“It is certainly We Who have revealed the Reminder, and it is certainly We Who will preserve it.” (Qur’an 15:9)
﷽
Before having any kind of meaningful dialogue or discussion with people from the Qur’an Only religion, it is best not to assume anything.
The biggest assumption is to assume that they accept as Qur’an what you accept as Qur’an.
For example: Do they believe in the Qur’an, in which chapter 9 has 127, verses or the one that has 129 verses?
To our knowledge, it is only a certain sect within the federation of sects of the Qur’an Only Religion that has removed the last two verses of chapter 9.
“There certainly has come to you a messenger from among yourselves. He is concerned by your suffering, anxious for your well-being, and gracious and merciful to the believers. But if they turn away, then say, “Allah is sufficient for me. There is no god except Him. In Him I put my trust. And He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.” (Qur’an 9:128-129)
However, if you look again, it is perhaps that chapter 9 contains 128 verses. That is because Rashad Khilafa supposedly found the missing basmalah.
https://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/frames/
No Basmalah*
It is more than obvious that the above issue cannot be internally resolved within the Qur’an.
Which brings us to the next question.
The status of the Basmalah.
- The basmalah is a separate verse at the beginning of every soorah. This would
- imply that the basmalah is the first verse of every soorah.
- The basmalah is only a part of a verse at the beginning of every soorah. In other
- words, the basmalah is the first part of the first verse in every soorah, and not a
- separate verse.
- The basmalah is a verse only at the beginning of Soorah al-Faatihah, and not for
- other soorahs.
- The basmalah is a separate verse, not a part of any soorah, that has been placed at
- the beginning of the soorah. In other words, the basmalah is not to be counted as
- a verse in any soorah, but is a verse ofthe Qur’aan.
- The basmalah is not a verse ofthe Qur’aan, but rather a phrase which is used
- distinguish one soorah from another.
Source: (Introduction to the sciences of the Qur’an by Yasir Al Qadhi pg 157.)
Which Qur’an do Qur’an Only Religion adherents subscribe to?
The one in which the basmalah is a verse in front of every chapter of the Qur’an (except chapter 9).
The one in which the basmalah is a verse in front of every chapter of the Qur’an (including chapter 9) -Rashad Khilafa, for example.
The one inw hich the basmalah is not a verse in front of every chapter of the Qur’an (including chapter 9).
Should Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim reoccur 113 times or not?
First point of agreement.
First it should be pointed out that all Muslims are in agreement that Bismillah ir rahman ir raheem is a part of the Qur’an in chapter 27 verse 30 which says,
“It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): ‘In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful:
(Qur’an 27 verse 30)
Now, rather, that is something that Solomon (as) himself wrote as a letterhead will become part of the discussion when we discuss which Qur’an do the Qur’an Only Religion adherents believe in. The one in which Al Fatiha is included as a chapter or the one in which Al Fatiha is simply a du’a.
Second point of agreement.
Let us look at the second point of agreement among Muslim scholars. All Muslims are in agreement that chapter 9 of the Qur’an entitled ‘Repentance or At Tawbah’ does not have the basmalah in front of it. It simply begins as such,
- A (declaration) of immunity from Allah and His Messenger, to those of the Pagans with whom you have contracted mutual alliances:-
- Go then, for four months, backwards and forwards, throughout the land, but know that you cannot frustrate Allah (by your falsehood) but that Allah will cover with shame those who reject Him. (Qur’an 9:1-2)
It was only when the Qur’an Only Religion came along and split from Islam did you have those who said that basmalah is part of the chapter.
Now, either way you look at it we have the Qur’an intact with us.
- Either we have the Qur’an without one verse reoccurring 113 times in front of 113 chapters.
- Or we have the Qur’an with one verse reoccurring 113 times in front of 113 chapters.
As we come from the Ibadi school and the position with us is that basmalah is a part of the verse of every chapter of the Qur’an except chapter 9.
We will give our evidence. None of which is found in the Qur’an. That is because, once again, this is an issue in which relying upon the Qur’an alone is not solvable.
Four reasons why the basmalah is a verse at the beginning of every Surah.
Where do they stand on the issue? The, Ibadi, Jafari, and the students of Imam Shaf’i believe that the basmalah is a verse that is to reoccur 113 times at the beginning of 113 chapters of the Qur’an. The students of Abu Hanifa believe that the basmalah does not reoccur 113 times at the beginning of 113 chapters of the Qur’an.
Let us give four reasons why we believe the basmalah is what the Ibadi, Jafari, followers of Shafi say it is. Three of the reasons will be valid reasons for anyone approaching the matter. The other reason is more theological, that it will only be acceptable for Muslims but a matter of skepticism for non-Muslims.
So let us start off with the reason that it is theologically acceptable for Muslims but a point of skepticism among non-Muslims.
Reason 1)
When it comes to the Qur’an, there cannot be difference of opinion about what constitutes the Qur’an. Since the Qur’an, difference cannot be held about it. And denying the Qur’an is unbelief. If something is doubtful or a matter of debate among Muslims, it is not given clarity. We do not believe that any passage that is in dispute among Muslims can be revelation based upon this internal evidence in the Qur’an.
“We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it.” (Qur’an 15:9)
Reason 2)
The fact that all Muslims agree that chapter 9 of the Qur’an does not start with basmalah is a very strong point for it being included in other places of the Qur’an. The Basmallah was historically used as a marker to indicate where a chapter would begin or end. So, in reality, the Muslim community was not sure if this surah /chapter 9 was a continuation of surah/chapter 8 or not. So, in reality, how many chapters the Qur’an is divided into is a matter of disputation; that being the case, whether a chapter would begin with basmalah or not is also a matter of dispute.
Reason 3)
And We have bestowed upon thee the Seven Oft-repeated (verses) and the Grand Qur’an. (Qur’an 15:87)
That is because the Qur’an today have the basmalah in front of every chapter of the Qur’an and one assumes that the Al Fatiha is such. What the Ibadi, Shafi’, Jafari do is that they include basmalah as the very first verse of Al Fatiha. For them, verses 6 and 7 constitute one verse together.
This is not the case for the Hanafi, who believe that the last portion of Al Fatiha ‘Siratal ladheena an amta alayeem ghayril maghdubi ‘alayheem waladalin’ is to be composed of one verse not two. Yet they recite the basmalah silently.
In the name of the merciful and compassionate
1Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds,
2The the merciful, the compassionate,
3The, the ruler of the day of judgment!
4You alone we worship. You alone we ask for help.
5Guide us in the right path,
6The path of those You are gracious to;
7not of those You earned your wrath; nor of those who have gone astray.
The Different Traditions of Verse Numbering
There are seven primary systems of verse numbering in classical Islam:
- Kūfī (adopted in Iraq — followed by most Hanafis)
- Madani (first)
- Madani (second)
- Makkī
- Shāmī (Syrian)
- Basrī
- Ḥimṣī
These differ slightly — not in text — but in where a verse boundary is marked.
| School | Verse division of the last part | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi (Kūfī tradition) | One combined verses: 6️⃣ Ṣirāṭ al-ladhīna an‘amta ‘alayhim, 7️⃣ ghayril-maghḍūbi ‘alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn | “Bismillāh” not counted as verse 1 |
| Maliki (Madanī tradition) | One combined verse: 6️⃣ Ṣirāṭ al-ladhīna an‘amta ‘alayhim, 7️⃣ ghayril-maghḍūbi ‘alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn | “Bismillāh” not counted as verse 1 |
| Ibāḍī (Basrī) | The last portion — “Ṣirāṭ al-ladhīna an‘amta ‘alayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi ‘alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn” — is counted as a single verse | “Bismillāh” is counted as verse 1 |
Another chart one may find useful is the following:
| School | “Bismillāh” Revealed? | Part of al-Fātiḥah? | Read aloud? | Verse count system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ḥanafī | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ Silent | Kūfī |
| Mālikī | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ omitted | Madanī |
| Shāfiʿī | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Aloud | Makkī |
| Ḥanbalī | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (dominant) | ✅/❌ Usually silent | Kūfī |
| Zaydī | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Aloud | Kūfī |
| Jaʿfarī (Imāmī) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Aloud | Kūfī |
| Ibāḍī | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Aloud | Basrī |
This would seem to clarify the issue but it does not.
Reason 4)
It was narrated that Anas in Malik said:
“One day when he-the Prophet (saw)- was still among us, he took a nap, then he raised his head, smiling. We said to him: ‘Why are you smiling, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said: ‘Just now this Surah was revealed to me: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Verily, We have granted you (O Muahmmad) Al-Kawthar. Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). For he who hates you, he will be cut off.’ Then he said: ‘Do you know what Al-Kawthar is?’ We said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said: ‘It is a river that my Lord has promised me in Paradise. Its vessels are more than the number of the stars. My Ummah will come to me, then a man among them will be pulled away and I will say: “O Lord, he is one of my Ummah” and He will say to me: ‘You do not know what he did after you were gone.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/nasai:904)
Al-Fātiḥah is it a surah of the Qur’an or not?
The Qur’an Only Religion is split on this matter.
It is evident that one who follows the Qur’an Only Religion by the name of Hamza Abdul Malik has two other followers of the Qur’an Only Religion on the run!
Hamza Abdul Malik is a Qur’an only advocate. His position is that Al-Fātiḥah is not part of the Qur’an. It is a du’a. Whereas the other followers of the Qur’an Only Religion advocate that Al-Fātiḥah is part of the Qur’an.
https://www.youtube.com/@onlythetruthmatters4869
He has an entry titled: Reciting Al-Fatiha in Ritual Salat is UNQURANIC.
We thought this was interesting. Here, in a discussion with Muhammed Shaikh, Hamza Abdul Malik begans to explain how he would translate Salah into English. Muhammed Shaikh was interested in how he (Hamza Abdul Malik) would define the word. Is it not ironic that Hamza Abdul Malik goes to pick up a book on Arabic grammar! He is not using the Qur’an to define the meaning. So it really makes you wonder if the Arabic language itself is not the ultimate arbiter of truth.
Notice @2:57:13 he goes to pick up
This group may have found a way to get around the issue of Al Fatiha by dismissing Al Fatiha altogether. However, the question of the basmalah still remains for the other chapters of the Qur’an. There is no internal Qur’an Only system to get out of this.
So, let it be clear that when you speak to followers of the Qur’an Only Religion, the very first question that one needs to ask them is which Qur’an is that they believe in?
As we have seen, we cannot even get past basmalah, and we encounter major disputes among them. Disputes which cannot be solved with regard to reference to the text or not.
Is the basmalah part of al fatiha or not?
What number system is used for al fatiha?
Are 6️⃣ Ṣirāṭ al-ladhīna an‘amta ‘alayhim, 7️⃣ ghayril-maghḍūbi ‘alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn a single verse or two seperate verses?
Is Al Fatiha itself part of the Qur’an?
Are the last two verses of Surah 9 part of the Qur’an?
They cannot seem to be in agreement with this. The irony of the Qur’an Only Religion is that they cannot agree on what the Qur’an is.
For those interested, here is an entire lecture just on the basmalah, by His Eminence Shaykh Dr Kahlan al Kharusi.
May Allah Guide the Ummah.
May Allah Forgive the Ummah.
Prima Quran 