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In the recent discussions and research that were based on the Hafs & Warsh
comparison (see ‘Which Quran?’), as well as the previous discussions and
research regarding the ‘initials’ that mark certain chapters of the Scripture,
certain findings have come to light that were most unexpected and deserve
to be shared.
By reviewing the different variations that exist now in the printed and recited
Scripture (there are 10 accepted variations according to the Sunnis alone…I
have not looked at what variations the Shia or others groups also carry), it
became difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood in most of the chapters of
the Scripture with one exception.
That exception was the 29 initialed chapters which are all locked by a unique
mathematical pattern (see ’19-Fact or Fiction?’).
The question has always existed as to ‘why only 29 chapters?’ since it would
make more logical sense that all chapters should be locked or all chapters
unlocked (but not part this way and part that).
The speculation about this issue has gone on for some time, but I believe, by
the grace of God, that the answer is finally at hand.
What is Al-Quran?
The word ‘Quran’ is thought by most to simply mean ‘The Reading’ and is
just one of the names given to the Scripture…However, when looking to the
Scripture itself for answers we find that the Quran is far more than that:
“So woe to those who write the Scripture with their hands then Say:
“This is from God,” so that they can seek a cheap gain! Woe to them for
what their hands have written and woe to them for what they gained.”
(2:79)
On the other hand, we have a challenge from God for humans and jinn to go
ahead and try to duplicate the Quran:
“Say: ‘If all the humans and the Jinn were to gather to bring a Quran
like this, they could not come with its like, even if they were helping one
another.’” (17:88)
Therefore it is becoming obvious that the Quran and the Scripture are not
one in the same (i.e. the Quran is also from the Scripture, but the Scripture
is not all from the Quran).
Which is Which?
The above verse has always been translated as ‘taught the Quran’, but an
examination in light of all this evidence has also shown the meaning of
‘Alama’ to mean ‘marked’.
Thus the solution has always been visible and not in need of any complex
searches…The chapters which are ‘marked’ are the Quran, while those
unmarked are simply from the Scripture.
One of the things that becomes clear in light of thus understanding is the
issue of ‘Muhkam’ & ‘Mutashabih’:
“He is the One who sent down to you the Scripture, from which there
are ‘muhkam/locked’ verses; they are the essence of the Scripture; and
others which are ‘mutashabih/of similarity’. As for those who have
disease in their hearts, they will follow what is similar from it seeking to
confuse, and seeking to derive an interpretation. But none know its
interpretation except God and those who are well founded in knowledge,
they Say: “We believe in it, all is from our Lord.” And none will
remember except the people of understanding.” (3:7)
The understanding of the above verse has been more of a treasure hunt than
an academic approach…People would argue that a verse is a ‘muhkam’ or
‘mutashabih’ over their understanding of it or their disliking to the meaning
the other person has to offer…Such an approach screams in the face of all
clarity and detail that we claim the Scripture is about (if it is so clear why do
people have to guess which is which?).
Obviously the ‘muhkam’ are now understood to be the 29 chapters which are
‘locked’ by the initials…While the ‘mutashabih’ is all the remainder.
For example, when we read the ‘Quran’ we come across an example of how
the act of theft is dealt with in chapter 12 with Joseph and his brother…When
we then look into the rest of the Scripture, we come across 5:38 which gives
the law of dealing with theft…Had we not begun with the ‘Quran’ as our base
model, we could easily misunderstand as the Sunnis have done and end up
amputating or marking the hand based on an unsanctioned approach.
Thus the ‘Quran’ clarifies and explains the ‘Scripture’ to give us the best
meaning.
The ultimate truth will always be with God, but now we finally may have an
understanding of which part has been revealed for all mankind, and thus is
preserved/protected through its own built-in anti-tampering mechanism(s),
of which only a part has been thus discovered:
“Indeed it is We who have sent down the Reminder (Zikr), and indeed it
is We who will preserve it.” (15:9)