Tahrif Presentation

8/8/2019 Tahrif Presentation

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Investigating Distortionsin Islamic Texts

Tahrif


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Approach


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Types of Distortion

Addition

Deletion

Alteration


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First Case Study

Kitab al-Ma`arif

Ibn Qutayba al-Dinawari

(lived 213 AH to 276 AH)


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Ibn Qutaybas Kitab al-Ma`arifAl-Baras (Leprosy or Leukoderma)

Anas bin Malik had al-baras [evident] in his face. Some people

mentioned that 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him (radi Allah'anhu), asked him regarding the saying of the Messenger of

Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him: "Oh Allah, Lead

[be the Guide of] the one who accepts his leadership and be the

enemy of the one who towards him has animosity." He [Anas]

said: "I have grown old in age and I forgot!" So 'Ali said to him:

"If you were lying, then may Allah strike you with whiteness that

shall not be hidden by a turban."

Abu Muhammad said: There is no basis for this.


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Ibn Qutayba Cairo 1935 edition

Kitab al-Ma'arif, Ibn Qutaybah al-Dinawari (d. 276 AH), p. 251

Cairo: Matba`at al-'Islamiyyah, 1353 AH / 1935 CE


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3Problems


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Problem #1

No other place in the

book where Ibn Qutaybah

mentions something and

then casts doubt on it!


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Problem #2

A Sunni scholar who lived 4centuries later appears to have

seen a copy without that last

sentence!


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Ibn Abi al-Hadid al-Mu`tazili says Ibn Qutaybah has mentioned the narration of

leprosy/leukoderma (hadith al-baras) and the

imprecation that the Commander of the Faithful 'Ali (a)prayed against Anas b. Malik, in Kitab al-Ma'arifin the

chapter 'bab al-baras min a'yan al-rijal'. And Ibn

Qutaybah cannot be accused ofbeing partial towards

'Ali (a), indeed he was famous forbeing inclined awayfrom him.

Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah, Ibn Abi al-Hadid al-Mu'tazili (d. 656

AH), volume 3, page 388


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Problem #3

There exists a version ofKitabal-Ma'arif in the form of a

manuscript dating back around

700 years .... Without this sentenceAbu Muhammad said: There is no basis for

this.!!!


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Ibn Qutaybah Manuscript

Kitab al-Ma'arif, Ibn Qutaybah al-Dinawari (d. 276 AH), folio 118r

Manuscript: British Library catalogue reference Or. 1491


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Second Case Study

Sahih al-Bukhari

English translation by

Muhammad Muhsin Khan


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Doeswa imaamukum minkum

=and he will judge people

by the law of the Quran

and not by the law of the

Gospel

????


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Mishkat al-MasabihEnglish translation by James RobsonEmeritus Professor of Arabic at the University of Manchester

Mishkat al-Masabih, al-Khatib al-Tabrizi (d. 737 AH), volume 3,

pg. 1159, chapter vi (The Descent of Jesus)

Lahore: Shaikh Muhammad Ashraf (2 vols), 1964


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Perhaps this is an

innocent mistake

by the translator

ofSahih al-

Bukhari?


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1971 Edition

Pakistan: Sethi Straw Board Mills (Conversion) Ltd (9 vols),

translated by Muhammad Muhsin Khan, 1971 CE

Volume 4, pg. 437, hadith number 658


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O

nline ?


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Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani says1. . and their imam is a righteous man who has

advanced to lead them in prayer, when 'Isa has

descended; the imam steps back to allow Isa to lead.

Isa would stand between his shoulders [i.e. facing him]

then would say: Lead! The [prayer] was setup for you.2. the reports are repeated (mutawatir) that al-Mahdi is

from this nation and that 'Isa prays behind him.

3. by way of 'Isas prayer behind a man from this

nation, happening at the end of time and near the Hour,

is a correct proof to the saying that the Earth is not

devoid of a standing proof of Allah (qa'im lillah bi-

hujjah)

Fath al-Bari bi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani

(d. 852 AH), commentary under hadith number 3193


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Ibn Hajar al-`Asqalani says

4. he said: the meaning of his saying "your imam is

from amongst you" means that he rules by the Quran

and not by the Gospel.

Fath al-Bari bi Sharh Sahih al-Bukhari, Ibn Hajar al-'Asqalani

(d. 852 AH), commentary under hadith number 3193


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Third Case Study

Abdullah YusufAlis

Quran Commentary


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OriginalDar al-Fikr, Beirut,

n.d.

AmanaAmana Publications

First edition, 1408 AH/1989

AC by Amana Corporation

IFTARevised and Edited by The

Presidency ofIslamic

Researches, IFTA, Call and

Guidance

King Fahd Holy Qur'an

Printing Complex


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Martyrdom ofImams

al-Hasan and al-Husayn [a]

Theme #1


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Footnote 457 (Original)Chapter 3, verse 140

If a wound hath touched you, be sure a similarwound hath

touched the others. Such days (of varying fortunes) We give to

men and men by turns: that Allah may know those that believe,

and that He may take to Himself from your ranks Martyr-

witnesses (to Truth). And Allah loveth not those that dowrong.


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Footnote 457 (Amana )


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Footnote 457 (IFTA )


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Footnote 586 (Original)Chapter 4, verse 69 : Allwhoobey Allah and the messenger

are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah,- of

the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the

witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): Ah!what a beautiful fellowship!


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Footnote 4103 (Original)Chapter 37, Verse 107

And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice.


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The Righteous Imam

Theme #2


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Footnote 236 (Original)Chapter 2, Verse 216: Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye

dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thingwhich is good

for you, and that ye love a thingwhich is bad for you. But

Allah knoweth, and ye know not.


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Those who caused much sorrowto the

Holy Prophet [s]

Theme #3


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Footnote 5529 (Original)Chapter 66, Verse 1: O Prophet! Why holdest thou to be

forbidden thatwhich Allah has made lawful to thee? Thou

seekest to please thy consorts. But Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most

Merciful.


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The Ahlal-Baytof the Holy Prophet [s]

Theme #4


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Footnote 3715 (Original)Chapter 33, Verse 33: And Allah only wishes to remove

all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to

make you pure and spotless.


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FourthCase Study

Sahih al-Tirmidhi

Al-Tirmidhi

(lived 209 AH to 279 AH)


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House of Wisdom

The Prophet (s) said: I am the house of wisdom

and `Ali is its door

Sahih (or Jami` or Sunan), al-Tirmidhi (d. 279 AH), p. 141


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City of Knowledge

The Prophet (s) said: I am the city of knowledge

and `Ali is its gate

a Missing !!!


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How do we know it was there?

Many later scholars attribute the hadith

to al-Tirmidhi

Many of them specify theJami` of al-Tirmidhi as the source

Many of them specify b

oth versions

No evidence found from older editions, but:


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Those who attributethe City of Knowledge hadith

to al-Tirmidhi

Evidence #1


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Al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH)

... al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim has quoted on the authority of

Ali who said: The Messenger of God, peace and blessings beupon him, said: I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its

gate

Ta'rikh al-Khulafa', Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 AH), p. 170


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Ibn Taymiyya (d. 652 AH)

Minhaj al-Sunnah, Ibn Taymiyya al-Harrani (d. 652 AH), vol. 4,

p. 138


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Ibn al-Athir (d. 606 AH)

Jami` al-'usul fi ahadith al-Rasul, Ibn al-'Athir (d. 606 AH), vol.

9, p.473


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However!

The modern editor ofIbn al-Athir's book, `Abd al-Qadir

al-'Arna'ut, in a footnote says that the wording of this

hadith according to al-Tirmidhi was I am the house of

wisdom and Ali is its door.

Implications:

Ibn al-Athir considered both identical

Or: Ibn al-Athir mistakenly attributed wrong

version to al-Tirmidhi

Or: al-Tirmidhi quoted it in anotherbook


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Those who attributeBoth

the City of Knowledge

andthe House of Wisdom traditions

to al-Tirmidhi

Evidence #2


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Ibn Hajar al-Makki (d. 975 AH)

... al-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim on the authority of Ali who said:

The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate... and inanother [narration] recorded by al-Tirmidhi on the authority of

Ali, I am the house of wisdom and Ali is its door

Al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqa, Ibn Hajar al-Haytami al-Makki (d. 974

AH), p. 122 (p. 73, older editions)


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Those who attributethe City of Knowledgetradition specifically to

al-Tirmidhis Sahih (or Jami`)

Evidence #3


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Ali al-Qari (d. 1014 AH)Hadith of 'I am the city of knowledge and 'Ali is its gate' was

narrated by al-Hakim in [the chapter of] "al-Manaqib" in his al-

Mustadrakfrom Ibn 'Abbas. He [i.e. al-Hakim] said: Sahih. Hewas followed by al-Dhahabi ..... al-Daraqutni said: Proven

(thabit), and al-Tirmidhi narrated it in [the chapter of] "al-

Manaqib" in his al-Jami'.

Al-Mirqat fi Sharh al-Mishkat, `Ali al-Qari (d. 1014 AH), vol. 5,

p. 571


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