﷽ 

I begin in the Name of Allah the almighty, there is no god but Allah ﷻ, the one and only, true creator of the Heavens and the Earth, all power belongs to Him alone. Praise be to Allah who made us among those who adhere to the authority of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali Ibn Abi Talib عَلَيهِ السَّلام

A common yet primarily deceptive accusation put forth towards the Shi’ah of the Ahlulbayt (عليهم السلام) is the inaccurate claim in which our school has supposedly suppressed and forgotten the Qu’ran. This is evidently incorrect, Insinuating that the behaviours of a minority that adhere to a faith, reflect and represent the faith itself is flawed. This assertion is a misrepresentation of the accurate position of the Ma’sumeen (عليهم السلام) and the view of the classical Shi’i scholars (رضي الله عنهم). Rather, let’s return to the scriptures, and the pious predecessors in light of the Book of Allah (ﷻ).

Firstly, We’ll begin by presenting the aqwal (sayings) of the ulema of the shi’a.

Statements of Classical Shi’i scholars:

al-Shaykh al-Ṣadūq:

“Our belief Concerning the Qur’an is that it is the Word (kalam) of Allah, and His revelation, sent down by Him, His speech and His Book.

“Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it. A revelation from the Wise, the Praiseworthy” (Qur’an 41:42).

And “Lo! This verily is the true narrative” (Qur’an 3:62).

“And Verily this (Qur’an) is a conclusive word; it is no pleasantry” (Qur’an 86:13-14).

Verily, Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He above all, is its Creator and Revealer and Master and Protector and Utterer.”

Our belief is that the Qur’an which Allah revealed to His Prophet Muhammad is (the same as) the one between the two covers (daffatayn) And it is the one which is in the hands of the people, and is not greater in extent than that. The number of surahs as generally accepted is one hundred and fourteen …And he who asserts that we say that it is greater in extent than that, is a liar.”

Source: al-I’tiqadat al-Imamiyyah

al-Shaykh al-Ṭūsī:

إعلم ان القرآن معجزة عظيمة على صدق النبي (عليه السلام)، بل هو من أكبر المعجزات وأشهرها.

“Know that the Qur’an is a great miracle based on the truthfulness of the Prophet (peace be upon him) . Indeed, it is one of the largest and most famous miracles..”

Source: Al-Tibbyan Fi Tafsir al-Quran

Statements of Later Shi’i scholars:

Ayatollah Sayyid Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei:

It is better for a human being to refrain from delving into this topic and to humble himself in front of the Qur’an’ s greatness. Indeed, an admission of inadequacy is better than proceeding with this discussion. What can a person say in describing the eminence of the Qur’an and its glory? What can he say to explain its excellence and sublimity? How can a contingent being perceive the greatness of the speech of the Absolute Being? What can an author write about this subject and what can a speaker say? Can a limited being describe anything that is unlimited?

It is sufficient greatness for the Qur’an, and sufficient eminence and glory, that it is the speech of the Almighty God, and the miracle of His noble Prophet, and that its verses are the guarantee for the guidance of human beings in all their concerns and circumstances and at all times. This is their guarantee to reach the final goal and the great happiness now and later on:

Source: Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an

Allamah Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’i:

The Reminder (i.e. the Qur’an) is living and eternal, preserved from death and oblivion from it’s origin. It is protected from any additions from that would compromise its essence as a Reminder, as well as any reduction. It is also preserved from any alterations in its form and arrangement that would change it’s quality as a divine Reminder, elucidating the realities of His wisdom.
The verse indicates that the Book of God is safeguarded in its entirety from any distortion, as it serves as a divine Reminder. Consequently it stands as a living and enduring Reminder.

Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an

Secondly, we’ll analyse and examine the direct reports of the Imam’s (a). Each narration will include the Isnad (Chain) of the Rijal documenting the reports reliability. 

Hadith 1:

ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَأَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ ثَعْلَبَةَ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ عَنْ يَعْقُوبَ الأحْمَرِ قَالَ قُلْتُ لأبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ قَرَأْتُ الْقُرْآنَ فَفَلَتَ مِنِّي فَادْعُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يُعَلِّمَنِيهِ قَالَ فَكَأَنَّهُ فَزِعَ لِذَلِكَ فَقَالَ عَلَّمَكَ الله هُوَ وَإِيَّانَا جَمِيعاً قَالَ وَنَحْنُ نَحْوٌ مِنْ عَشَرَةٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ السُّورَةُ تَكُونُ مَعَ الرَّجُلِ قَدْ قَرَأَهَا ثُمَّ تَرَكَهَا فَتَأْتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِي أَحْسَنِ صُورَةٍ وَتُسَلِّمُ عَلَيْهِ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ أَنْتِ فَتَقُولُ أَنَا سُورَةُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَلَوْ أَنَّكَ تَمَسَّكْتَ بِي وَأَخَذْتَ بِي لأنْزَلْتُكَ هَذِهِ الدَّرَجَةَ فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْقُرْآنِ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ لِيُقَالَ فُلانٌ قَارِئٌ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ لِيَطْلُبَ بِهِ الدُّنْيَا وَلا خَيْرَ فِي ذَلِكَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ لِيَنْتَفِعَ بِهِ فِي صَلاتِهِ وَلَيْلِهِ وَنَهَارِهِ.

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad an Abu Ali al-Ash’ari from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar all from ibn Faddal from abu Ishaq, Th’labah ibn Maymun from Ya’qub al-Ahmar who has said the following: 

“Once I said to abu Abdullah (a.s.) ‘May Allah keep my soul in service for your cause, I had learned the Holy Quran but now it is gone (forgotten). Pray to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, so I learn it again?’ The narrator has said that the Imam seemed shocked and said, ‘May Allah and all of us help you learn the Holy Quran again and we are about ten people.’ The Imam then said, ‘If one knows one chapter of the Holy Quran and then leaves it alone, on the Day of Judgment that chapter will come to him in the best form and will greet him. The man will ask, ‘Who are you?’ It will say, ‘I am chapter so and so of the Holy Quran. If you had not left me alone, I would have taken you with me to this high rank. ’ The Imam then said, ‘You must hold fast to the Holy Quran.’” 

Chain Grading: 

Note – When al-Kulaynī (ra) says “From a number of our companions from Aḥmad b. Muḥammad”, he is getting his ḥadīth from a number of people: `Alī b. Ibrāhīm al-Qummī, `Alī b. Muḥammad b. `Abd Allāh b. Udhaynah, Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. Umayyah, `Alī b. al-Ḥussayn al-Sa`adābādī

First Narrator – Aḥmad b. Muḥammad:  He is thiqah (trustworthy) according al-Najāshī (See: al-Najāshī, al-Rijāl, pg. 76-77, person # 182), al-Ṭūsī (See: al-Ṭūsī, al-Fihrist, pg. 53, person # 65) and al-Ḥillī (See: al-Ḥillī, al-Khulāṣah, pg. 15, person # 7)

Second Narrator – Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar: Al-Majlisī authenticated a chain with him in it. (refer to Mir’āt Al-`Uqūl, vol. 12, pg. 490)

Third Narrator – Ibn Faddal: Al-Majlisī authenticated a chain with him in it. (refer to Mir’aat Al-`Uqool, vol. 23, pg. 403)

Fourth Narrator – Th’labah ibn Maymun: Al-Barqi counted him among the companions of Al-Sadiq & Al-Kadhim. al-Najāshī praised him (معجم رجال الحديث ـ الجزء الرابع) Al-Majlisī deemed him reliable.

Fifth Narrator – Ya’qub al-Ahmar: Al-Barqi accepted his reports (refer to معجم رجال)  Al-Majlisī deemed him reliable. Shaykh Mohseni authenticated a chain with him in Rijal al-Kashshi. 

Source: Al-Kāfi – Volume 2 Book 3, Chapter #4 Ḥadīth #1

Hadith 2:

ـ عَلِيٌّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَبْدِ الله بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ سَمَاعَةَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِنَّ الْعَزِيزَ الْجَبَّارَ أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ كِتَابَهُ وَهُوَ الصَّادِقُ الْبَارُّ فِيهِ خَبَرُكُمْ وَخَبَرُ مَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ وَخَبَرُ مَنْ بَعْدَكُمْ وَخَبَرُ السَّمَاءِ وَالأرْضِ وَلَوْ أَتَاكُمْ مَنْ يُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ ذَلِكَ لَتَعَجَّبْتُمْ.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mughirah from Sama’a ibn Mehran who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) has said, the Majestic, the Almighty, has revealed to you His book. It is truthful and virtuous. In it there is news about you, the news of those before you, the news about those after you, the news about the heaven and earth and if one brings you such news, you are astonished.’” 

Chain Grading: Hasan or Reliable (Refer to Mir‘at al ‘Uqul Fi Sharh Akhbar Al al Rasul 12/479)

Source: Al-Kāfi – Volume 2 Book 3, Chapter #1 Ḥadīth #3

Hadith 3:

الكافي: علي، عن أبيه، عن حماد، عن حريز، عن أبي عبدالله عليه السلام قال: القرآن عهدالله إلى خلقه فقد ينبغي للمرء المسلم أن ينظر في عهده وأن يقرأ منه في كل يوم خمسين آية

Ali from his father from Hammad from Hariz from Abi Abdillah عليه السلام who said: The Qur’an is the covenant of Allah to His creatures, it is incumbent therefore on a Muslim man to look into his covenant and that he recite fifty verses from it every day

Chain Grading: Reliable (Refer to Muʿjam al-Aḥādīth al-Muʿtabara Book 5, Chapter #5)

Hadith 4:

لتهذيب: محمد بن أحمد بن يحيى عن معاوية بن الحكيم عن معمر بن خلاد عن الرضا عليه السلام: قال سمعته يقول: ينبغي للرجل إذا أصبح ان يقرأ بعد التعقيب خمسين آية

al-Tahdhib: Muhammad b. Ahmad b. Yahya from Muawiya b. Hukaym from Mu’ammar b. Khallad from al-Ridha عليه السلام. He (Mu’ammar) said: I heard him (i.e. the Imam) saying: It is incumbent on a man when he wakes up (in the morning) that he recite after the Taʿqīb (post dawn-prayer supplications) fifty verses

Chain Grading: Reliable

Source: Muʿjam al-Aḥādīth al-Muʿtabara Book 5, Chapter #5

Hadith 5:

ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ يُونُسَ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) كَانَ فِي وَصِيَّةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَصْحَابَهُ اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ الْقُرْآنَ هُدَى النَّهَارِ وَنُورُ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْ جَهْدٍ وَفَاقَةٍ.

Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus from abu Jamilah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘It is in the will of Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali ibn abu Talib (a.s.) to his companions, “You must know that the Holy Quran is guidance during the day and light in the dark night against the existing hardships and poverty.”’ 

Chain Grading: Weak (corresponds with other sources)

Source: Al-Kāfi – Volume 2 Book 3, Chapter #1 Ḥadīth #6

Hadith 6:

ـ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ وُهَيْبِ بْنِ حَفْصٍ عَنْ أَبِي بَصِيرٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) يَقُولُ إِنَّ الْقُرْآنَ زَاجِرٌ وَآمِرٌ يَأْمُرُ بِالْجَنَّةِ وَيَزْجُرُ عَنِ النَّارِ.

Hamid has narrated from al-Hassan ibn m h from Wuhayb ibn Hafs from abu Basir who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘The Holy Quran forbids and commands, it commands (people to go) to paradise and prohibits (people from going) to the fire.’” 

Chain Grading: Reliable

Source: Al-Kāfi – Volume 2 Book 3, Chapter #1 Ḥadīth #9

Hadith 7:

من قرأ قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ حين يأخذ مضجعه وكل الله عز وجل به خمسين ألف ملك يحرسونه ليلته

(From A Lengthy report…) Allah the almighty and majestic would appoint 50,000 angels to protect whomever recites “Say: He is Allah, the One and Only” (Surah Al ikhlāṣ) when he goes to bed.

Source: Al-Khiṣāl Book 28, Chapter #1 Ḥadīth #12

Hadith 8:

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَسَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ الْحَافِظُ لِلْقُرْآنِ الْعَامِلُ بِهِ مَعَ السَّفَرَةِ الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ.

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Sahl ibn Ziyad, all from ibn Mahbub, from Jamil ibn Salih, from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: ‘‘One who has memorized the Holy Quran and acts upon it will be with the honorable and righteous angels.” 

Chain Grading: Reliable

Source: Al-Kāfi – Volume 2 Book 3, Chapter #2 Ḥadīth #2

Hadith 9: 

3ـ وَبِإِسْنَادِهِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) تَعَلَّمُوا الْقُرْآنَ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ صَاحِبَهُ فِي صُورَةِ شَابٍّ جَمِيلٍ شَاحِبِ اللَّوْنِ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ الْقُرْآنُ أَنَا الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَسْهَرْتُ لَيْلَكَ وَأَظْمَأْتُ هَوَاجِرَكَ وَأَجْفَفْتُ رِيقَكَ وَأَسَلْتُ دَمْعَتَكَ أَؤُولُ مَعَكَ حَيْثُمَا أُلْتَ وَكُلُّ تَاجِرٍ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَتِهِ وَأَنَا الْيَوْمَ لَكَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ تِجَارَةِ كُلِّ تَاجِرٍ وَسَيَأْتِيكَ كَرَامَةٌ مِنَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَأَبْشِرْ فَيُؤْتَى بِتَاجٍ فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَيُعْطَى الأمَانَ بِيَمِينِهِ وَالْخُلْدَ فِي الْجِنَانِ بِيَسَارِهِ وَيُكْسَى حُلَّتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُ اقْرَأْ وَارْقَهْ فَكُلَّمَا قَرَأَ آيَةً صَعِدَ دَرَجَةً وَيُكْسَى أَبَوَاهُ حُلَّتَيْنِ إِنْ كَانَا مُؤْمِنَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُقَالُ لَهُمَا هَذَا لِمَا عَلَّمْتُمَاهُ الْقُرْآنَ.

Through the same chain of narrators it is narrated from Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) who has said the following: ‘‘The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Learn the Holy Quran; on the Day of Judgment it will come to his friends in the form of a most beautiful young person of pale complexion and will speak to his friend saying, “I am the Quran for which you kept awake so often and endured thirst during the heat of midday, dried up your mouth and let your tears flow. I will be with you whenever you will go. Every trader is after his trade. Today I look after the trade of everyone who had a deal with me. Honor will come to you from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, as good news for you. The man will receive a crown and peace will be placed on his right hand and eternal life in paradise in his left hand and he will be dressed with two dresses of paradise, then he will be told, ‘Read and climb.’ For each verse that he will read he will climb up one degree and his parents, if they are of the believers, will each receive two dresses of paradise and they will be told that this is for your teaching the Holy Quran to your child.’” 

Chain Grading: Reliable

Source: Al-Kāfi – Volume 2 Book 3, Chapter #2 Ḥadīth #3

Hadith 10:

1ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَسَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ صَالِحٍ عَنِ الْفُضَيْلِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ إِنَّ الَّذِي يُعَالِجُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَحْفَظُهُ بِمَشَقَّةٍ مِنْهُ وَقِلَّةِ حِفْظٍ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ.

A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Sahl ibn Ziyad all from ibn Mahbub from Jamil ibn Salih from al-Fudayl ibn Yasar who has said the following: “I heard Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) saying, ‘Those who face difficulty memorizing the Holy Quran due to lesser ability of memorization will be rewarded twofold.’” 

Chain Grading: Reliable

Source: Al-Kāfi – Volume 2 Book 3, Chapter #2 Ḥadīth #1