THE IMPERFECT QURAN PT. 1: MISSING VERSE ON STONING

This begins a series of posts where I will cite traditions that mention verses that are no longer part of the text of the Quran, thereby refuting the oft-repeated lie that the Muslim scripture has been perfectly preserved. I begin with the missing verse of stoning adulterers/adulteresses. All emphasis shall be mine.

AL-BUKHARI

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: ‘Umar said, “I am afraid that after a long time has passed, people may say, ‘We do not find the Verses of the Rajam (stoning to death) in the Holy Book,’ and consequently they may go astray by leaving an obligation that Allah has revealed. Lo! I confirm that the penalty of Rajam be inflicted on him who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if he is already married and the crime is proved by witnesses or pregnancy or confession.” Sufyan added, “I have memorized this narration in this way.” ‘Umar added, “Surely Allah’s Apostle carried out the penalty of Rajam, and so did we after him.” (Volume 8, Book 82, Number 816 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6829)

Narrated Ibn `Abbas: I used to teach (the Qur’an to) some people of the Muhajirln (emigrants), among whom there was `Abdur Rahman bin `Auf. While I was in his house at Mina, and he was with `Umar bin Al-Khattab during `Umar’s last Hajj, `Abdur-Rahman came to me and said, “Would that you had seen the man who came today to the Chief of the Believers (`Umar), saying, ‘O Chief of the Believers! What do you think about so-and-so who says, ‘If `Umar should die, I will give the pledge of allegiance to such-and-such person, as by Allah, the pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr was nothing but a prompt sudden action which got established afterwards.’ `Umar became angry and then said, ‘Allah willing, I will stand before the people tonight and warn them against those people who want to deprive the others of their rights (the question of rulership). `Abdur-Rahman said, “I said, ‘O Chief of the believers! Do not do that, for the season of Hajj gathers the riff-raff and the rubble, and it will be they who will gather around you when you stand to address the people. And I am afraid that you will get up and say something, and some people will spread your statement and may not say what you have actually said and may not understand its meaning, and may interpret it incorrectly, so you should wait till you reach Medina, as it is the place of emigration and the place of Prophet’s Traditions, and there you can come in touch with the learned and noble people, and tell them your ideas with confidence; and the learned people will understand your statement and put it in its proper place.’ On that, `Umar said, ‘By Allah! Allah willing, I will do this in the first speech I will deliver before the people in Medina.” Ibn `Abbas added: We reached Medina by the end of the month of Dhul-Hijja, and when it was Friday, we went quickly (to the mosque) as soon as the sun had declined, and I saw Sa`id bin Zaid bin `Amr bin Nufail sitting at the corner of the pulpit, and I too sat close to him so that my knee was touching his knee, and after a short while `Umar bin Al-Khattab came out, and when I saw him coming towards us, I said to Sa`id bin Zaid bin `Amr bin Nufail, “Today `Umar will say such a thing as he has never said since he was chosen as Caliph.” Sa`id denied my statement with astonishment and said, “What thing do you expect `Umar to say the like of which he has never said before?” In the meantime, `Umar sat on the pulpit and when the callmakers for the prayer had finished their call, `Umar stood up, and having glorified and praised Allah as He deserved, he said, “Now then, I am going to tell you something which (Allah) has written for me to say. I do not know; perhaps it portends my death, so whoever understands and remembers it, must narrate it to the others wherever his mount takes him, but if somebody is afraid that he does not understand it, then it is unlawful for him to tell lies about me. Allah sent Muhammad with the Truth and revealed the Holy Book to him, and among what Allah revealed, was the Verse of the Rajam (the stoning of married person (male & female) who commits illegal sexual intercourse, and we did recite this Verse and understood and memorized it. Allah’s Messenger did carry out the punishment of stoning and so did we after him. I am afraid that after a long time has passed, somebody will say, ‘By Allah, we do not find the Verse of the Rajam in Allah’s Book,’ and thus they will go astray by leaving an obligation which Allah has revealed. And the punishment of the Rajam is to be inflicted to any married person (male & female), who commits illegal sexual intercourse, if the required evidence is available or there is conception or confession. And then we used to recite among the Verses in Allah’s Book: ‘O people! Do not claim to be the offspring of other than your fathers, as it is disbelief (unthankfulness) on your part that you claim to be the offspring of other than your real father.’…” (Volume 8, Book 82, Number 817 https://sunnah.com/bukhari:6830)

MUSLIM

Chapter: Stoning of a married adulterer.

‘Abdullah b. ‘Abbas reported that ‘Umar b. Khattab sat on the pulpit of Allah’s Messenger and said: Verily Allah sent Muhammad with truth and He sent down the Book upon him, and the verse of stoning was included in what was sent down to him. We recited it, retained it in our memory and understood it. Allah’s Messenger awarded the punishment of stoning to death (to the married adulterer and adulteress) and, after him, we also awarded the punishment of stoning, I am afraid that with the lapse of time, the people (may forget it) and may say: We do not find the punishment of stoning in the Book of Allah, and thus go astray by abandoning this duty prescribed by Allah. Stoning is a duty laid down in Allah’s Book for married men and women who commit adultery when proof is established, or it there is pregnancy, or a confession. (Book, Number 4194 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=017&translator=2&start=0&number=4194)

MISHKAT AL-MASABIH

17 Prescribed Punishments

‘Umar said: God sent Muhammad with the truth and sent down the Book to him, and the verse of stoning was included in what God most high sent down. God’s Messenger had people stoned to death and we have done it also since his death. Stoning is a duty laid down in God’s Book for married men and women who commit fornication when proof is established, or if there is pregnancy, or a confession.

(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Reference: Mishkat al-Masabih 3557

In-book reference: Book 17, Hadith 3 (sunna.com https://sunnah.com/mishkat:3557)

MUSNAD AHMAD

2 Musnad `Umar b. al-Khattab

‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf narrated that ‘Umar bin al Khattab addressed the people and he heard him say: Some people say: what is this stoning in the Book of Allah it mentions flogging. But the Messenger of Allah stoned [adulterers] and we stoned [them] after him. Were it not that some people would say that ‘Umar added something to the Book of Allah that is not part of it, I would have written it the way it was revealed.

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) [al-Bukhari (2462) and Muslim (1691)] (Darussalam)

Reference: Musnad Ahmad 197

In-book reference: Book 2, Hadith 114 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/ahmad:197)

Musnad `Umar b. al-Khattab

It was narrated that Ibn `Abbas said: `Umar said: Allah, may He be exalted, sent Muhammad and sent down the Book to him. Among that which was revealed to him was the verse of stoning. We recited it and understood it. But I fear that with the passage of time, some people will say: We do not find the verse of stoning in the Book of Allah, and as a result an obligation that Allah revealed will be forsaken. Stoning is the due punishment in the Book of Allah for those who commit zina, both men and women, if they have been married and if proof is established, or there is a pregnancy or a confession.

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) [Al-Bukhari (2462) and Muslim (1691)] (Darussalam)

Reference: Musnad Ahmad 276

In-book reference: Book 2, Hadith 188 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/ahmad:276)

Musnad `Umar b. al-Khattab

it was narrated that `AbdurRahman bin `Awf said: `Umar bin al-Khattab did Haji and wanted to deliver a speech to the people. ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf said: The uneducated people are gathered around you, so delay it until you come to Madinah. When he came to Madinah, I got close to him when he was on the minbar and I heard him saying. Some people are saying, Why should we stone [adulterers]? In the book of Allah it only mentions flogging. But the Messenger of Allah stoned adulterers] and we stoned [them] after him. Were it not that people would say, You have inserted something into the Book of Allah that is not part of it, I would have inserted it as it was revealed.

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) [Al-Bukhari (2462) and Muslim (1691)] (Darussalam)

Reference: Musnad Ahmad 352

In-book reference: Book 2, Hadith 257 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/ahmad:352)

TIRMIDHI

17 The Book on Legal Punishments (Al-Hudud)

(7) Chapter: What Has Been Related About Confirming Stoning

‘Umar bin Al-Khattab said: “The Messenger of Allah stoned, Abu Bakr stoned, and I stoned. If I didn’t dislike that I add to the Book of Allah. I would have written it in the Mushaf, for I fear that there will come a people and they will not find it in the Book of Allah, so they will disbelieve in it.”

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1431

In-book reference: Book 17, Hadith 11

English translation: Vol. 3, Book 15, Hadith 1431 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1431)

17 The Book on Legal Punishments (Al-Hudud)

(7) Chapter: What Has Been Related About Confirming Stoning

‘Umar bin Al-Khattab said: “Verily Allah sent Muhammad with the truth, and he revealed the Book to him. Among what was revealed to him was the Ayah of stoning. So the Messenger of Allah stoned, and we stoned after him. I fear that time will pass over the people such that someone will say ‘We do not see stoning in the Book of Allah.’ They will be misguided by leaving an obligation which Allah revealed. Indeed stoning is the retribution for the adulterer if he was married and the evidence has been established, or due to pregnancy, or confession.”

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1432

In-book reference: Book 17, Hadith 12

English translation: Vol. 3, Book 15, Hadith 1432 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1432)

FURTHER READING

Textual Integrity

The Incomplete and Imperfect Quran

The Compilation and Textual Veracity of the Quran

Challenge to the Muslims Concerning the Quran [Part 1]

Challenge to the Muslims Concerning the Quran [Part 2]

Challenge to the Muslims Concerning the Quran [Part 3]

Challenge to the Muslims Concerning the Quran [Excursus]