Neither anything has been decreased nor anything has been increased which was not present inside in the genuine manuscript of the Holy Quran. Various meanings of distortion and alternation have been expressed. The Islamic scholars agree with view of less or more non-distortion and non-alternation in the Holy Quran. In other words, neither anything has been decreased nor anything has been increased which was not present inside in the genuine manuscript of the Holy Quran. However, regarding to be decreasing or to be adding of phonetics and motions, it must be said that there has not been any kind of distortion occurred because the customary and in use recitation of at present time, is the same recitation that was regular in the beginning of Islam and the remaining recitations are a kind of jurisprudential investigation that have never been got the status of to be customary and in operation.
Anyway, though even we don’t accept this view, yet it is admitted fact that the genuine manuscript of the Holy Quran is amongst one of these same recitations that are present and which does not contaminate the immorality the Holy Quran.
Distortion (alteration) has various meaning, for the clarity, first of all, we should focus our attention on these various meanings and views of the Muslims about them.
1. Distortion of Meanings:
“Distortion of meaning” is this that they express the meaning of verse and interpret a verse in such a way which would be contrary to its true consideration. So, therefore, according to this consideration, all ‘exegesis by self opinions’ and erroneous and incorrect explanations that were mentioned up to now and will be mentioned in future, is a kind of ‘distortion of meaning’ of the Holy Quran.
2. Distortion of to be less or more alphabet and movements
along with protection of the Holy Quran and without depletion of it, in such a way that it would be too hard to distinguish that which one is the genuine Quran in actual fact, like whatever is present in various kinds of recitations. Definitely, one of these recitations is correct, while in the case of the remaining recitations either they have added something or lessened something else.
Some Shi’ah scholars are of the faith that the recitation of Hafs from Asim that is in practice at present time, is the real recitation of the Holy Quran that has been transformed from generation to generation and hand to hand, the regular and successive Holy Quran is the same Holy Quran amongst the people while, the remaining recitations are a kind of jurisprudential endeavor.
As long as concern of fact that this Holy Quran has been related to Hafs, it doesn’t mean that Hafs recited Holy Quran in such way and the people followed him but its means that Hafs followed the recitation that was regular and in practice amongst the people.
It has also been narrated from Imams (Infallible Leaders) that the Holy Quran was revealed according to this statement “the Quran is single word, from the Individual.” and these traditions prove the remaining recitations to be erroneous while prove to be perfection of one of these recitations.
If we enclosure this tradition with other tradition in which people have been commanded to recite the Holy Quran as people recite it, we will come to know that the genuine Quran is the same which is successive and in practice amongst the people. Therefore, it has not been occurred any distortion and alteration in the phonetics and alphabets of the Holy Quran.
3. By distortion mean to be less or more word or words along with the protection of real Quran.
It has been said that such kind of distortion, in the Holy Quran was occurred in beginning of Islam and historical reports express this fact but with the unity of Uthman’s manuscript (of the Holy Quran), this problem was solved. After collection of the Quran, Uthman ordered to his governors that the manuscripts (of the Holy Quran) which opposed the manuscript collected by him, should be burnt in to ashes.
(However according to faith of Shi’ah School of Thought, Uthman’s manuscript of Quran was the same Quran that was in practice and regular by the era of Holy Prophet (s)). Therefore, in this perspective and meanings, this kind of distortion and alteration, was disconnected practically but earlier than this era, it was present.
4. By distortion means to be less or more verse or verses or chapter along with safety of real Quran and conformity regarding to recitation of Holy Prophet (s).
whatever is present amongst the Sunni School of Thought like; some of them consider “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim” (In the Name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate), as a part of revelation, in the beginning of chapter while, on the other side, some others, don’t consider them as a part of revelation. However, all the Muslims are agreed on this view that Prophet (s) used to recite Bismillah (in the name of God) in the beginning of each chapter except chapter of tawbah (atonement).
5. Distortion to reduction or addition:
It means, either the Quran that is present in our hands would not be consisting of whole Quran or anything other would be added in it from outside. Shi’ah School of Thought has refuted the occurrence of such kind of distortion and alteration and many arguments have also been described in this context that would be expressed in its own place.
Therefore, on the ground of phonetics and movements, although expect the recitation in practice, others recitations are present insides the books yet these are a sort of jurisprudential endeavor which are not successive. Nevertheless, the scholars of Quranic sciences have narrated criterion in order to identify the correct or incorrect recitations. However, in case of accepting this kind of distortion in the Holy Quran, it should be said that distortion and alternation in this perspective, doesn’t bring any harm to the immorality of the Holy Quran; because the genuine recitation is also available and in practice. Whatever, brings harm for the immorality of the Holy Quran, is distortion that means to be more words or sentences or verses from the outside. According to all Muslims scholars, this kind of alteration and distortion has not been occurred in the Holy Quran.