًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ

That is (the Paradise) whereof Allâh gives glad tidings to His slaves who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds. Say (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم): "No reward do I ask of you for this except to be kind to me for my kinship with you." {1} And whoever earns a good righteous deed, We shall give him an increase of good in respect thereof. Verily, Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (the deeds of those who are obedient to Him).

 

Explanation of Hadeeth حديث!

 

حَدِيث طَاوُسٍ " عَنْ اِبْن عَبَّاس سُئِلَ عَنْ تَفْسِيرهَا , فَقَالَ سَعِيد بْن جُبَيْر : قُرْبَى آلِ مُحَمَّد , فَقَالَ اِبْن عَبَّاس : عَجِلْت " أَيْ أَسْرَعْت فِي التَّفْسِير . وَهَذَا الَّذِي جَزَمَ بِهِ سَعِيد بْن جُبَيْر قَدْ جَاءَ عَنْهُ مِنْ رِوَايَته عَنْ اِبْن عَبَّاس مَرْفُوعًا فَأَخْرَجَ الطَّبَرِيُّ وَابْن أَبِي حَاتِم مِنْ طَرِيق قَيْس بْن الرَّبِيع عَنْ الْأَعْمَش عَنْ سَعِيد بْن جُبَيْر عَنْ اِبْن عَبَّاس قَالَ : لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ قَالُوا يَا رَسُول اللَّه مَنْ قَرَابَتك الَّذِينَ وَجَبَتْ عَلَيْنَا مَوَدَّتهمْ ؟ الْحَدِيث , وَإِسْنَاده ضَعِيف , وَهُوَ سَاقِط لِمُخَالَفَتِهِ هَذَا الْحَدِيث الصَّحِيح . وَالْمَعْنَى إِلَّا أَنْ تَوَدُّونِي لِقَرَابَتِي فَتَحْفَظُونِي , وَالْخِطَاب لِقُرَيْشٍ خَاصَّةً , وَالْقُرْبَى قَرَابَة الْعُصُوبَة وَالرَّحِم , فَكَأَنَّهُ قَالَ اِحْفَظُوا لِلْقَرَابَةِ إِنْ لَمْ تَتَّبِعُونِي لِلنُّبُوَّةِ . ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ مَا تَقَدَّمَ عَنْ عِكْرِمَة فِي سَبَب نُزُول وَقَدْ جَزَمَ بِهَذَا التَّفْسِير جَمَاعَة مِنْ الْمُفَسِّرِينَ وَاسْتَنَدُوا إِلَى مَا ذَكَرْته عَنْ اِبْن عَبَّاس مِنْ الطَّبَرَانِيِّ وَابْن أَبِي حَاتِم , وَإِسْنَاده وَاهٍ فِيهِ ضَعِيف وَرَافِضِيّ . وَذَكَرَ الزَّمَخْشَرِيُّ هُنَا أَحَادِيث ظَاهِر وَضْعهَا , وَرَدَّهُ الزَّجَّاج بِمَا صَحَّ عَنْ اِبْن عَبَّاس مِنْ رِوَايَة طَاوُسٍ فِي حَدِيث الْبَاب , وَبِمَا نَقَلَهُ الشَّعْبِيّ عَنْهُ , وَهُوَ الْمُعْتَمَد . وَجَزَمَ بِأَنَّ الِاسْتِثْنَاء مُنْقَطِع . وَفِي سَبَب نُزُولهَا قَوْل آخَر ذَكَرَهُ الْوَاحِدِيّ عَنْ اِبْن عَبَّاس قَالَ : لَمَّا قَدِمَ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمَدِينَة كَانَتْ تَنُوبُهُ نَوَائِب وَلَيْسَ بِيَدِهِ شَيْء , فَجَمَعَ لَهُ الْأَنْصَار مَالًا فَقَالُوا : يَا رَسُول اللَّه إِنَّك اِبْن أُخْتنَا , وَقَدْ هَدَانَا اللَّه بِك , وَتَنُوبك النَّوَائِب وَحُقُوق وَلَيْسَ لَك سَعَة , فَجَمَعْنَا لَك مِنْ أَمْوَالنَا مَا تَسْتَعِين بِهِ عَلَيْنَا , فَنَزَلَتْ . وَهَذِهِ مِنْ رِوَايَة الْكَلْبِيّ وَنَحْوه مِنْ الضُّعَفَاء . وَأَخْرَجَ مِنْ طَرِيق مِقْسَمٍ عَنْ اِبْن عَبَّاس أَيْضًا قَالَ بَلَغَ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ الْأَنْصَار شَيْء فَخَطَبَ فَقَالَ أَلَمْ تَكُونُوا ضُلَّالًا فَهَدَاكُمْ اللَّه بِي ؟ الْحَدِيث , وَفِيهِ فَجَثَوْا عَلَى الرُّكَب وَقَالُوا أَنْفُسنَا وَأَمْوَالنَا لَك فَنَزَلَتْ . وَهَذَا أَيْضًا ضَعِيف وَيُبْطِلهُ أَنَّ الْآيَة مَكِّيَّة وَالْأَقْوَى فِي سَبَب نُزُولهَا عَنْ قَتَادَةَ قَالَ : قَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ لَعَلَّ مُحَمَّدًا يَطْلُب أَجْرًا عَلَى مَا يَتَعَاطَاهُ فَنَزَلَتْ . وَزَعَمَ بَعْضهمْ أَنَّ هَذِهِ الْآيَة مَنْسُوخَة , وَرَدَّهُ الثَّعْلَبِيّ بِأَنَّ الْآيَة دَالَّة عَلَى الْأَمْر بِالتَّوَدُّدِ إِلَى اللَّه بِطَاعَتِهِ أَوْ بِاتِّبَاعِ نَبِيّه أَوْ صِلَة رَحِمه بِتَرْكِ أَذِيَّته أَوْ صِلَة أَقَارِبه مِنْ أَجْله وَكُلّ ذَلِكَ مُسْتَمِرّ الْحُكْم غَيْر مَنْسُوخ , وَالْحَاصِل أَنَّ سَعِيد بْن جُبَيْر وَمَنْ وَافَقَهُ كَعَلِيِّ بْن الْحُسَيْن وَالسُّدِّيِّ وَعَمْرو بْن شُعَيْب فِيمَا أَخْرَجَهُ الطَّبَرِيُّ عَنْهُمْ حَمَلُوا الْآيَة عَلَى أَمْر الْمُخَاطَبِينَ بِأَنْ يُوَادِدُوا أَقَارِب النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ , وَابْن عَبَّاس حَمَلَهَا عَلَى أَنْ يُوَادِدُوا النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ أَجْل الْقَرَابَة الَّتِي بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ , فَعَلَى الْأَوَّل الْخِطَاب عَامّ لِجَمِيعِ الْمُكَلَّفِينَ , وَعَلَى الثَّانِي الْخِطَاب خَاصّ بِقُرَيْشٍ . وَيُؤَيِّد ذَلِكَ أَنَّ السُّورَة مَكِّيَّة . وَقَدْ قِيلَ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْآيَة نُسِخَتْ بِقَوْلِهِ : ( قُلْ مَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْر ) وَيُحْتَمَل أَنْ يَكُون هَذَا عَامًّا خُصَّ بِمَا دَلَّتْ عَلَيْهِ آيَة الْبَاب , وَالْمَعْنَى أَنَّ قُرَيْشًا كَانَتْ تَصِل أَرْحَامهَا , فَلَمَّا بُعِثَ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَطَعُوهُ فَقَالَ : صِلُونِي كَمَا تَصِلُونَ غَيْرِي مِنْ أَقَارِبكُمْ . وَقَدْ رَوَى سَعِيد بْن مَنْصُور مِنْ طَرِيق الشَّعْبِيّ قَالَ : أَكْثِرُوا عَلَيْنَا فِي هَذِهِ الْآيَة , فَكَتَبْت إِلَى اِبْن عَبَّاس أَسْأَلهُ عَنْهَا فَكَتَبَ : إِنَّ رَسُول اللَّه صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ وَاسِط النَّسَب فِي قُرَيْش , لَمْ يَكُنْ حَيّ مِنْ أَحْيَاء قُرَيْش إِلَّا وَلَده , فَقَالَ اللَّه ( قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى ) تَوَدُّونِي بِقَرَابَتِي مِنْكُمْ , وَتَحْفَظُونِي فِي ذَلِكَ . وَفِيهِ قَوْل ثَالِث أَخْرَجَهُ أَحْمَد مِنْ طَرِيق مُجَاهِد عَنْ اِبْن عَبَّاس أَيْضًا أَنَّ النَّبِيّ صَلَّى اللَّه عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ ( قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ) عَلَى مَا جِئْتُكُمْ بِهِ مِنْ الْبَيِّنَات وَالْهُدَى إِلَّا أَنْ تَقَرَّبُوا إِلَى اللَّه بِطَاعَتِهِ , وَفِي إِسْنَاده ضَعْف . وَثَبَتَ عَنْ الْحَسَن الْبَصْرِيّ نَحْوه , وَالْأَجْر عَلَى هَذَا مَجَاز . وَقَوْله " الْقُرْبَى " هُوَ مَصْدَر كَالزُّلْفَى وَالْبُشْرَى بِمَعْنَى الْقَرَابَة , وَالْمُرَاد فِي أَهْل الْقُرْبَى , وَعَبَّرَ بِلَفْظِ " فِي " دُونَ اللَّام كَأَنَّهُ جَعَلَهُمْ مَكَانًا لِلْمَوَدَّةِ وَمَقَرًّا لَهَا , كَمَا يُقَال لِي فِي آلِ فُلَان هَوًى أَيْ هُمْ مَكَان هَوَايَ , وَيُحْتَمَل أَنْ تَكُون " فِي " سَبَبِيَّة , وَهَذَا عَلَى أَنَّ الِاسْتِثْنَاء مُتَّصِل , فَإِنْ كَانَ مُنْقَطِعًا فَالْمَعْنَى لَا أَسْأَلكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا قَطُّ , وَلَكِنْ أَسْأَلكُمْ أَنْ تَوَدُّونِي بِسَبَبِ قَرَابَتِي فِيكُمْ

 

It is quite obvious under the heading of the verse Imaam Bukhari has written exactly the same sentence of the Ayaah (verse) that occurs in the Glorious Qur’aan. Then as an explanation to it Ibn Abbas رضى الله عنه was asked to comment on the Ayaah إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى except to be kind to me for my kinship with you. And what Ibn Abbas رضى الله عنه said/explained (beginning with ILLA ANN TASILOU) that is falsely and fraudulently used by S.D. Margoliouth to slander against Imaam Bukhari, while concealing his ignorance of Arabic and his lack of understanding of Glorious Qur’aan and Ahadeeth.

 

Readers can notice the deep rooted hate, perjury and deception of Christian Orientalists in this case of D. S. Margoliouth, who has shown his malice and grudge against Islaam in all his writings. We read in the Glorious Qur’aan:

 

Surah Al-Baqarah 10

فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ

In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allâh has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.

Wednesday, May 05, 2004

Home Page

1