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In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All praise be to Allah, we praise Allah, ask assistance from him and ask forgiveness, we seek Allah’s protection from the evil of ourselves and from the evil of our deeds, whomsoever Allah has guided no one can mislead, and whosoever Allah has misled none can guide him. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah alone, He has no partners and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Rasul.
یٰاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ حَقَّ تُقٰتِهٖ وَلَا تَمُوْتُنَّ اِلَّا وَاَنْتُمْ مُّسْلِمُوْنَ
O you who have believed, fear Allah as he should be feared and do not die except as Muslims (in submission to Him).[1]
یٰاَیُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوْا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِیْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ نَّفْسٍ وَّاحِدَةٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا کَثِیْرًا وَّنِسَآءً ۚ
O mankind, fear your Rabb, Who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women.[2]
وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ الَّذِیْ تَسَآءَلُوْنَ بِهٖ وَالْاَرْحَامَؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ کَانَ عَلَیْكُمْ رَقِیْبًا
And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.[3]
یٰاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ قُوْلُوْا قَوْلًا سَدِیْدًا ﴿70﴾ یُّصْلِحْ لَكُمْ اَعْمَالَكُمْ وَیَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوْبَكُمْ ؕ وَمَنْ یُّطِعِ اللّٰهَ وَ رَسُوْلَهفَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِیْمًا
O you who have believe, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will (then) amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Rasul salla Llahu `alayhi wa sallam has certainly attained a great attainment.[4]
Indeed the Shia concept is an old concept, it emerged in the early stages of Islam and the person responsible for sowing its seed was none other than `Abdullah Ibn Saba’, well known by Ibn al Sowda’ al Yahudi. This extraneous concept contradicts the Islam we believe in and adhere to, by Allah, with a radical contradiction. And the fundamentals of the Shia concept and its beliefs sit in stark contradiction to the beliefs of Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama`ah.
This difference is in the fundamentals and the basis of our din, not as is perceived by the general Muslim public — let alone the non-Muslims — that the difference between us and the Shia is restricted only in the applied fiqhi matters. Rather verily this difference is in one of the most vital fundamentals. This what makes us absolutely certain that any attempt being made to show similarity between the distorted extraneous Shia concept and the beliefs of Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama`ah is a worthless attempt. It is impossible for us to reap any fruits from this attempt unless if we try and join between two opposites. It is impossible to combine between these two, simply because they are following two lines that will never ever meet, except if the Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama`ah abandons their beliefs — and Islam at that — and adopts Mazdaism; then only will it be possible.
The Shia are a sect that have transgressed regarding the Book of Allah and slandered Allah in doing so. They do not possess the ability to contemplate over the Qur’an nor depth in understanding in matter of Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), and do not have the ability to probe the real truth. They anticipate power in the reincarnation of the deceased, they believe in resurrection before the Last Day, and they claim Knowledge of the Unseen for a creation who themselves do not know what is in their houses, or even what is upon their clothes or body. They are enemies of din, small is their intellect. They portray themselves to be followers of the Ahlul Bayt, considering themselves to be their greatest helpers[5], which absolves them of the necessity to perform virtuous deeds and will grant them salvation from their evil actions.[6]
The Shia is the most deviated sect in terms of ignorance and oppression, they hate the best friends of Allah after the Nabi salla Llahu `alayhi wa sallam — who were the foremost to embrace Islam of the Muhajirin (those who migrated from Makkah to al Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of al Madinah) who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirin, and those who followed the Nabi salla Llahu `alayhi wa sallam with goodness, Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Allah. Instead the Shia love the kuffar (disbelievers) and the munafiqin (hypocrites) of the Jews[7] and Christians[8], and they also love Idolaters and the Atheists, like Nusayriyyah (the Nusayris, a sect in Syria) and the sect of al Ismailiyyah among other deviated sects.
You will find them — or most of them — when a dispute breaks out between the believers and disbelievers regarding their Rabb, or if people disagree with regards to what the prophets have brought — with some believing and others disbelieving —whether the differences be scholastic or physical altercation — like the wars of the Christians, Jews and idolaters against the Muslims — you will always find the Shia assisting the non-Muslims (Jews and Christians) against the Muslims, who are the people of Qur’an. Just as it occurred on more than one occasion in Khurasan, Iraq, al Jazirah and al Sham (greater Syria) and many other countries.
Their aid to the Christians against the Muslims in al Sham (greater Syria), in Egypt and in the other countries on numerous occasions, is one of the great catastrophes that occurred against Islam in the years 400 and 700 A.H. When the crusaders entered the Muslim lands innumerable Muslims were killed, only Allah knows their exact number[9], the Shia were the worst of people towards the Muslims and instead the greatest of helpers towards the disbelievers. Similarly is their aid to the Jews, which is nothing unknown, to such an extent that people have dubbed them the “donkeys of the Jews”.
Respected reader! This is a small booklet as far as its volume is concerned but great as far as its benefits go. This book clarifies the belief of the Shia regarding the Qur’an which is that alterations and omission have occurred therein.
They often object to this and say that a group of Shia scholars have refuted this belief and declare anyone who holds this belief or propagates it to be a kafir, and deem them to be of the extremists whose statements hold no value and cannot be relied upon. The answer to this argument is as follows: those who have propagated the belief of Tahrif (interpolation) of the Qur’an are considered to be reliable and trustworthy according to Shia Ithna `Ashariyyah (Twelvers). In fact these are their chief scholars who made the greatest contributions in establishing the sect. This includes the like of al Kulayni — the author of al Kafi) and of al Rowdah, al Qummi — the author of a Tafsir regarded to be the tafsir of the Ahlul Bayt, Sheikh al Mufid — the author of al Ikhtisas and al Awa’il al Maqalat, al Tabarsi — the author of al Ihtijaj, Ni`mat Allah al Jaza’iri — the author al Anwar al No`maniyyah; and many other scholars whose names will be mentioned in the second chapter of this book.
I have endeavoured to the best of my ability to make mention of their biographies from the Shia works themselves, illustrating their status in the Shia world according to their own scholars of narrator scrutiny. However, I still do not think any Shia will fault or declare his own scholars to be disbelievers even after this (has been clearly proven to him).
I have not mentioned a single proof or reference from the works of the Ahlus Sunnah or statements of sunni scholars that the Shia do believe in the Tahrif of the Qur’an. The reason being that the testimony of the opponent is not regarded as a proof, until it is not found to be mentioned in that manner in the books of the opposite party. I believe that this is true justice. Despite this, the Shia accuse the Ahlus Sunnah that anything which is written against the Shia by outsiders is nothing more than false accusations and fabrications, which are not recognised and relied upon by the Shia.
From the time that Allah subhanahu wa ta `ala granted me the favour of research, I have not cited any Shia concept except that I always traced it in their own sources, and that too — of course —not in just any books but rather those considered reliable by them. This is what the reader will come to learn in this book and in many other books that have been printed, or are yet to be printed.
The book before you is a modest effort, I have gathered herein whatever I could — to the best of my abilities — from the time I was able to free by sacrificing sleep and other duties. If I have been guided to say that which is right, then the guidance only comes from Allah, and if there are any mistakes then I only ask Allah’s forgiveness. Any criticism directed to this humble booklet is most welcome, but I would ask the critic to adhere to rules of scholastic argument, void of any disparagement and slander. The facts are not known through fanaticism and foolishness rather the facts can only be attained through calm, objective, scholarly examination.
The book before you is divided into three chapters followed by a conclusion.
The first chapter: an introduction to the beliefs of the Shia.
This is a light that reveals their beliefs from their ‘reliable’ sources.
The second chapter: the Shia scholars belief in the Tahrif (distortion) of the Qur’an.
This chapter contains the statements of their great scholars with regards to the belief in the Tahrif of the Qur’an and their unanimity upon this. We have also presented their biographies from the Shia books.
The third chapter: some examples of the distortion of the Qur’an by the Shia.
This chapter comprises of the examples of the verses distorted by the Shia. These examples are but a few and not all, perhaps Allah will grant me an ability in the forthcoming publication of this booklet to gather more examples, if possible, since the references on hand are few. In this chapter there is mention of a reply given by some Shia that Ahlus Sunnah admit to the distortion of the Qur’an.
Let me not forget to mention the great favour of Ustadh Dr Muhammad al Nijfi in the proofreading of this booklet and the important points that he has elucidated.
Lastly, I hope that Allah will include this humble work in the list of my good actions on the Day of Judgement. I also ask the reader to supplicate for me in seclusion, asking Allah for the best reward and forgiveness. To close our request we say, “all praise be to Allah, the Rabb of the entire universe.”
Abu `Abdur Rahman Muhammad Mal Allah
[1] Surah Al `Imran: 102
[2] Surah al Nisa’: 1
[3] Surah al Nisa’: 1
[4] Surah al Ahzab: 70 – 71
[5] In fact they do everything in their name; they fabricate lies against them, they usurp people’s wealth, etc.
[6] This is part of the sermon given by Abu Hamzah al Khariji. Refer to the book al Khawarij wa al Shia written by Julius Wellhausen pg. 175
[7] An example of this is the financial support of Israel to Iran and providing them with weaponry in their fight against Iraq. A plane crashed in Russia after offloading the weapons, on its way to Israel. The first President of Iran in the time of Khomeini, Abu al Hassan Bani Sadr, admitted this saying, “Iran was and still purchases weapons from Israel.” Knowing well that the plane crashed in Russia July 1981.
[8] Recently the al Amal organization which was initiated by Musa al Sadr together assisted the Christian Phalange in fighting the Palestinians and Ahlus Sunnah during the Lebanese Civil War.
[9] Some historians estimated the number of the people killed to be 800 000 and Allah knows best.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All praise be to Allah, we praise Allah, ask assistance from him and ask forgiveness, we seek Allah’s protection from the evil of ourselves and from the evil of our deeds, whomsoever Allah has guided no one can mislead, and whosoever Allah has misled none can guide him. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship besides Allah alone, He has no partners and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Rasul.
یٰاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ حَقَّ تُقٰتِهٖ وَلَا تَمُوْتُنَّ اِلَّا وَاَنْتُمْ مُّسْلِمُوْنَ
O you who have believed, fear Allah as he should be feared and do not die except as Muslims (in submission to Him).[1]
یٰاَیُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوْا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِیْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ نَّفْسٍ وَّاحِدَةٍ وَّخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا کَثِیْرًا وَّنِسَآءً ۚ
O mankind, fear your Rabb, Who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women.[2]
وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ الَّذِیْ تَسَآءَلُوْنَ بِهٖ وَالْاَرْحَامَؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ کَانَ عَلَیْكُمْ رَقِیْبًا
And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer.[3]
یٰاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ قُوْلُوْا قَوْلًا سَدِیْدًا ﴿70﴾ یُّصْلِحْ لَكُمْ اَعْمَالَكُمْ وَیَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوْبَكُمْ ؕ وَمَنْ یُّطِعِ اللّٰهَ وَ رَسُوْلَهفَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِیْمًا
O you who have believe, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will (then) amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Rasul salla Llahu `alayhi wa sallam has certainly attained a great attainment.[4]
Indeed the Shia concept is an old concept, it emerged in the early stages of Islam and the person responsible for sowing its seed was none other than `Abdullah Ibn Saba’, well known by Ibn al Sowda’ al Yahudi. This extraneous concept contradicts the Islam we believe in and adhere to, by Allah, with a radical contradiction. And the fundamentals of the Shia concept and its beliefs sit in stark contradiction to the beliefs of Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama`ah.
This difference is in the fundamentals and the basis of our din, not as is perceived by the general Muslim public — let alone the non-Muslims — that the difference between us and the Shia is restricted only in the applied fiqhi matters. Rather verily this difference is in one of the most vital fundamentals. This what makes us absolutely certain that any attempt being made to show similarity between the distorted extraneous Shia concept and the beliefs of Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama`ah is a worthless attempt. It is impossible for us to reap any fruits from this attempt unless if we try and join between two opposites. It is impossible to combine between these two, simply because they are following two lines that will never ever meet, except if the Ahlus Sunnah wa l-Jama`ah abandons their beliefs — and Islam at that — and adopts Mazdaism; then only will it be possible.
The Shia are a sect that have transgressed regarding the Book of Allah and slandered Allah in doing so. They do not possess the ability to contemplate over the Qur’an nor depth in understanding in matter of Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), and do not have the ability to probe the real truth. They anticipate power in the reincarnation of the deceased, they believe in resurrection before the Last Day, and they claim Knowledge of the Unseen for a creation who themselves do not know what is in their houses, or even what is upon their clothes or body. They are enemies of din, small is their intellect. They portray themselves to be followers of the Ahlul Bayt, considering themselves to be their greatest helpers[5], which absolves them of the necessity to perform virtuous deeds and will grant them salvation from their evil actions.[6]
The Shia is the most deviated sect in terms of ignorance and oppression, they hate the best friends of Allah after the Nabi salla Llahu `alayhi wa sallam — who were the foremost to embrace Islam of the Muhajirin (those who migrated from Makkah to al Madinah) and the Ansar (the citizens of al Madinah) who helped and gave aid to the Muhajirin, and those who followed the Nabi salla Llahu `alayhi wa sallam with goodness, Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Allah. Instead the Shia love the kuffar (disbelievers) and the munafiqin (hypocrites) of the Jews[7] and Christians[8], and they also love Idolaters and the Atheists, like Nusayriyyah (the Nusayris, a sect in Syria) and the sect of al Ismailiyyah among other deviated sects.
You will find them — or most of them — when a dispute breaks out between the believers and disbelievers regarding their Rabb, or if people disagree with regards to what the prophets have brought — with some believing and others disbelieving —whether the differences be scholastic or physical altercation — like the wars of the Christians, Jews and idolaters against the Muslims — you will always find the Shia assisting the non-Muslims (Jews and Christians) against the Muslims, who are the people of Qur’an. Just as it occurred on more than one occasion in Khurasan, Iraq, al Jazirah and al Sham (greater Syria) and many other countries.
Their aid to the Christians against the Muslims in al Sham (greater Syria), in Egypt and in the other countries on numerous occasions, is one of the great catastrophes that occurred against Islam in the years 400 and 700 A.H. When the crusaders entered the Muslim lands innumerable Muslims were killed, only Allah knows their exact number[9], the Shia were the worst of people towards the Muslims and instead the greatest of helpers towards the disbelievers. Similarly is their aid to the Jews, which is nothing unknown, to such an extent that people have dubbed them the “donkeys of the Jews”.
Respected reader! This is a small booklet as far as its volume is concerned but great as far as its benefits go. This book clarifies the belief of the Shia regarding the Qur’an which is that alterations and omission have occurred therein.
They often object to this and say that a group of Shia scholars have refuted this belief and declare anyone who holds this belief or propagates it to be a kafir, and deem them to be of the extremists whose statements hold no value and cannot be relied upon. The answer to this argument is as follows: those who have propagated the belief of Tahrif (interpolation) of the Qur’an are considered to be reliable and trustworthy according to Shia Ithna `Ashariyyah (Twelvers). In fact these are their chief scholars who made the greatest contributions in establishing the sect. This includes the like of al Kulayni — the author of al Kafi) and of al Rowdah, al Qummi — the author of a Tafsir regarded to be the tafsir of the Ahlul Bayt, Sheikh al Mufid — the author of al Ikhtisas and al Awa’il al Maqalat, al Tabarsi — the author of al Ihtijaj, Ni`mat Allah al Jaza’iri — the author al Anwar al No`maniyyah; and many other scholars whose names will be mentioned in the second chapter of this book.
I have endeavoured to the best of my ability to make mention of their biographies from the Shia works themselves, illustrating their status in the Shia world according to their own scholars of narrator scrutiny. However, I still do not think any Shia will fault or declare his own scholars to be disbelievers even after this (has been clearly proven to him).
I have not mentioned a single proof or reference from the works of the Ahlus Sunnah or statements of sunni scholars that the Shia do believe in the Tahrif of the Qur’an. The reason being that the testimony of the opponent is not regarded as a proof, until it is not found to be mentioned in that manner in the books of the opposite party. I believe that this is true justice. Despite this, the Shia accuse the Ahlus Sunnah that anything which is written against the Shia by outsiders is nothing more than false accusations and fabrications, which are not recognised and relied upon by the Shia.
From the time that Allah subhanahu wa ta `ala granted me the favour of research, I have not cited any Shia concept except that I always traced it in their own sources, and that too — of course —not in just any books but rather those considered reliable by them. This is what the reader will come to learn in this book and in many other books that have been printed, or are yet to be printed.
The book before you is a modest effort, I have gathered herein whatever I could — to the best of my abilities — from the time I was able to free by sacrificing sleep and other duties. If I have been guided to say that which is right, then the guidance only comes from Allah, and if there are any mistakes then I only ask Allah’s forgiveness. Any criticism directed to this humble booklet is most welcome, but I would ask the critic to adhere to rules of scholastic argument, void of any disparagement and slander. The facts are not known through fanaticism and foolishness rather the facts can only be attained through calm, objective, scholarly examination.
The book before you is divided into three chapters followed by a conclusion.
The first chapter: an introduction to the beliefs of the Shia.
This is a light that reveals their beliefs from their ‘reliable’ sources.
The second chapter: the Shia scholars belief in the Tahrif (distortion) of the Qur’an.
This chapter contains the statements of their great scholars with regards to the belief in the Tahrif of the Qur’an and their unanimity upon this. We have also presented their biographies from the Shia books.
The third chapter: some examples of the distortion of the Qur’an by the Shia.
This chapter comprises of the examples of the verses distorted by the Shia. These examples are but a few and not all, perhaps Allah will grant me an ability in the forthcoming publication of this booklet to gather more examples, if possible, since the references on hand are few. In this chapter there is mention of a reply given by some Shia that Ahlus Sunnah admit to the distortion of the Qur’an.
Let me not forget to mention the great favour of Ustadh Dr Muhammad al Nijfi in the proofreading of this booklet and the important points that he has elucidated.
Lastly, I hope that Allah will include this humble work in the list of my good actions on the Day of Judgement. I also ask the reader to supplicate for me in seclusion, asking Allah for the best reward and forgiveness. To close our request we say, “all praise be to Allah, the Rabb of the entire universe.”
Abu `Abdur Rahman Muhammad Mal Allah
[1] Surah Al `Imran: 102
[2] Surah al Nisa’: 1
[3] Surah al Nisa’: 1
[4] Surah al Ahzab: 70 – 71
[5] In fact they do everything in their name; they fabricate lies against them, they usurp people’s wealth, etc.
[6] This is part of the sermon given by Abu Hamzah al Khariji. Refer to the book al Khawarij wa al Shia written by Julius Wellhausen pg. 175
[7] An example of this is the financial support of Israel to Iran and providing them with weaponry in their fight against Iraq. A plane crashed in Russia after offloading the weapons, on its way to Israel. The first President of Iran in the time of Khomeini, Abu al Hassan Bani Sadr, admitted this saying, “Iran was and still purchases weapons from Israel.” Knowing well that the plane crashed in Russia July 1981.
[8] Recently the al Amal organization which was initiated by Musa al Sadr together assisted the Christian Phalange in fighting the Palestinians and Ahlus Sunnah during the Lebanese Civil War.
[9] Some historians estimated the number of the people killed to be 800 000 and Allah knows best.