Did the Promised Messiah inaccurately record verses of the Holy Quran in his writings?

Awwab Saad Hayat, Al Hakam

The allegation

Some opponents of the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as of Qadian, allege that he inaccurately quoted or reordered verses of the Holy Quran in his books and speeches. They claim this amounts to tampering with the sacred text.

The Promised Messiah’s^as belief in the Holy Quran

Before examining the specifics of this allegation, it is essential to understand Hazrat Ahmad’s^as deep conviction regarding the Holy Quran.

The Promised Messiah^as devoted his life to its revival, preservation and defence. He stated, “I have been sent so that I may re-establish the lost grandeur of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and demonstrate the truths of the Holy Quran to the world.” (Malfuzat, 1988, Vol. 3, p. 9)

He regarded the Holy Quran as the sole source of human guidance, declaring, “So beware and do not take a single step contrary to the teaching of God and the guidance of the Quran. I tell you truly that anyone who disregards even a small injunction of the seven hundred commandments of the Quran, shuts upon himself the door of salvation. The ways of true and perfect salvation have been opened by the Quran and all else is its reflection. Therefore, study the Quran with deep contemplation and hold it very dear. Love it more than anything else. […] The fountainhead of all your prosperity and salvation lies in the Quran. There is no religious need of yours which is not fulfilled by it. On the Day of Judgement, the Quran will confirm or deny your faith. There is no other book beneath heaven besides the Quran, which can directly guide you. God has been most beneficent towards you in that He has bestowed upon you a book like the Quran.” (Noah’s Ark [Kashti-e-Nuh], 2018, pp. 42-43)

These statements, along with his continual use of Quranic verses to illustrate and defend Islamic teachings, demonstrate the depth of his reverence and commitment to preserving the integrity of the Holy Quran.

Moreover, the Promised Messiah’s^as books, exegeses and sayings stand as undeniable testimony to his unparalleled service to the Holy Quran, and this is why the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat has rendered extraordinary services in the translation, publication and dissemination of the Holy Quran – efforts that originate from the seed he planted and now extending to the corners of the world.

Human error vs. intentional alteration

Muslims universally believe that Allah Himself has taken the responsibility of protecting the Holy Quran from corruption (Surah al-Hijr, Ch.15: V.10). Hence, no human can truly alter its text in a way that would escape detection. Nevertheless, in the process of recording, transcribing, printing or typesetting, occasional slips can occur – whether by scribes, typists or printers. These oversights do not equate to deliberately corrupting the Quran.

A core principle is to differentiate:

• Deliberate tahrif: Knowingly changing or omitting words of the Quran to propagate a new belief.
• Unintentional slips: Minor omissions or reordering of words, often due to a scribe’s oversight or typographical error – particularly when the same verse is accurately quoted multiple times elsewhere. Such errors often appear in:
  • Handwritten manuscripts: Before modern printing, scribes sometimes missed words or repeated lines inadvertently. 
  • Proofreading oversights: Even today, typographical mistakes occur. Over centuries, these are typically found and corrected. 
  • Transliteration/Arabic familiarity: Urdu- or Persian-speaking scribes, for example, may inadvertently omit Arabic diacritics or short phrases.

In each case, these slips are recognised by comparing them to the well-preserved standard text of the Holy Quran. No reputable scholar interprets them as deliberate attempts to corrupt scripture.

When an author cites the same verses correctly dozens of times and corrects any mistakes once discovered, it is unjust to accuse them of deliberate tampering in isolated instances.

Similar Quranic verses

The Holy Quran itself describes some of its verses as mutashabih, meaning many are similar in wording and meaning. Slight differences – such as the order of words like “amwaal” (wealth) and “anfus” (persons) – are found across the Holy Quran. For example:

• Surah at-Taubah (9:20):

“… وَجٰہَدُوۡا فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ بِاَمۡوَالِہِمۡ وَاَنۡفُسِہِمۡ …”

• Surah at-Taubah (9:41): 

“… وَّجَاہِدُوۡا بِاَمۡوَالِکُمۡ وَاَنۡفُسِکُمۡ فِیۡ سَبِیۡلِ اللّٰہِ …”

Here, the same concepts appear in slightly different orders. If someone merges or rearranges these phrases accidentally, it reflects a human slip, especially when the overall meaning remains consistent.

Refuting the allegation

1. Consistency

Hazrat Ahmad^as frequently quoted and explained the same Quranic verses accurately across his writings. Any minor variation in a specific instance, due to a scribal or typographical slip, does not indicate a deliberate change to the sacred text.

2. Context and purpose

His life’s mission was to defend Islam and uphold the authority of the Holy Quran against critics – particularly in debates with opponents of Islam. Intentionally distorting the very scripture he championed would contradict his entire mission and public statements.

3. Scribal and printing errors

Even in the most modern processes of transcription, printing and typesetting, minor errors can occur. Muslim scholarship has always distinguished such inadvertent slips from intentional alterations. A sincere believer who reveres the Holy Quran cannot be charged with distorting it simply due to an unintended scribal or typographical oversight.

4. Divine protection

The Holy Quran itself declares that God will safeguard His Book. Any claim that it can be corrupted undermines this divine assurance. (Surah al-Hijr, Ch.15: V.10)

5. Variant readings [qir’aat]

Classical Islamic scholarship recognises that certain Companions or commentators transmitted alternate readings or explanatory notes. Referring to these is not tampering but scholarly practice.

6. Corrections

Corrections over time: If a quotation error is found, it is corrected in later editions. This approach confirms a commitment to preserving accuracy rather than altering text.

7. Historical precedent of minor slips

Across Islamic history, eminent scholars and compilers occasionally misquoted verses – not to change doctrine, but due to scribal slip or oversight. Once discovered, such errors are typically amended, revealing that the standard text stands firm, unaffected by isolated mistakes.

Conclusion

The suggestion that the Promised Messiah^as ever deliberately tampered with the Holy Quran collapses under basic scrutiny. His own testimony and consistent practice prove his unshakeable devotion to the preservation and supremacy of the Holy Quran. Any minor variation that may appear in a recorded instance is attributable to the process of transcription, typesetting or printing – not to any deliberate intent.

Ultimately, these allegations ignore the broader reality: Hazrat Ahmad^as dedicated his life to demonstrating the truth of Islam, bringing people closer to the Holy Quran, and steadfastly defending it from any form of corruption. He states: 

“An essential teaching for you is that you should not abandon the Holy Quran like a thing forsaken, for therein lies your life. Those who honour the Quran will be honoured in heaven. Those who give precedence to the Quran over every Hadith and every other saying will be given precedence in heaven. Today, there is no book on the face of the earth for mankind except for the Quran.” (Noah’s Ark [English], p. 22)

This statement reflects his deep conviction and remains a clear testament to his respect for, and loyalty to, the Holy Book.