Surah of Wilaya and Nurayn 

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The Surah of Wilaya and Nurayn are two surahs (chapters) that are supposedly claimed to be included in the Qur'an by some Shiite sects. These sects would supposedly argue that Ali had a different copy of the Quran as compared with the Third Caliph Uthman. However, these surahs are widely seens as fabrication in most of the Muslim world. There is some view that these surahs would be a forgery intended at increasing animosity towards the Shi'a muslims in the Sunni world, in a way similar to how The Protocols of the Elders of Zion were used to spread antisemitism.

Contents

Etymology

Surat al-nurayn (or al-nurain or al-nuray) (Arabic: سورة النورين‎), meaning "the chapter of the light/radiant"

Surat al-wilaya (Arabic: سورة الولاية‎), meaning "the chapter of mastership"

Controversy

Neither Shi'a nor Sunni Muslim believe those surahs are included in the Qur'an, but some have claimed that the Shi'a do indeed believe those surahs to be an authentic part of the Qur'an and include them therein (in what has been dubbed the Shi'a Quran). However, many Shi'a dismiss this as unfounded accusations aimed at accusing Shi'as of believing in the corruption of the Qur'an. No copy of the Quran exists with the addition of these two surahs and there is no mention of them found in any of the earliest codices of the Quran and Hadith. The author of text on the other hand is said to be have been a Parsi according to some academics. 1 On the other hand, M. Momen states that:

With regards to the question of the text of the Qur'an, it has already been noted that the early Shi'is believed that the Qur'an has been altered and parts of it has been suppressed. The Nawbakhtis are said to have adhered to this view although it went against their usual position of agreeing with Mu'tazili thought. The compiler of the earliest, authoritative collection of Twelver Traditions, al-Kulyani, seems to have given some substance to this view in several of the Traditions that he relates. Ibn Babuya, however, takes the position that the text of the Qur'an is complete and unaltered. Al-Mufid appears to have wavered somewhat on this point during his lifetime. He seems to have accepted the fact that parts of the Qur'an had been excised by the enemies of the Imams in some of his early writings, although he refused even then to state that anything had been added. In his later writings, however, al-Mufid had reinterpreted the concept of omissions from the text of the Qur'an to mean that the text of the Qur'an is complete (although he does allow that the order needs to be changed) but that what has been omitted is the authoritative interpretation of the text by `Ali. In this manner, al-Mufid and most subsequent Shi'i writers were able to fall into line with the rest of the Islamic world in accepting the text of the Qur'an as contained in the recension of `Uthman.2

Western Academics such as von Grunebaum view the text as a clear forgery, although many of them haven't subscribed to the idea that the text was indeed a forgery made by a Zoroastrian and not a Shia. 3

These surahs have also been used in argument against Muslims by Christian apologetics to prove that the Qur'an has been altered, although many such apologetics have switched their stance from "this proves the Quran was altered" to "this proves that others can bring verses similar to the Quran."4 St. Clare Tisdal writes on the matter though, essentially saying that both of these claims are erroneous:

"The reader (of the original Arabic especially) is irresistibly led to the conclusion that the whole of these additions, - with the possible exception of Sura al-Nurain, - are forgeries. The style is imitated from the Koran, but not always very successfully. There are some grammatical errors, unless these are due to the transcriber. Occasionally the meaning which the context shews to be that in which a word is used is later than the time to which the Koran belongs. The verses are largely, however, centos of Koranic passages taken from their context. The amount of repetition shews the writer's determination to prove what he wished to prove at all costs."

These are the quotations of some of the most authentic Shi'a scholars: Shaikh Saduq:

"Our belief is that the Qur’an is what is between the two covers and it is what is in people’s hands, nothing more. Whosoever attributes to us that we say rather than this is a liar5."

Sayyed Murtaza:

"The knowledge of authentic transmission of the Qur’an is like the knowledge of great countries and events, prominent accidents, famous books and written Arabic poetry for care is intensified and causes are available to properly transmit and guard it, and it reached such an extent that nothing else has ever reached. The Qur’an was, during the lifetime of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), compiled and arranged until the Prophet (peace be upon him) assigned a group of Companions (Sahaba) to memorize it. It was displayed and recited before the Prophet (peace be upon him) and some Companions as Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood and Ubai Ibn Ka’b recited the whole Qur’an many times before the Prophet (peace be upon him). All this indicates that it was compiled and arranged, neither amputated nor scattered ……. Who disagreed among the Imamiyyah and Al-Hashawiyyah (two Shi’ite sects) are not to be considered for disagreement is attributed to some traditionists who related weak reports whom they believed to be true. However, such reports cannot refute what is already known and agreed upon its authenticity6.

Shaikh Tusi or Sheikh-ut-Ta’fa (i.e., Authority of the Sect):

"Talking about it being increased or decreased is unacceptable because increasing is agreed upon its falsehood. As for decreasing, different Muslim sects are apparently against it and this matches the authentic belief of our sect and was affirmed by Al-Murtada (may Allah be pleased with him). This is explicit in various reports, however, some reports were related about decreasing parts of it and moving parts from place to place, but they are loner reports and do not indicate decisive knowledge. So, it prior to ignore them and quit being preoccupied with them because they cannot be interpreted. Even if they were authentic, it would not be against what is between the two covers for its authenticity is well known and none among the Ummah objects to or rejects it. Our reports agree upon reading it, holding by it and displaying any disagreement in branches before it, whatever agrees with it is accepted and whatever disagrees is rejected. An irrefutable tradition is reported on authority of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he says: “I’m leaving in you the two weights (Ath-Thuqlain) by whom if you hold by, you will never be lost: Allah’s Book and my family, the inhabitants of my house. They will never separate till they join me in the Hawd”. This indicates that it is present every time because he cannot command us to hold by it if it is corrupted7"

However, all the Qur'ans published in all the Shi'a countries such as Iran are the same as those published in Sunni countries. Shi’ites recite the Qur’an according to the Qira’t of Hafs on authority of ‘Asim which is the prevalent Qira’t in the Islamic world.8

More on both the Islamic (Shia and Sunni) as well as non-Islamic academic perspectives: M S M Saifullah, "Surah al-Walayah & Surah al-Nurayn: Their Authenticity & Literary Style" Islamic-Awareness.org

References

  1. ^ "Dabestan-E-Madaheb", Encyclopaedia Iranica, 1993, op. cit., pp. 533-534; Also see M. M. Marcinkowski, "Some Reflections On Alleged Twelver Shi'ite Attitude Towards The Integrity Of The Qur'an", The Muslim World, 2001, Volume 91, p. 142.
  2. ^ M. Momen, An Introduction To Shi'i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi'ism, 1985, George Ronald: Oxford, p. 173
  3. ^ "Note For The Study Of A Shi'i Qur'an", Journal of Semitic Studies, 1991, p. 282
  4. ^ Is the Qur'an Miraculous?
  5. ^ Is the Qur’an Corrupted? Sheikh As-Sadouq, "Al-I'tiqadat", Volume 1, page 57.
  6. ^ At-Tabarasi, "Majma'-ul-Bayan", Volume 1, page 15
  7. ^ "Tafsir-us-Safi", Volume 1, page 55
  8. ^ http://www.geocities.com/noorullahwebsite/shiites.html Is the Qur’an Corrupted? Shi’ites’ View]. An adaptation of: Dr. Muhammad Habash, "Al-Qira'at Al-Mutawatirah". Published March, 30th, 2003.

See also

External links