Refutation: Variant Readings of the Quran

Usual Boldface Disinformation by the Christian Missionary Sam Shamoun

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.

The website “answering-islam.org” has published another usual distortion and/or disinformation under title Variant Readings of the Quran authored by no other than Sam Shamoun, the master liar Christian missionary. In this treatise I will inSha Allaah present the evidence of Christian missionary’s forgery and/or perjury citing couple of examples that would suffice to impeach the entire article.

Sam Shamoun writes:

Missing Verse on the State of Martyrs

Narrated Anas bin Malik:
(The tribes of) Ril, Dhakwan, 'Usaiya and Bani Lihyan asked Allah's Apostle to provide them with some men to support them against their enemy. He therefore provided them with seventy men from the Ansar whom we used to call Al-Qurra' in their lifetime. They used to collect wood by daytime and pray at night. When they were at the well of Ma'una, the infidels killed them by betraying them. When this news reached the Prophet, he said Al-Qunut for one month In the morning prayer, invoking evil upon some of the 'Arab tribes, upon Ril, Dhakwan, 'Usaiya and Bani Libyan. We used to read a verse of the Qur'an revealed in their connection, but later the verse was cancelled. It was: "convey to our people on our behalf the information that we have met our Lord, and He is pleased with us, and has made us pleased." (Anas bin Malik added:) Allah's Prophet said Qunut for one month in the morning prayer, invoking evil upon some of the 'Arab tribes (namely), Ril, Dhakwan, Usaiya, and Bani Libyan. (Anas added:) Those seventy Ansari men were killed at the well of Mauna. (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, Number 416)

Renowned Muslim historian and commentator al-Tabari makes mention of this passage:

According to Ishaq- Anas b. Malik: God revealed concerning them as part of the Qur'an, "Tell our people of us. Verily we have met our Lord, and He has been pleased with us and we have been pleased with Him." Later it was abrogated and removed from the Qur'an, but for a time we had recited it. God then revealed, "Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Allah, as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have provision, jubilant."

... Anas says: We used to recite, as part of what abrogated, "Tell our brethren of us, that we have met our Lord, and he has been pleased with us and we have been pleased with him." (The History of Al-Tabari: The Foundation of the Community, translated by M. V. McDonald, Annotated by W. Montgomery Watt [State University of New York Press, Albany 1987], pp. 155-156)

Response!

Sam Shamoun has not only distorted the facts by misquoting the Hadeeth حديث, he has also injected words in that; especially the highlighted part[s] → We used to read a verse of the Qur'an revealed in their connection, but later the verse was cancelled←.

Let us examine the original Hadeeth حديث (in Pink Arabic text and English translation in green text, with other Ahadeeth احاديث on same topic) in the original language i.e. Arabic, which is found in كتاب الوتر and reads,

بَاب الْقُنُوتِ قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ وَبَعْدَهُ

To recite Qunut قنوت (invocation) before and after bowing

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ أَقَنَتَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الصُّبْحِ قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقِيلَ لَهُ أَوَقَنَتَ قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ قَالَ بَعْدَ الرُّكُوعِ يَسِيرًا

(Narrated Muhammad bin Sirin) Anas رضی الله عنه was asked, “Did the Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم recite Qunut قنوت in the Fajr prayer?” Anas رضی الله عنه replied in the affirmative. He was further asked, “Did he recite Qunut قنوت before bowing?” Anas رضی الله عنه replied, “He recited Qunut قنوت after bowing for some time (for a month).”

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمٌ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ عَنْ الْقُنُوتِ فَقَالَ قَدْ كَانَ الْقُنُوتُ قُلْتُ قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ قَالَ قَبْلَهُ قَالَ فَإِنَّ فُلَانًا أَخْبَرَنِي عَنْكَ أَنَّكَ قُلْتَ بَعْدَ الرُّكُوعِ فَقَالَ كَذَبَ إِنَّمَا قَنَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بَعْدَ الرُّكُوعِ شَهْرًا أُرَاهُ كَانَ بَعَثَ قَوْمًا يُقَالُ لَهُمْ الْقُرَّاءُ زُهَاءَ سَبْعِينَ رَجُلًا إِلَى قَوْمٍ مِنْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ دُونَ أُولَئِكَ وَكَانَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَهْدٌ فَقَنَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ شَهْرًا يَدْعُو عَلَيْهِمْ

Narrated Anas bin Malik رضی الله عنه about the Qunut قنوت. He replied, “Definitely it was (recited)”. It was asked, “Before bowing or after it?” Anas رضی الله عنه replied, “Before bowing.” I added, “So-and-so has told me that you had informed him that it had been after bowing.” Anas said, “He has told a lie. Allah’s Messenger صلی الله عليه وسلم recited Qunut قنوت after bowing for a period of one month.” (Anas رضی الله عنه added), “The Prophet صلی الله عليه وسلم sent about seventy men (who knew the Qur’an by heart) towards the pagans (of Najd نجد) who were less than they in number and there was a peace treaty between them and Allah’s Messenger صلی الله عليه وسلم (but the pagans broke the treaty and killed the seventy men). So Allah’s Messenger صلی الله عليه وسلم recited Qunut قنوت for a period of one month invoking Allah to punish them. [i.e. Ri’l and Dhakwan (tribes)]. [2:116-O.B.]

In another Hadeeth حديث followed by the above we read: Narrated (Anas رضی الله عنه): The Qunut قنوت used to be recited in the Fajr and the Maghrib prayers. [2:118-O.B.]

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ عَنْ أَبِي قِلَابَةَ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ كَانَ الْقُنُوتُ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْفَجْرِ

Readers can now see that Sam Shamoun has as usual and/or as always distorted the facts of Islaam. I have quoted all the original Ahadeeth in original language (Arabic) with their English translations. The Hadeeth حديث in question with two others Ahadeeth احاديث is/are about reciting Qunut قنوت. Since Sam Shamoun is ignorant of Qur’aan and Islaam, he therefore, conveniently distorted it by claiming it to be a verse, which is a usual Christian missionary’s boldface LIE.

What is Qunut and what you should know about it.

It is reported by authentic narrators that Rasoolullah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam صلی الله عليه وسلم) recited Qunoote Naazilah in Fajr فجر Salaah whenever a calamity befell the Muslims. The procedure is that the Imaam along with his musallees stand erect in the second Rak'aat after Ruku, keeping their arms on their sides. The Imaam recites this prayer and the musallees say "Aameen" at the proper juncture. After completion, the Imaam along with the Musallees go into Sajdah.

O Allah! Guide me amongst those whom You have guided aright and preserve me amongst those whom You have preserved. Take me for a friend amongst those You have taken for friends. Bless me in that which You have bestowed upon me. Guard me from the evil of that which You have ordained, for it is You who ordain, and none can ordain against You. Indeed, never is he abased whom You take as a friend, and none is respected whom You take as a foe. Blessed are You, our Lord, and exalted. I ask repentance from You and turn to You; and shower Your blessings on the merciful Prophet.

O Allah! Grant forgiveness to us and the faithful males and females, Muslims - men and women. O Allah! bring affection for one another in their hearts, and bring reconciliation among them. Grant them victory against Your foes and against their foes. O Allah! bring destruction to the unbelievers - those who turn away (people) from Your path and belie Your messengers and fight against Your friends. O Allah? Let there be dissension amongst them and let their feet stagger; and let fall such a terrible calamity upon them as does not avert from the wrong-doers.

Sam Shamoun writes:

Missing Verse On Stoning

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
'Umar said, "I am afraid that after a long time has passed, people may say, "We do not find the Verses of the Rajam (stoning to death) in the Holy Book," and consequently they may go astray by leaving an obligation that Allah has revealed. Lo! I confirm that the penalty of Rajam be inflicted on him who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if he is already married and the crime is proved by witnesses or pregnancy or confession." Sufyan added, "I have memorized this narration in this way." 'Umar added, "Surely Allah's Apostle carried out the penalty of Rajam, and so did we after him." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 816)

... In the meantime, 'Umar sat on the pulpit and when the callmakers for the prayer had finished their call, 'Umar stood up, and having glorified and praised Allah as He deserved, he said, "Now then, I am going to tell you something which (Allah) has written for me to say. I do not know; perhaps it portends my death, so whoever understands and remembers it, must narrate it to the others wherever his mount takes him, but if somebody is afraid that he does not understand it, then it is unlawful for him to tell lies about me. Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth and revealed the Holy Book to him, and among what Allah revealed, was the Verse of the Rajam (the stoning of married person (male & female) who commits illegal sexual intercourse, and we did recite this Verse and understood and memorized it. Allah's Apostle did carry out the punishment of stoning and so did we after him.

I am afraid that after a long time has passed, somebody will say, ‘By Allah, we do not find the Verse of the Rajam in Allah's Book,’ and thus they will go astray by leaving an obligation which Allah has revealed. And the punishment of the Rajam is to be inflicted to any married person (male & female), who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if the required evidence is available or there is conception or confession. And then we used to recite among the Verses in Allah's Book: ‘O people! Do not claim to be the offspring of other than your fathers, as it is disbelief (unthankfulness) on your part that you claim to be the offspring of other than your real father’ ..." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 82, Number 817; see also Vol. 9, No. 424)

Notice that this hadith mentions an additional verse, besides the one on stoning, which is not found in the Quran!

Response!

We must know and understand the Islaamic Shariah rules about abrogation نسخ and abrogated منسوخ. Abu Dawood رحمة الله عليه, Ibn Majah رحمة الله عليه, Musnad Ahmad رحمة الله عليه, Ruh-ul-Ma’ni, and Imaam Razi رحمة الله عليه, in his Tafsîr has quoted on the authority of Umar رضی الله عنه that there was an Ayaah آيه in the Glorious Qur’aan about stoning. Readers must know that Umar رضی الله عنه did not tell the wording of that Ayaah آيه about stoning, nor did he tell that if there is a separate Ayaah آيه beside the Ayaah آيه in Surah Noor سورة النور and why it is not included in the Glorious Qur’aan. He only said that if there was no risk involved that people would put a blame on him of making addition in the Book of Allaah, he would have written this verse on a corner of the Qur’aan (al-Nasai’). Another point to be noted that Umar رضی الله عنه did not say that he would have included this verse in the Qur’aan. But before one jumps the gun, he must know that Islaamic Shariah rule about Naskh نسخ includes: Naskh نسخ of recitation and not the commandment. There are also very few Ayaat آيات is Glorious Qur’aan which are recited but command[s] have been abrogated.

Can we call this verse the Qur’aan?

The answer is no, we cannot call and/or consider it the Qur’aan. For Glorious Qur’aan Tawatur تواتر (continuity) is a must. The Glorious Qur’aan is defined as,

(صلى الله عليه وسلم) انه الكلام المعجزُ المنزلُ علی النّبى

المكتوب فى المصاحف المنقول باتواتر، المتعبد بتلاوته

“It is the word of Allaah, miraculous, revealed on the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, written in Mus-haf مصحاف, passed on from generation to generation with Tawatur تواتر (continuity)[recitation of which is done as a worship].”

Tawatur تواتر (continuity) means that something is passed on in such as way that in each generation its narrators and/or reciters are so numerous that they cannot be counted and it is logically impossible for so many people living in different parts of the world to get united for telling a lie and/or making a mistake. For an Ayaah آيه (verse) to be a part of Qur’aan this Tawatur تواتر (continuity) is must. Therefore, only those Ayaat آيات of the Glorious Qur’aan which have come to us from Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم by Tawatur تواتر (continuity) are recited as the Qur’aan. An interesting fact must be mentioned here that Jews and especially Christians cannot produce the Tawatur تواتر (continuity) for their scriptures, tracing their scriptures back to Moses and/or Jesus and/or any other Biblical prophets etc. beside making hollow claims.

Let again examine the Qur’aanic phraseology as we find in Ayaah 24:2 regarding the Hudd حد crime,

الزَّانِيَةُ وَالزَّانِي فَاجْلِدُوا كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِّنْهُمَا مِئَةَ جَلْدَةٍ وَلَا تَأْخُذْكُم بِهِمَا رَأْفَةٌ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلْيَشْهَدْ عَذَابَهُمَا طَائِفَةٌ مِّنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

The woman who is guilty of illegal sexual intercourse الزَّانِيَةُ

The man who is guilty of illegal sexual intercourse وَالزَّانِي

Glorious Qur’aan has discussed this issue in Surah An-Nisaسورة النساء as we read in Ayaah آيه 4:15[& 16] that I quote:

وَاللاَّتِي يَأْتِينَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ فَاسْتَشْهِدُواْ عَلَيْهِنَّ أَرْبَعةً مِّنكُمْ فَإِن شَهِدُواْ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ فِي الْبُيُوتِ حَتَّىَ يَتَوَفَّاهُنَّ الْمَوْتُ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلاً

أَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلاً (or Allah ordains for them some (other) way. {or Allaah prescribes a way for them}). The punishment mentioned in Surah An-Nisaسورة النساء to confine women in their homes was regarded sufficient at that time. Therefore, it was revealed later the punishment of fornication is exclusively 100 lashes and the punishment of adultery is stoning to death for married man and woman according to Ibn Abbas رضی الله عنه, who said:

الرّجم للثّيب واجلد للبكر

It is prescribed that if the married man and woman commit this crime then they should be stoned to death and the punishment of unmarried culprit is a hundred stripes. (Sahih Bukhari, Kitabut-Tafseer p. 657 صحيح بخارى، كتاب التفسير)

In conclusion, we can say with confidence that the alleged verse about stoning is a myth fabricated by Sam Shamoun, who has again distorted the facts to obscure and obfuscate the truth of Islaam. These few examples are enough to expose the forgeries and perjuries of Sam Shamoun and/or the website “answering-islam.org.”