The Integrity of the Quran: Sunni and Shi‘i Historical Narratives

Seyfeddin Kara
Paperback, 280 pages
9781474462235

Advances the method of isnād-cum-matn analysis for unravelling complex aspects of early Islamic history

This book investigates Muslim narratives on Qurʾanic distortion through a meticulous analysis of hadith. Using isnād-cum-matn analysis, Seyfeddin Kara discovers the historical origins of this disputed claim and illuminates the dynamic interplay between Sunni and Shiʿi traditionists. He demonstrates that isnād-cum-matn analysis is not only an important tool for dating hadiths but also crucial for uncovering forgeries. By identifying the individuals responsible, he provides new explanations of forgery culture in early Muslim society. Kara illuminates debates over the textual integrity and evolution of the written Qurʾanic text, offering insights into the enigmatic early history of Islam. By pushing the boundaries of isnād-cum-matn analysis, this book makes methodological advancements in the study of early Islamic history and contributes to its reconstruction on the question of the canonised Qur’an’s integrity.

Contents
1. 'A'isha's Legal Debate on the Scope of Breastfeeding
2. The Litigation of the Two Men According to 'The Book of God'
3. The Prophet, the Jews and the Stoning Penalty
4. Caliph 'Umar's Sermon About the 'Missing Stoning Verse'
5. Transition of the Distortion Narrative into Shii Reports
6. Distorting the Book of God
7. The Return of the Avenger (Al-Mahdi) and Teaching the Correct Quran