[The Lack of Distortion in the Quran]

Of course, it has been attributed to some Muslims that they believe some early Muslims might have diminished it. However, there is no evidence for this belief. Rather, it contradicts rational rules; because the narration of the Book of Allah has not been limited to those accused of diminishing it, and it has been carried out by a large number of others. It is clear that collusion among all of them to diminish it in a uniform manner is impossible. In other words, the narrators of the Book of Allah from the time of the Prophet until now have always been so numerous that their consensus on diminishing or adding to it in a uniform manner has been impossible; this is among the rational and empirical necessities. Moreover, the occurrence of any deficiency in the Book of Allah would imply the occurrence of defect or contradiction in it, which would naturally be observable. However, no defect or contradiction is observed in it; rather, its text is harmonious, consistent, and reasonable, unmatched in both literary and semantic aspects, and cannot be challenged. This means its miraculous nature, which proves that it has been issued from Allah and has not been altered; because any alteration in it would naturally damage its order, disrupt its harmony, consistency, and reasonableness, and undermine its miraculous nature. However, no such thing has occurred; as Allah Almighty has said: ﴿أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا﴾[1]; “Do they not reflect upon the Quran?! If it had been from other than Allah, they would surely have found within it much variation.” Furthermore, the occurrence of any deficiency in it would necessitate the inevitable fall of Muslims into misguidance, with no possibility of their being guided; because its diminished parts have not been narrated in a widely transmitted manner, and therefore, completing or correcting it is not possible for Muslims. From here, it is understood that the Book of Allah, in its current form, is authoritative—that is, it certainly represents the will of Allah.

[The Authority of the Apparent Meanings and General Statements of the Quran]

Of course, it has been attributed to some Muslims that they believe the apparent meaning of the Book of Allah is not authoritative—that is, what is most readily understood from its expressions is often not the serious intention of Allah—and that, strictly speaking, its general statements lack the capacity to be binding, since few of them have not been specified with the Sunnah;