The Quran Cannot Be Considered Complete and Inspired

Dear Muslim Friend,

Muslim literature often boasts of two things:

1. The Quran they hold today is complete – that there are no surahs in existence today that should be part of the Quran but are not in it.

2. The Quran is inspired

The proof often given for this is the claim that nobody has been able to produce another surah like that contained in the Quran.

Surah 2:23 Pickthal “And if ye are in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto Our slave (Muhammad), then produce a surah of the like thereof, and call your witness beside Allah if ye are truthful.”

It is very important for Muslims to follow a complete Quran. If a Muslim rejects any verse or “Ayat” from the Quran, then according to the Quran, they bring upon themselves a terrible curse.

Surah 3:3-4 Pickthal “He has revealed unto you (Mohammed) the Scripture with truth, confirming that which was (revealed) before it, even as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel. 3:4 Aforetime, for a guidance to mankind; and has revealed the Criterion (of right and wrong). Lo! those who disbelieve the revelations of Allah, theirs will be a heavy doom. Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).”

The word translated “in the revelations” is بِـَٔايَـٰتِ “biayati” and can be understood as “in the verses”.

What follows is a warning that, according to the Quran, many modern Muslims will be damned, because they have rejected not just verses but two whole surahs! It is well known among Islamic scholars that Ubai Ibn Ka’b had a compilation of the Quran that differed from the current version, which was compiled by Zaid. (We refer to this as Zaid’s Quran even though it was later appended by Khuzaima bin Thabit Al-Ansari and revised by three men Umar appointed to make sure it conformed to the Qurashi dialect. For more information see Bukhari vol. VI #510). Among the differences between Zaid & Ubai’s Qurans, was the fact that Ubai’s Quran had two additional surahs al-Hafd and al-Khal' (For more on this see as-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fii Ulum al-Qur'an, or read Gilchrist’s book Jam' Al-Qur'an, Chapter 3 pages 72-78.). This problem is acknowledged by Umar in the Hadith. In Sahih Bukhari vol. VI #527 Umar noted that, despite the fact that Ubai was called the greatest recitor of the Quran by Muhammad, two of the Surahs in Ubai’s Quran were not put in Zaid’s codex. After noting the problem Umar attempted to provide a justification.

“Narrated Ibn Abbas: ‘Umar said “Ubai was the best of us in the recitation (of the Quran) yet we leave some of what he recites.” Ubai says, “I have taken it from the mouth of Allah’s Apostle and will not leave for anything whatever.” But Allah said: “None of Our Revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten but We substitute something better or similar.”(2:106)’”

Umar’s attempt to explain the rejection of the Surahs in Ubai’s codex of the Quran by referring to these surahs as abrogated poses several problems:

a) By referring to the surahs as abrogated, Umar admits they were once part of the Quran.

b) One can’t refer to the passage as “lost” or “caused to be forgotten” since Ubai, Umar and many others knew it, Ubai’s codex of the Quran was the standard version used in Syria before Uthman ordered all manuscripts that did not agree with the one compiled by Zaid et. al. to be burned. Many still know Ubai’s surahs today! These surahs have not been lost, they have been REJECTED by the Muslim leaders! According to Surah 3:3-4, these leaders bring a heavy doom on themselves and their followers.

c) The surahs were not abrogated by Allah, they were abrogated by Zaid and those who chose his text.

d) The Quran promises abrogated or forgotten things are replaced, by Allah, with something similar or better (Surah 2:106). How could this be done after Muhammad has passed away?

e) Zaid et. al. should have accepted Ubai’s surahs even if they were only found with Ubai, since he accepted portions found only with Abi Khuzaima Al-Ansari accepted (Bukhari vol. 6 #509, #510), and Ubai’s credentials exceeded that of Khuzaima bin Thabit Al-Ansari.

If one is obstinate in claiming the two additional surahs of Ubai’s Quran do not belong in the Quran, then the Quran cannot be claimed to be inspired, since there are two surahs like those in the Quran but do not belong to the Quran. In fact, the two surahs are so like the rest of the Quran that it “fooled” Ubai Ibn Ka’b, the one Muhammad claimed was the greatest recitor of the Quran, and the one whom Allah instructed Muhammad to recite to. (Muslim : Book 31: Hadith 6031). Can the Islamic community produce a greater expert than Ubai ibn Ka’b that would claim these surahs are not like the rest of the Quran? By claiming to know better how to recite the Quran than Ubai they are in effect calling Muhammad a liar for saying Ubai was the greatest of all recitors. Umar himself did not dare to declare these surahs as “never part of the Quran”, perhaps he was aware that doing so was effectively calling Muhammad a liar and effectively denying the inspiration of the Quran, since the challenge of Surah 2:23 would have been met.

Surah 2:23 Pickthal “And if ye are in doubt concerning that which We reveal unto Our slave (Muhammad), then produce a surah of the like thereof, and call your witness beside Allah if ye are truthful.”

The choices are clear:

1) Reject Zaid’s codex as being incomplete, and restore Ubai’s surahs, and in the process acknowledge that all those who died rejecting Ubai’s surahs have a painful doom awaiting them. Recognize your leaders who claim the Quran is complete are either ignorant or they have lied to you and according to the Quran they have put your soul in great peril. Whether they are dangerously ignorant or by malicious liars, they are not fit to advise you spiritually.

2) Continue to believe the Zaid’s codex is complete but deny that it is inspired since Ubai’s surahs were enough like it that it could fool Ubai, the “greatest recitor of the Quran”. Recognizing the Quran is not inspired reject it’s authority in your life.

3) Continue to believe Zaid’s codex is complete, believe that Ubai’s surahs were never part of the Quran, and are not like those of the Quran, by doing this you will be assuming you and countless others are greater recitors than Ubai, effectively calling Muhammad and Umar liars. Reject Muhammad as an example to all believers, since you already assumed his words, as recorded in the Hadith, untrustworthy.

Study further, reading the Hadiths and early Muslim literature dealing with the collection of the Quran, and you’ll see the Quran has not been preserved over time, there have been parts excluded and parts lost. Recognize that the parts lost after Muhammad’s death have not been replaced which makes Allah a liar since he said he would replace everything that was lost with something better or like it (Surah 2:106). Realize that Allah is the ٱلۡمَـٰكِرِينَ خَيۡرُ (Surah 3:54, 8:30) and you never should have considered yourself safe from Allah and his مَڪۡرَ (Surah 7:99). Turn to the true God who inspired the Torah and Gospel, The God who cannot lie.

Dear Friends, we are all sinners, we all deserve God’s wrath, but through Jesus you can have forgiveness of sin. In the Gospel Jesus says “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Mat 11:28-30 KJV)” And again He says “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (Joh 6:37 KJV)” Please do not neglect so great a salvation.