Objecting to the sources and teachings of Islam has long been the pursuit of Orientalists, atheists, and Christian missionaries. Islamic scholars have consistently refuted their objections across various forums. However, these groups persist in relying on their old techniques and false narratives. While one might not question the scholarly credentials of these objectors, their intent and objectives are recognized through their lies and deceit.
The research of Orientalists and missionaries often relies on translations and interpretations. They attempt to create doubts about the Qur’ān by presenting ambiguous statements.
The purpose of their criticism is to hide their own embarrassment, for the current Bible contains human additions that have been attributed to God.
Allāh Almighty has declared regarding the Qur’ān:
"إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ”
(Sūrah al-Ḥijr: 9)
This divine promise is a clear proof that the Qur’ān is protected from any kind of distortion or alteration.
✔ Text of the Narration
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (may Allāh be pleased with him) said:
“None of you should say that he has attained the entire Qur’ān. How does he know that all of it was this? Much of the Qur’ān has already gone. He should say: I have attained what has been preserved.”
(ʿAllāmah Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭī, al-Itqān fī ʿUlūm al-Qur’ān, Vol. 2, p. 25)
✔ Context of the Narration
This narration pertains to the abrogated verses of the Qur’ān.
◈ ʿAllāmah al-Suyūṭī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) included it in the chapter of “Nāsikh wa Mansūkh” (abrogated verses).
(al-Itqān fī ʿUlūm al-Qur’ān, Vol. 3, pp. 66, 82-83)
◈ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) also clarified that Ibn ʿUmar’s statement referred to those verses that had been abrogated.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 9, p. 65)
This narration does not claim that any portion of the Qur’ān has been lost. Rather:
➊ Ibn ʿUmar (may Allāh be pleased with him) was referring to those verses which were revealed initially, but their recitation and implementation were later abrogated by Allāh’s command.
➋ Abū Bakr ibn al-Ṭayyib al-Bāqillānī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) clearly stated in al-Intiṣār al-Qur’ān that no one can claim to have memorized the complete Qur’ān (including abrogated verses).
(al-Intiṣār al-Qur’ān, p. 406)
✔ Ḥadīth of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
Ḥaḍrat ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (may Allāh be pleased with him) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ left for the Ummah only that Qur’ān which was preserved between two covers (the Muṣḥaf).”
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book 61, Ḥadīth 537)
✔ Position of the Scholars
◈ Ibn Ḥajar (may Allāh have mercy upon him) clarified that those who think that any portion of the Qur’ān was lost after the demise of the Prophet ﷺ are mistaken.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 9, p. 65)
◈ Ālūsī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) wrote that there is consensus among Ahl al-Sunnah that no part of the Qur’ān has been lost.
(Rūḥ al-Maʿānī, Vol. 1, p. 26)
Why Did Ibn ʿUmar Refer to Abrogated Verses as “Qur’ān”?
Ibn ʿUmar (may Allāh be pleased with him) called them “Qur’ān” because they were initially revealed and recited as Qur’ān.
(Sunan Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr, Vol. 2, p. 433)
What Does “Much of the Qur’ān Has Gone” Mean?
◈ In the Arabic language, the word “kathīr” (much) does not always literally mean “a large quantity.” It can also signify a relative term in comparative contexts.
◈ In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“A third is a lot”, even though a third is less than the remaining two-thirds.
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book 23, Ḥadīth 383)
✔ Ibn ʿUmar’s narration only means that some verses of the Qur’ān had been abrogated and are no longer recited or implemented.
✔ The claim that “much” of the Qur’ān was abrogated is a misunderstanding or a failure to grasp the context of the Arabic language.
✔ The Qur’ān remains preserved and complete, exactly as the Prophet ﷺ delivered it to the Ummah, and it will remain so until the Day of Judgment.
The research of Orientalists and missionaries often relies on translations and interpretations. They attempt to create doubts about the Qur’ān by presenting ambiguous statements.
The purpose of their criticism is to hide their own embarrassment, for the current Bible contains human additions that have been attributed to God.
Allāh Almighty has declared regarding the Qur’ān:
"إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ”
(Sūrah al-Ḥijr: 9)
This divine promise is a clear proof that the Qur’ān is protected from any kind of distortion or alteration.
✔ Text of the Narration
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (may Allāh be pleased with him) said:
“None of you should say that he has attained the entire Qur’ān. How does he know that all of it was this? Much of the Qur’ān has already gone. He should say: I have attained what has been preserved.”
(ʿAllāmah Jalāl al-Dīn al-Suyūṭī, al-Itqān fī ʿUlūm al-Qur’ān, Vol. 2, p. 25)
✔ Context of the Narration
This narration pertains to the abrogated verses of the Qur’ān.
◈ ʿAllāmah al-Suyūṭī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) included it in the chapter of “Nāsikh wa Mansūkh” (abrogated verses).
(al-Itqān fī ʿUlūm al-Qur’ān, Vol. 3, pp. 66, 82-83)
◈ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) also clarified that Ibn ʿUmar’s statement referred to those verses that had been abrogated.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 9, p. 65)
This narration does not claim that any portion of the Qur’ān has been lost. Rather:
➊ Ibn ʿUmar (may Allāh be pleased with him) was referring to those verses which were revealed initially, but their recitation and implementation were later abrogated by Allāh’s command.
➋ Abū Bakr ibn al-Ṭayyib al-Bāqillānī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) clearly stated in al-Intiṣār al-Qur’ān that no one can claim to have memorized the complete Qur’ān (including abrogated verses).
(al-Intiṣār al-Qur’ān, p. 406)
✔ Ḥadīth of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
Ḥaḍrat ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (may Allāh be pleased with him) said:
“The Prophet ﷺ left for the Ummah only that Qur’ān which was preserved between two covers (the Muṣḥaf).”
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book 61, Ḥadīth 537)
✔ Position of the Scholars
◈ Ibn Ḥajar (may Allāh have mercy upon him) clarified that those who think that any portion of the Qur’ān was lost after the demise of the Prophet ﷺ are mistaken.
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, Vol. 9, p. 65)
◈ Ālūsī (may Allāh have mercy upon him) wrote that there is consensus among Ahl al-Sunnah that no part of the Qur’ān has been lost.
(Rūḥ al-Maʿānī, Vol. 1, p. 26)
Why Did Ibn ʿUmar Refer to Abrogated Verses as “Qur’ān”?
Ibn ʿUmar (may Allāh be pleased with him) called them “Qur’ān” because they were initially revealed and recited as Qur’ān.
(Sunan Saʿīd ibn Manṣūr, Vol. 2, p. 433)
What Does “Much of the Qur’ān Has Gone” Mean?
◈ In the Arabic language, the word “kathīr” (much) does not always literally mean “a large quantity.” It can also signify a relative term in comparative contexts.
◈ In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“A third is a lot”, even though a third is less than the remaining two-thirds.
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book 23, Ḥadīth 383)
✔ Ibn ʿUmar’s narration only means that some verses of the Qur’ān had been abrogated and are no longer recited or implemented.
✔ The claim that “much” of the Qur’ān was abrogated is a misunderstanding or a failure to grasp the context of the Arabic language.
✔ The Qur’ān remains preserved and complete, exactly as the Prophet ﷺ delivered it to the Ummah, and it will remain so until the Day of Judgment.
