❀ Claim of Western Orientalists and Christian Missionaries
Western orientalists, especially Theodor Nöldeke, and Christian missionaries have made various accusations against the Noble Qur'an. One such accusation is that some verses of Surah Al-Bayyina were "lost." In his book "Geschichte des Qorans" (Leipzig, 1909, Vol. 1, Page 242), Nöldeke claims, based on a narration from Jami' al-Tirmidhi, that certain verses were included in Surah Al-Bayyina but did not remain part of the Qur'an.
❀ The Text of the Hadith
Nöldeke cited a narration from Jami' al-Tirmidhi (Hadith No: 3898) in which Hazrat Ubayy ibn Ka'b (رضي الله عنه) stated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited Surah Al-Bayyina to him and said along with it:
❝ إِنَّ ذَاتَ الدِّينِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الْحَنِيفِيَّةُ الْمُسْلِمَةُ لَا الْيَهُودِيَّةُ وَلَا النَّصْرَانِيَّةُ وَلَا الْمَجُوسِيَّةُ مَنْ يَعْمَلْ خَيْرًا فَلَنْ يُكْفَرَهُ ❞
"Indeed, the true religion with Allah is the upright (Hanifiyyah) and Islam, not Judaism, Christianity, or Magianism. Whoever does good will never have his goodness denied."
(Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith No: 3898)
❀ Fundamental Points of the Orientalists' Claim
They tried to present the phrases:
- "إِنَّ ذَاتَ الدِّينِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الْحَنِيفِيَّةُ الْمُسْلِمَةُ…”
- "لَوْ أَنَّ لِابْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيًا مِنْ مَالٍ…”
as part of the Qur'an, asserting that these were included in Surah Al-Bayyina but later "lost."
❀ The Truth: These Phrases Are Not Part of the Qur'an
These phrases are not part of the Qur'an but were stated by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as an explanation of Surah Al-Bayyina. This is clarified by the following evidences:
◈ Narration in Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim
In Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim, the same narration from Hazrat Ubayy ibn Ka'b (رضي الله عنه) comes with the wording:
❝ وَمِنْ نَعْتِهَا… ❞
"And among its descriptions..."
(Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim, Vol. 2, Page 244, Hadith No: 2889)
These words clearly indicate that these phrases were explanations given by the Prophet (ﷺ) regarding Surah Al-Bayyina and not part of the Qur'an.
◈ Difference in the Words of the Hadith
- In Jami' al-Tirmidhi:
"إِنَّ ذَاتَ الدِّينِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ…”
"Indeed, the essence of religion with Allah is…" - In Musnad Ahmad:
"إِنَّ الدِّينَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ…”
"Indeed, the religion with Allah is…" - In another narration:
"إِنَّ ذَلِكَ الدِّينَ الْقَيِّمَ…”
"Indeed, that is the upright religion…"
Qur'anic verses are always transmitted in the same wording, whereas these hadith narrations show variations in wording, further confirming these were not part of the Qur'an.
The phrases contain words such as:
- "ذَاتَ الدِّينِ"
- "الْيَهُودِيَّةُ"
- "النَّصْرَانِيَّةُ"
which do not conform to the unique style and language of the Qur'an.
These phrases were actually explanations of the fifth verse of Surah Al-Bayyina:
❝ وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ… ❞
"And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, being sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth…"
(Surah Al-Bayyina: 5)
They were spoken to explain the religion of Hanifiyyah (pure monotheism) and to emphasize the importance of charity.
Regarding Religion:
- Jami' al-Tirmidhi:
"الحَنِيفِيَّةُ المُسْلِمَةُ…"
"The upright and Muslim faith…" - Musnad Ahmad:
"الحَنِيفِيَّةُ، غَيْرُ الْمُشْرِكَةِ…"
"Hanifiyyah, free from polytheism…" - Kitab al-Ahadith al-Mukhtarah:
"الحَنِيفِيَّةُ السَّمْحَةُ…"
"The gentle and easy Hanifiyyah…"
Regarding Wealth:
- Jami' al-Tirmidhi:
"لَوْ أَنَّ لِابْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيًا…"
"If the son of Adam had a valley of wealth…" - Musnad Ahmad:
"لَوْ أَنَّ لِابْنِ آدَمَ وَادِيَيْنِ…"
"If the son of Adam had two valleys…" - Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim:
"وَلَوْ أَنَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ سَأَلَ وَادِيًا…"
"And if the son of Adam were to ask for a valley…"
Such variations and differences in order further prove that these statements were not part of the Qur'an.
❀ Answers to Possible Questions
◈ Question: What is meant by the phrase "وَقَرَأَ فِيهَا"?
Answer: These words are the narrator’s own explanation, as clarified in Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim (Hadith 2889), indicating that the Prophet (ﷺ) said them as an explanation of Surah Al-Bayyina.
◈ Question: Could these phrases be considered part of Surah Al-Bayyina?
Answer: No, because their wording changes in different hadiths and they do not match the style of the Qur'an.
◈ Question: Why do only the initial verses of Surah Al-Bayyina appear in the hadiths?
Answer: It was common practice to mention the opening words of a Surah instead of its name, referring to the entire Surah.
❀ Summary
✔ These phrases were never part of the Qur'an.
✔ They were explanatory statements by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) regarding the verses of Surah Al-Bayyina.
✔ Differences in the hadith wordings, non-Qur'anic style, and variation in order clearly prove this fact.
