By Mark Olson
If you ask a devoted Muslim why he/she believes Islam is true, it is almost inevitable that one of his/her arguments will center on the Qur’an. This argument will most assuredly venerate the Qur’an for its glory, inimitability, infallibility, and solidarity as God’s final revelation to mankind. Billions of Muslims today believe these truths about the Qur’an; however, has this stance toward the Qur’an been true throughout Islam’s history? This two-part series seeks to answer this question. What we reveal may differ from your Muslim friend’s expectations.
The first part of this series will argue that the early Muslim community, following Muhammad’s death in 632, was in a Qur’anic quandary without a universally accepted, official Qur’an to govern them. Part two is two-fold in that it will both reveal how one Muslim branch, the Shia, has progressively changed their view on the Qur’an over time, and also synthesize the research mentioned and discuss critical observations. To begin, it is necessary to outline the most common, widespread belief amongst Muslims regarding the compilation of the Qur’an.
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