A Critical Analysis of the Twelve Reasons of Muhaddith Nouri for Proving Tahrif bi-Naqisah

Mentioning 1122 narrations, Muhaddith Nouri, in the book Fasl al-Khitab fi Tahrif al-Kitab Rabb al-Arbab, has dealt with tahrif bi-naqisah and its proof in the Quran as this book and its narrations have been cited in all the works of those who believe in distortion. In 12 chapters of his book, he has presented 12 reasons to prove distortion by reduction. Using rational and narrative arguments, the present article explicates their shortcomings and weaknesses. From among the narrations of Fasl al-Khitab, some of them, in particular, and some others, in general, have been considered as the proof of distortion by reduction. Most of these narrations have been taken from unknown or fake sources, and some of them are related to differences in readings (of the Quran), which are either related to the way some Quranic words are recited or the special interpretations offered on some verses. However, these narrations have got nothing to do with distortion by reduction. A few narrations have been narrated from reliable sources, which have been mistakenly taken to be the basis for distortion. These narrations do not include interpretive additions, jara wa tatbiq and other similar explanations which require revelatory additions to the holy Quran, which have been omitted in later periods.