The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 366
CH. 15 AL-HIJR used. " Again, "To compare (as the Muslims are fond of doing) their pure text with the various readings of our Scriptures, is to compare things between which there is no analogy. " (Introduction to "The Life of Mahomet"). Prof. Nöldeke, the great German Orientalist writes as follows: "Slight clerical errors there may have been, but the Quran of Othman contains none but genuine elements, though sometimes in very strange order. Efforts of European scholars to prove the existence of later interpolations in the Quran have failed. " (Enc. Brit. ). Professor Nicholson, says in his "Literary History of the Arabs": "Here (in the Quran) we have materials of unique and incontestable authority for tracing the origin and early development of Islam-such mater- ials as do not exist in the case of Buddhism or Christianity or any other ancient religion. " PT. 14 with an openly declared prophecy of the Quran. the) قرآن مبین The means adopted to safeguard the purity of the text of the Quran have been briefly referred to in verse 2 in the memorable words (the Written Book) and Illuminating Recital) signifying: (a) That every verse of the Quran was committed to writing as soon as it was revealed and this writing was most tenaciously preserved. (b) That it was committed to memory as soon as revealed by a number of Muslims. And this pious practice has increasingly continued so much so that in the past centuries hundreds of thousands of Muslims have had the entire Quran literally on the tips of their tongues. Add to this the fact that from the very beginning of Islam the recital of parts of the Quran in the five was daily Prayers obligatory. made The following additional factors also very materially contributed to the preservation of the Quran: (1) God has inspired the Muslims with an extraordinary love for the Quran. They enjoy the reading of the Book even if they do not understand the meaning of the text. This leads to its being preserved in their hearts. The importance of this security of the Quranic text is further enhanced when we compare it with other revealed Scriptures. The Quran was revealed among an illiterate people, while most other Scriptures were revealed among peoples who were comparatively more literate and therefore better qualified to preserve the purity of their Scriptures. Yet they (2) The rhythm of the Quran is so failed to do so, while the Quran, the sweet and its language so charming most widely read of all revealed and SO easy to learn and the Scriptures, enjoys complete immunity construction of its sentences SO from all sorts of corruption. This beautiful that it can be committed to miraculous preservation of the memory with great ease. Quranic text is no mere accident. It (3) God SO ordained that has been brought about by the special immediately after the Quranic providence of God in accordance | revelation became complete, it spread 1574