Shi'a view of the Qur'an

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This is a sub-article to Shi'a Islam and Qur'an

The Shi'a view of the Qur'an has some differences from the Sunni view.

1 History
2 Tafsir
3 Missconceptions
4 Sunni Islam and Shi'a Islam
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

Shi'as use the Qur'an which is conformable with recitation of `Asim of Kufa transmitted by Hafs. They further believe that Muhammad was the first person to compile a complete Qur'an ^[1], and then Ali made an edition that included the tafsir of Ali, but that this edition was rejected by Uthman, whom proceded to create his own edition.

[edit] Tafsir

The Shi'a tafsir on several verses are different from the traditional Sunni view. Either through giving a totaly different interpretatino, or by giving the same interpretation, but giving that interpretation a larger impact on their Jurisprudence.

[edit] 3:33

Hadith of The Cloak ^{(please expand this line)}

[edit] 4:24

4:24, or an-Nisa, 24, also called as "the verse of Mut'ah", is the Qur'anic verse whom the Shi'a use justify their conclusion regarding the legality of temporary marriages (Arabic: Nikah Mut'ah)

[edit] 5:55

wali ^{(please expand this line)}

[edit] Missconceptions

Main article: Views on Shi'a Islam

There are some common missconceptions and accusations aimed at Shi'a, specialy by Salafis.

While Shi'a and Sunni accept the same sacred text, the Qur'an, some claim that Shi'ah dispute the current version, i.e. they add two additional surahs known as al-Nurayn and al-Wilaya.^[2] Nonetheless, Shi'as claim that they are falsely accused of this, as they believe, like Sunnis, that the Qur'an has never been changed.^[3] ^[4]

[edit] Sunni Islam and Shi'a Islam

According to Shmuel Bar, some Sunni classical religious literature contains accusations that "The Shiites have a Qur’an that includes verses (Surah of Wilaya and Nurayn) which are not in the Sunni Qur’an and that were forged in order to justify Ali’s right to succession. In doing so, the Shiites distort the Qur’an (tahrif)". It is also claimed that the Shiites have forged hadiths in order to justify their doctrines."^[5]

In “Kashf-ul-Irtiyab fe Radd Fasl-el-Khitab” (i.e., Exposing Suspicion in Answering the Decisive Speech) has transmitted a group of quotations by eminent Shiite scholars concerning the textual authenticity of the Qur’an, he quotes the scholars:

Abu Ja’far Ibn Babwai Al-Qammi (died 381 A.H.)
As-Sayyid Al-Murtada ‘Ali Al-Mosawi (died 436 A.H.)
Sheikh-ul-Ta’fa (i.e., Authority of the Sect) At-Tusi (died 461 A.H.)
Abu ‘Ali At-Tabarasi (died 548 A.H.)
As-Sayyid Ibn Tawous (died 644 A.H.)
Mullah Muhsin-ul-FaidAl-Kashani (died 1091 A.H.)
Muhammad Baha’-ud-Din Al-‘Amili Al-Baha’i (died 1104 A.H.)
The critical scholar Zain-ud-Din Al-Bayadi.
The Jurist Sayyid Noorullah At-Tasturi^[6]

These are the qoutations of some of the most authentic Shi'a scholars: Shaikh Saduq:

"Our belief is that the Qur’an is what is between the two covers and it is what is in people’s hands, nothing more. Whosoever attributes to us that we say rather than this is a liar^[7]."

Sayyed Murtaza:

"The knowledge of authentic transmission of the Qur’an is like the knowledge of great countries and events, prominent accidents, famous books and written Arabic poetry for care is intensified and causes are available to properly transmit and guard it, and it reached such an extent that nothing else has ever reached. The Qur’an was, during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), compiled and arranged until the Prophet (peace be upon him) assigned a group of Companions (Sahaba) to memorize it. It was displayed and recited before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and some Companions as Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood and Ubai Ibn Ka’b recited the whole Qur’an many times before the Prophet (peace be upon him). All this indicates that it was compiled and arranged, neither amputated nor scattered ……. Who disagreed among the Imamiyyah and Al-Hashawiyyah (two Shi’ite sects) are not to be considered for disagreement is attributed to some traditionists who related weak reports whom they believed to be true. However, such reports cannot refute what is already known and agreed upon its authenticity^[8].

Shaikh Tusi or Sheikh-ut-Ta’fa (i.e., Authority of the Sect):

"Talking about it being increased or decreased is unacceptable because increasing is agreed upon its falsehood. As for decreasing, different Muslim sects are apparently against it and this matches the authentic belief of our sect and was affirmed by Al-Murtada (may Allah be pleased with him). This is explicit in various reports, however, some reports were related about decreasing parts of it and moving parts from place to place, but they are loner reports and do not indicate decisive knowledge. So, it prior to ignore them and quit being preoccupied with them because they cannot be interpreted. Even if they were authentic, it would not be against what is between the two covers for its authenticity is well known and none among the Ummah objects to or rejects it. Our reports agree upon reading it, holding by it and displaying any disagreement in branches before it, whatever agrees with it is accepted and whatever disagrees is rejected. An irrefutable tradition is reported on authority of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he says: “I’m leaving in you the two weights (Ath-Thuqlain) by whom if you hold by, you will never be lost: Allah’s Book and my family, the inhabitants of my house. They will never separate till they join me in the Hawd”. This indicates that it is present every time because he cannot command us to hold by it if it is corrupted^[9]"

The above two Sura's are considered as a forgery and do not appear in the Shia published Qur'ans. Shia Muslims consider the accusation that they are using a different Qur'an as one of the misconceptions about the Shi'a.

However, all the Qur'ans published in all the Shi'a countries such as Iran are the same as those published in Sunni countries. Shi’ites recite the Qur’an according to the Qira’t of Hafs on authority of ‘Asim which is the prevalent Qira’t in the Islamic world. ^[10]

Some accused Shi'a of alledging that Fatimah had her own Mus'haf (Qur'an), the Mushaf of Fatimah, who was three times larger than the current Qur'an. Again, Shi'a reject this as an missrepresentation of facts aimed at misscrediting the Shi'a.