In Search of the Original Koran: The True History of the Revealed Text by Mondher Sfar Read Free Book Online Page B

Koran has demonstrated some zeal in the glorification of God, without worrying about the grammatical or stylistic imperatives of the sentence. In any case, what is sure is that this verse has undergone the interpolation of a repetition that is wrongly placed.
    In verse 2:177, there is a commentary about true pious virtue that, it is said, does not reside in the formal practice of worship but in faith and in good actions that are listed at length. When detailing these deeds, this verse switches midway through from the single mode to the plural without any justification. Why this change in number? Very probably because this change corresponds to an interpolation added by a new scribe.
    We find the same phenomenon of accumulation within the same verse at 2:187, which begins by authorizing sexual relations at the breaking of the fast, then defines the limits of the day of fasting, and finally, announces an interdiction on having sexual relations inside the sacred mosque. These instructions end with this conclusion: "These are the limits (hudud) set by Allah. Do not approach them to transgress them! Thus does Allah make clear his signs [dya] to men, hoping that perhaps they will be righteous." The last instruction about the ban on sexual relations inside the Kaaba-which was an ancient Oriental practice-shows that this verse was composed after the taking of Mecca in January 630. The first two instructions might have been revealed beforehand. The impression derived from this composition is that these three ritual prescriptions have in common either the theme of fasting or that of sexuality. No doubt the first instruction combining the two themes authorized the redactor of this verse to associate with it two other laws that each touch on one of these themes. We can see a compositional effort that was careful about the thematic order. But this order, as we see, was not logically applied, for it remains hampered by the confusion of two themes.

    The verse that we are going to cite next illustrates perfectly a case of interpolation in the middle of an incidental phrase placed between a question and answer: "The Impious have not made a just estimate of Allah when they say: `Allah did not send anything down to a mortal.' Ask them: `Who sent down the Book brought by Moses as Light and Guide to men? / You put it into parchment rolls of which you show [little] and conceal much. You were taught what you did not know, neither you nor your ancestors.' / Say: `It is Allah.' Then leave them to amuse themselves with their discussion" (6:91). It is remarkable that Ibn Kathir, Ibn `Amir, and Ubayy all give the interpolated phrases in the third person: "They put it into . . ." It is clear to me that this interpolation deals with the "people of the Scripture," whereas the beginning of the verse deals with the radical unbelievers, who don't believe it is possible for anything to be sent from God to humans. Blachere thinks that this interpolation must be an addition later than the emigration to Medina, and I agree with him that Ubayy's variant constitutes an attempt at harmonization with the beginning of the verse.56
    Another example of an addition serving as an informational com plement, verse 52:21 promises righteous men that in paradise they will be in the company of their children. This verse is longer than the others and breaks their rhythm. Therefore it seems that it answers a preoccupation expressed after the revelation of the promised paradise.

    There remains one other type of possible interpolation: one that introduces a dispensation from a rule or a judgment. For example, the condemnation of poets: "The poets are followed by erring men. Do you not see how in each valley they wander and how they say what they do not do? / Except for those who have believed and who have done good works and remember Allah very much and who benefit from our help only after having been treated unjustly. Those who are unjust will know toward what destiny they are