ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Shia Rebuts Question 16: Do the Shi‘ah believe in the tahrif {distortion} of the Qur’an? Reply: Renowned Shi‘ah scholars are of the opinion that the Holy Qur’an is free from any kind of tahrif {distortion}, and the version of the Qur’an which is in our hands today is the same as the heavenly book which was revealed to the Holy Prophet (S) and it has been subject to no deletion or addition.

In order to clarify this point, let us consider pieces of evidence that follow: The Lord of the worlds has guaranteed the Muslims to preserve and protect the heavenly scripture, i.e.

the Qur’an, saying: "إنا نحن نزلنا الذكر وإنا له لحافظون." “Indeed We have sent down the Reminder and indeed We will preserve it.” [^1] It is obvious that when the Shi‘ah in the world take the Qur’an as the reliable basis of their thinking and action, they recognize the value of this noble verse and believe in the message it conveys regarding God’s protection and preservation of the Book of Allah. 2.

The great Imam followed by the Shi‘ah, ‘Ali ( ‘a ), who was always in the company of the Holy Prophet (S) and one of the scribers of the revelation, has called people on various occasions to abide by this very Qur’an.

Below are some of what he has said in this regard: "واعلموا أن هذا القرءان هو الناصح الذي لا يغش والهادي الذي لا يضلّ." “Know that this Qur’an is the adviser that never deceives and the guide that never misleads.”[^2] "إن الله سبحانه لم يعظ أحداً بمثل هذا القرءان فإنه حبل الله والتين سببه المبين." “Allah, the Glorified, has not admonished anyone as He has done through lines of this Qur’an; it is Allah’s strong cord and His trustworthy means.” ^3 "ثم أنزل عليه الكتاب نوراً لا تطفأ مصابيحه وسراجاً لا يخبوا توقّده ومنهاجاً لا يضلّ نهجه وفرقاناً لا يخمد برهانه." Then, Allah sent to him the Book as a light whose flames cannot be extinguished, a lamp whose gleam does not die, a way whose direction does not mislead, and a separator (of good from evil) whose arguments do not weaken.[^4] The magnificent words of the great leader of the Shi‘ah make it clear that the Holy Qur’an is like a radiant light which always illuminates the path of the human beings who abide by it and it is subject to no change that causes its flames to extinguish or human beings to get lost.

3.