The verse that states that the Qur’an is a book protected by Allah and has not been changed is as follows: “It is certainly We Who have revealed the Reminder, and it is certainly We Who will preserve it.” [1]
The society in which the Qur’an was revealed was a society which is good at oral tradition. The descended verses were memorized by the Companions. However, the prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessing be upon him) was not content with this that he determined the scribes of divine revelation. Revelation scribes were also writing down every verse that was sent down.[2]
Were the initial copies of the Quran preserved until today?
The Qur’an, which was turned into a Mus’haf during the reign of Abu Bakr (Peace be upon him) It was started to be copied and sent to different places during the Osman period. The oldest Qur’an available in the 21st century is one of the Mus’haf that were copied and sent to different places during the Osman period. There is no change to this Mus’haf compared with the texts of the Qur’an today.[3]
From the moment the religion of Islam first began to descend into the 21st century, there have been people and communities who are hostile to this religion because of their own interests or the ideology they believe in. Claims have been made that this religion is figmental. These expressions are expressed in the Qur’an as follows: ” And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed to Our servant, then produce a sûrah like it and call your helpers other than Allah, if what you say is true.” [4]
In the history of Islam, no one including these enemies, has put forward a thesis with evidence that the Qur’an has changed. As a matter of fact, anyone can always be blamed on probabilities. However, an opinion cannot be expressed on probabilities.
Is there a contradictory copy of the Quran across the world?
It should also be added that until the 21st century, there has not been a different version of the Qur’an, nor any example claimed to be a copy. In other words, there are no different examples of the Qur’an with contradictory verses as in other monotheistic religions.
Summary:
1. The first examples of the Quran, which were penned and transformed into books, have been preserved to this day. These examples were published shortly after the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) died. These samples are precisely the same as they are now.
2. Although unbelievers are openly challenged to create identical verses in the Quran, there is no evidence that it was modified during the prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) time or since then.
3. There is currently only one copy of the Quran in the world. There are no two copies that conflict or do not fit together.
[1] Al-Hijr,9
[2] Al- Zarkashi, Al-Burhan fi ulum al-Qur’an, Egypt 1972 I, 235; Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, Fath al-bari bi sharh al-Bukhari, Bulaq 1300, IX,18.
[3] The following historical Mus’hafs are available in the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in Istanbul:
a) Number 457,the Mus’haf bearing Osman’s (PUH) signature and indicating that it was written in 30 Hijri Calendar.
b) Number 557, Copy bearing Ali’s (PUH) signature.
c) Number 458, A copy indicating to Ali’s writing.
[4] Al-Baqarah,23