Textual Integrity of the Qur'an

[wth1257]

Are there any good acadamic books on demonstrating the textual intergity of the Qur'an? Some acadamics have been pushing "alternative theories" of the Qur'an's formation. John Wansbrough, John Burton, Gunter Luling, Christoph Luxenberg, Mondher Sfear etc all have presented alternative accounts. I don't know even almost enough about textual criticism to know how credible any of these people are. I think that is one can prove that the Qur'an's origional text has remained intact then that is a very persuasive proof for Islam.

Articles would be good too.

Does anyone know anything about any of these people?

 

[YusufNoor]

Are there any good acadamic books on demonstrating the textual intergity of the Qur'an? Some acadamics have been pushing "alternative theories" of the Qur'an's formation. John Wansbrough, John Burton, Gunter Luling, Christoph Luxenberg, Mondher Sfear etc all have presented alternative accounts. I don't know even almost enough about textual criticism to know how credible any of these people are.

i don't think it matters because we have this:

I think that is one can prove that the Qur'an's origional text has remained intact then that is a very persuasive proof for Islam.

Articles would be good too.

Does anyone know anything about any of these people?

i don't see a need to even view their ideas in unbelief

peace be upon those who follow the guidance,

Articles would be good too.

Brief History of Compilation of the Qur'an
Adapted from an article in Perspectives, Vol 3, No. 4, Aug/Sept 1997

During the life of the Prophet (saas) (570-632 CE)

* The Prophet (saas) used to recite the Qur'an before angel Jibreel (Gabriel) once every Ramadan, but he recited it twice (in the same order we have today) in the last Ramadan before his death. Jibreel also taught the Prophet (saas) the seven modes of recitation.
* Each verse received was recited by the Prophet, and its location relative to other verses and surahs was identified by him.
* The verses were written by scribes, selected by the Prophet, on any suitable object - the leaves of trees, pieces of wood, parchment or leather, flat stones, and shoulder blades. Scribes included Ali Ibn Abi Talib, Mu'awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan, Ubey Ibn Ka'ab, Zayed Ibn Thabit.
* Some of the companions wrote the Qur'an for their own use.
* Several hundred companions memorized the Qur'an by heart.

During the caliphate of Abu Bakr (632-634 CE)

* Umar Ibn Al-Khattab urged Abu Bakr to preserve and compile the Qur'an. This was prompted after the battle of Yamamah, where heavy casualties were suffered among the reciters who memorized the Qur'an.
* Abu Bakr entrusted Zayed Ibn Thabit with the task of collecting the Qur'an. Zayed had been present during the last recitation of the Qur'an by the Prophet to Angel Jibreel (Gabriel).
* Zayed, with the help of the companions who memorized and wrote verses of the Qur'an, accomplished the task and handed Abu Bakr the first authenticated copy of the Qur'an. The copy was kept in the residence of Hafsah, daughter of Umar and wife of the Prophet.

During the caliphate of Uthman (644-656 CE)

* Uthman ordered Zayed Ibn Thabit, Abdullah Ibn Al Zubayr, Saeed Ibn Al-Aas, and Abdur-Rahman Ibn Harith Ibn Hisham to make perfect copies of the authenticated copy kept with Hafsa. This was due to the rapid expansion of the Islamic state and concern about differences in recitation.
* Copies were sent to various places in the Muslim world. The original copy was returned to Hafsa, and a copy was kept in Madinah.

Three stages of dotting and diacritization

* Dots were put as syntactical marks by Abu Al-Aswad Al Doaly, during the time of Mu'awiya Ibn Abi Sufian (661-680 CE).
* The letters were marked with different dotting by Nasr Ibn Asem and Hayy ibn Ya'amor, during the time of Abd Al-Malek Ibn Marawan (685-705 CE).
* A complete system of diacritical marks (damma, fataha, kasra) was invented by Al Khaleel Ibn Ahmad Al Faraheedy (d. 786 CE).

source:

http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/compilationbrief.html

another article:

http://www.albalagh.net/kids/history/quran_compilation.shtml

one should keep in mind that as long as the Prophet, pbuh, was living Revelation was possible. the final Sermon was delivered during his Hajj, after which he had approximately 3 months left to live. the sermon is noted for the phrase:

This day have those who disbelieve despaired of your religion, so fear them not, and fear Me. This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion; but whoever is compelled by hunger, not inclining willfully to sin, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

between then and his death, it is commonly accepted that final verses from Al Baqarah were revealed:

278:
Muhsin Khan: O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from Riba (usury) (from now onward), if you are (really) believers.
279:
Muhsin Khan: And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war from Allah and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital sums. Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital sums), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital sums

during this time MANY of the companions had memorized the Qur'an, HOWEVER it wasn't until the Prophet's, pbuh, death that one could consider the Qur'an COMPLETED! within 2 years of his death, this was put in writing. the ONLY obstacle for it's completion in writing was that Zaid ibn Thaabit was charged with only including verses which were recorded in the presence of the Prophet, pbuh! copies of copies were not allowed!

i'm not sure if this helps you

 

[Sami234]

As salamou 'aleykom

Unfortunately, lot of historians about early Islam are just saying somethings that could not be considered as history.

There is no historically possible doubt about the fact that the book we have in our hand is the book 'Uthman sent to the people.

You can see the site islamic awareness about that.