Question text
How do narrations give evidence for the absence of distortion of the Holy Quran?
Answer
There are some narrations that signify immunity of Quran from distortion which two of them are as follows:
1- Narrations of comparing narrations with Quran
There have been quoted many narrations from Imams (a.s.) about this matter that: “compare narrations with Quran, accept what is in accord with Quran and reject what is against it. Shyakh Hurr Amuli has collected them in the ninth chapter of chapters of attributes of the Judge in “Wasai’l al- Shia”.
It has been quoted from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that the Prophet (s.a.w.) said that:
[فما وافق کتاب الله فخذوه و ما خالف کتاب الله فدعوه [1
“There is a truth in every right and a light in every truth, accept what is in accord with Allah’s book and reject what is against it”.
It has also been quoted from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that:
[ما لم يوافق من الحديث القرآن فهو زخرف [2
“If a narration is not in accord with Quran, it would be false (it is a false in the form of the right).
Ayub ibn Hurr also quotes that: “I heard from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) who said that:
[کل شيئ مردود الي الکتاب و السنته وکل حديث لا يوافق کتاب الله فهو زخرف [3
“Everything originated from Quran and tradition and if a narration is not in accord with Quran, it will be false”.
Theses narrations confirm our saying for these reasons:
A- Theses narrations signify that Quran is a perfect criterion that is immune from changes and distortions; it is obvious that such a criterion has not been distorted.
B- Considering all of these narrations shows that necessary condition for accepting the correctness of the narrations is that they should not be against the Holy Quran not be in accord with it, otherwise many of narrations should be rejected, because Quran has neither rejected them nor proved them.
Being against or in accord with the Holy Quran will be clear only if all verses and parts of Quran is available, otherwise a narration may be against a part of Quran which has been omitted or distorted.
2- Al- Thaqalayn narration
Al- Thaqalayn narration orders to follow the Holy Quran and sayings of the household of the Prophet (a.s.), the Prophet (s.a.w.) has said that:
اني تارک فيکم الثقلين: کتاب الله وعترتي اهل بيتي، ما ان تمسکتم بهما لن تضلوا
“I leave two worthy things among you, Allah’s book and my household, if you follow them, you will never go astray”
This narration shows that the Holy Quran has not been distorted, because:
A- The order of following Quran will be true if Quran is in hands of followers.
B- This saying that some parts of Surahs and verses of Quran have been omitted will make the available Quran invalid, because the omitted part may help to understand the meaning of the available part. [4]
resources and references
[1] - Wasai’l al- Shia, vol. 18, chapter 9 from chapters of attributes of the Judge, tradition no. 10.
[2] - Wasai’l al- Shia, vol. 18, chapter 9 from chapters of attributes of the Judge, tradition no. 12.
[3] - Wasai’l al- Shia, vol. 18, chapter 9 from chapters of attributes of the Judge, tradition no. 15.
[4] - The Aspect of Shia Belief, p. 163.
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