“Behold! Allah promised you one of the two parties, that it should be yours: You wished that the one unarmed should be yours, but Allah willed to justify the Truth according to His words and to cut off the roots of the unbelievers.” (Qur’an 8:7)
﷽
Does anyone recall when Allah (swt) made this promise to the Blessed Messenger (saw)?
Where is that statement at anywhere in the Qur’an?
Allah promised that the Muslims would either gain the caravan of Abū Sufyān, or defeat the army of Abū Jahl. However, this promise made by Allah is not found anywhere in the Qur’ān.
It was conveyed to the believers by the Blessed Prophet (saw). However, the verse states ‘Allah promised you’ and not ‘the Prophet promised you’. Hence, the Blessed Prophet (saw) received the promise from Allah through unrecorded revelation that is not included in the Qur’an!
All the Qur’an is revelation, but not all of Allah’s revelation is in the Qur’an.
Note this position is very distinct from Sunni Islam. In Sunni Islam, the position is that we do not have all the Qur’an, we only have the Qur’an that Allah intended for us to have.
The Ibadi position is that not only do we have the Qur’an Allah intended for us to have, but we have all the Qur’an.
You can read more about that here:
We all know that the Injil, Torah, Zabur and Suhuf are all revelations and yet not all of them are scrolls or books. In fact, not all revelation that Allah (swt) gives is recorded in books or scrolls.
Every prophet received revelation but not all prophets did receive a book.
By book here we mean a mushaf, a text or a physical text. This also makes sense when one considers the bulk of humanity throughout human history have been without the ability to read or write a language.
“Indeed, We have revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him. And we revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Descendants, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David We gave the Zabur.” (Qur’an 4:163)
There is no book or revelation that was recorded or written down that was given to Noah (as).
“And it was revealed to Noah, that, “No one will believe from your people except those who have already believed, so do not be distressed by what they have been doing.” (Qur’an 11:36)
There is no kitab of Noah. None at all. The Qur’an does not mention this. It is clear assumption. Allah (swt) can clearly inform us if they did like when he mentions the suhuf (scrolls) of Ibrahim (as).
It is safe to assume however, that Ishamel and Issac (upon both be peace) had access to the Suhuf of Ibrahim (as). Though the Qur’an does not say this.
Misunderstanding concerning ‘Book’ and revelation.
Many people when they think of book they think of a muṣḥaf. The confuse and conflate the two.
muṣḥaf
Root: The word muṣḥaf (مُصْحَف) comes from the Arabic root ṣ-ḥ-f (ص ح ف), which relates to writing on sheets or pages.
Base word: From this root we get ṣaḥīfah (صَحِيفَة), meaning a sheet, page, or written document — plural ṣuḥuf (صُحُف), as in Qur’an 87:18 “Ṣuḥufi Ibrāhīma wa Mūsā” — “The scriptures of Abraham and Moses.”
kitāb
The triliteral root k–t–b (kāf–tā’–bā’) is the foundation of a large semantic field in Arabic relating to writing, inscribing, recording, or decreeing.
maktūb (مكتوب) = “written, destined”
All of the revelation of Allah (swt) is in what is known as the Mother of the Book. Or the Book of Decrees. In fact, everything that Allah (swt) has ever decreed is in a cosmic register.
“No calamity befalls on the earth or within yourselves except that it is in a Book before We bring it into being. Indeed, that is easy for Allah.” (Qur’an 57:22)
“And We have enumerated everything in a Clear Record.” (Qur’an 36:12) -Imām Mubīn
“With Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. Not a leaf falls but He knows it… nor anything fresh or dry but it is in a Clear Book.” (Qur’an 6:59) -Kitāb Mubīn
“Every soul is held in pledge for what it has earned … [the record] is in an inscribed book.” (— Qur’an 83:7–9) & (Qur’an 83:18–20) -kitāb marqūm
Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book. (Qur’an 13:39) -Umm al-Kitāb
“And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom.” (Qur’an 43:4) -Umm al-Kitāb
“On a guarded tablet.” (Qur’an 85:22) -Lawḥ Maḥfūẓ
Jesus (as) had the Injil.
Aaron (as) is safe to say he had the Torah of Moses.
Solomon and David (upon both peace) had the Torah of Moses, and David had the Zabur. Though the Qur’an does not say that Solomon had access to the Torah.
Job and Jonah both possibly had access to the Torah. Though the Qur’an does not say this.
However, the following point is still very strong.
Every prophet received revelation, but not all prophets did receive a book.
This verse states that the aforementioned Prophets all received revelation, but it is known that many of them did not receive a book. If revelation was confined to the books, then every Prophet would have received one. The fact many Prophets did not receive a book demonstrates that there exists revelation outside these books.
This point deeply troubles followers of the Qur’an Only Religion. The reason should be obvious.
All the Qur’an is inspired but not everything that Allah inspired is in the Qur’an.
“And your Lord revealed to the been, saying: Choose your habitations in the hill and in the trees and in that which you have built.” (Qur’an 16:68)
We know that bee’s do not have a kitab (book).
Allah (swt) sent revelation to the disciples of Jesus to let them have firm belief in Jesus.
“And when I revealed to the disciples, “Believe in Me and in My messenger Jesus,” they said, “We have believed, so bear witness that indeed we are Muslims.” (Qur’an 5:111)
“And We revealed to the mother of Moses, “Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him one of the messengers.” (Qur’an 28:73)
Women received revelation. Yet, we do not say that the mother of Moses received a book other than what Moses was given, the Torah.
“And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidence, those who do not expect a meeting with Us say, “Bring us a Qur’an other than this or change it.” Say, “It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed, I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous day.” (Qur’an 10:15)
Further proof that the Blessed Messenger (saw) received revelation other than the Qur’ān is that the compilation of the Qur’ān is not in its chronological order. Verses revealed in Makkah are found in Madanī chapters and vice versa. Likewise, the chapters revealed in Madina come before chapters revealed in Makkah. The arrangement of verses within surahs, and the arrangement of the surahs within the Qur’ān could only have been done by the Blessed Messenger (saw) based upon revelation from Allah. As Allah commands the Blessed Messenger (saw) to say:
“It is not for me to change it of my own accord.”
“And We made them leaders guiding by Our command. And We inspired (wa-awḥaynā) to them the doing of good deeds, establishment of prayer, and giving of zakah; and they were worshippers of Us.” (Qur’an 21:73)
The Blessed and Noble Prophet (saw) his doing of good, his establishing of the Prayer and his method of giving Zakah are all revelation. Those who reject the clear verses of Allah (swt) are none but the disbelievers. The establishment of the prayer and the amount of giving the zakah are revelations not recorded in the Qur’an.
“Say, “If I should err, I would only err against myself. But if I am guided, it is by what my Lord reveals to me. Indeed, He is Hearing and near.” (Qur’an 34:50)
A method for establishing the hadith. It is possible the Prophet (saw) said something that was in error. However, if it contradicts established facts and observable reality, it can be rejected as it is in error.
“Say, “It has been revealed to me that a group of Jinn listened and said, “Indeed, we have heard an amazing Qur’an.” (Qur’an 72:1)
This had to have happened before this proclamation. Yet, we do not find anywhere else in the Qur’an where Allah (swt) informed the Blessed Messenger (saw) of this information. Notice the text does not say, “It is now being revealed to me.” “I am now proclaiming to you this information.”
When the Muslims arrived in Madina, the Blessed Messenger (saw) commanded them to pray facing Jerusalem. This continued until Allah (swt) revealed:
“So turn your face toward al-Masjid al-haram.” (Qur’an 2:144)
’Some of the non-Muslims criticized this order, and demanded to know why the Qiblah was originally Jerusalem, but had now been changed. So Allah revealed:
“We did not appoint the Qiblah that you were on except to distinguish the ones who follow the messenger from the ones who would turn back on their heels.” (Qur’an 2:143)
“the ones who follow the messenger from the ones who would turn back on their heels.”
Subhan’Allah. Is it not interesting that those who follow the Qur’an only religion do exactly this?
In other words, this was a test of Allah. However, although Allah attributes the appointment of the previous Qiblah to Himself, this appointment is not found anywhere in the Qur’ān. It was the Blessed Messenger (saw) who told the believers to face Jerusalem, based upon revelation from Allah. This revelation was not part of the Qur’ān, and hence was an unrecited revelation.
May Allah Guide the Ummah.
May Allah Forgive the Ummah.
Prima Quran 
Nice writeup, brother. The whole message of your article could be summed up with these verses: “Each one of them demands that a scripture be sent down to him and unrolled before his eyes. No! Verily, they fear not the Hereafter.” (Qur’an 74:52-53) You could have used this somewhere. 🙂
Thank you. Those are interesting verses.
The point being is that revelation other than the Qur’an came to the Blessed Prophet (saw).
Where is this link gone?
https://primaquran.com/2016/12/08/the-hanafi-school-of-jurisprudence-absolutely-decimates-bukhari/
It says page missing
Need to rethink if I support all the conclusions. Ty.
We can logically assume that since Allah SWT has given us a book (we are people of the book) everything revealed has gone into the Quran. If not where are the other revelations? Discovered three hundred years after the Prophet’s (SAS) death as Hadiths with all those self-serving prophesy for the benefit of later day corrupt rulers?
No brothers/sisters, we should worry about the Quran only.
Salam: you mentioned “There is no book or revelation that was recorded or written down that was given to Noah (a.s)”; please consult 6:83 to 6:89, you will find the answer
Salam no, no answer was given and the argument still stands. None recorded or written down.
Salam. Thank you for your thought-provoking articles.
I think you dismissed the comment above of IMB too easily. It is not assumption to say that Noah received Scripture (kitaab) – it says so in the Qur’an. The verses IMB refers to (6:83-89) say that all those Prophets (including Noah) *were* given Scripture. So it is wrong to say there is no mention of Noah getting Scripture. It is not for me or you to say whether it was written down or not. Scripture can be oral, it’s still Scripture. The Qur’an was still Scripture before it was written down by the companions.
Also in 3:81, it mentions that all the Prophets were given of Scripture.
So the argument that some Prophets didn’t get a Book/Scripture is contradicted by the Qur’an. Would you concede that?
For me, the point about the Prophet being given extra-Qur’anic Wahy is not in dispute – even the bee was given Wahy. The real question is whether the Muslims are directed to follow any of the Wahy given to the Prophet (saws) *besides* the Qur’an? I can’t find any evidence of the Qur’an asking that.
So I would argue that the extra-Qur’anic Wahy was for him for his life, but the Qur’an was the only Wahy that was to be our source of guidance after his passing. In the same way, Musa (as) received the Taurat and no doubt much extra-Taurat Wahy, but the Jews after his passing were only commanded in the Qur’an to follow the Taurat, not the other stuff.
What do you think?
What do I think?
We will let the readers decide.
As we are using the word ‘scripture’
Definition of scripture
1a(1)capitalized : the books of the Bible —often used in plural
(2)often capitalized : a passage from the Bible
b: a body of writings considered sacred or authoritative
2: something written
the primitive man’s awe for any scripture
“Scripture can be oral, it’s still Scripture. The Qur’an was still Scripture before it was written down by the companions.”
To think that each and every one of those Prophets mentioned: Ishmael, Elijah, Jonah, Lot, Zakariya, John, Jesus, Elias, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Noah, David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aaron were all given an individual book would be folly. There are no historical records of this as there also no historical records of these being the belief of their people. Not only this but it says ‘The book’ and we urge you to kindly re-read the article and understand that this means from the source. Not an indvidual mushaf – a book in the form of a text, scroll etc.
The word scripture is never used for oral writings…as it is a very very English word.
Thank you for your contributions.
So you prefer Book as a translation of Kitaab – no problem.
You claim Noah didn’t get a Kitaab (Book).
6:83-89 says Noah did get a Kitaab (Book).
3:82 says all Nabiyyiin (I’ll leave untranslated) were given “min Kitaab”
Therefore your claim Noah didn’t get a Kitaab is wrong.
Can you please just answer this point, rather than avoiding it.
Could you provide a single solitary piece of evidence that this kitab was something written? That it was to be on the level of the Torah, the Injeel, the Qur’an?
You can’t.
Next.
sorry it is 3:81 (not 3:82) – typo
Happens
Salam alaykum
True, yet the Quran is the only revelation preserved and codified as revelation in order to be recited and acted upon.
Asc dear brother I have enjoyed your blog and learned much from it .I noticed when you were refuting quraaniyuun group you were polimic a d sometimes condescending and dismissive , I understand your strong dislike of them and I might agree with you on some issues .However if our brothers are mistaken shouldn’t you correct them manner of respect and explain your viewpoint without resorting to bit of arrogance. Everyone is not as good as you and don’t have the level of knowledge. They need more compassion and understanding so some of them might change their beliefs. Thank you brother
walakum salaam wr wb, I will certainly reflect on what you have said and take that on board. I take this as a gift from Allah (swt) that I need to continue to rectify myself and my interactions with others. It is my hope that many of them who have commented on this site and have been virulent, and abusive towards me and others may reflect on their interactions as well. Amin.
Dear brother
Shukran for your informative articles.
Could you please elaborate on the following:
“The real question is whether the Muslims are directed to follow any of the Wahy given to the Prophet (saws) *besides* the Qur’an? I can’t find any evidence of the Qur’an asking that.”
Could you also please give us a qualifying criteria of how the ibadee methodology would elevate a Hadith to the status of revelation and what is your authority for that. Does that now leave man with the authority to create the requirements for a divine text and thereby giving man the authority to create (a new) divine text.
The next logical conclusion is that such a Hadith would rank on par with the Quran, as both are revelations and are at concurrent times (unlike the Quran superseding previous revelations). One could then use your personally developed test against those Hadith that you’ve rejected.
My personal conclusion is that only the Quran serves as the full legal authority of God almighty to humans (as the furqan), that any practices and beliefs that do not contradict it (and do not contradict common sense) are acceptable but not compulsory. Very much like the illustration on your website (which I must say is very similar to the one on quransmessage.com)
Salaamun Alayk
Osman
Peace be unto those who follow the right guidance.
“The real question is whether the Muslims are directed to follow any of the Wahy given to the Prophet (saws) *besides* the Qur’an? I can’t find any evidence of the Qur’an asking that.”
I think you may wish to interact with the individual who made the comment as that is not the point of the article. That quote is from an individual who made a comment and it in no way shape or form disproved the point of the article.
“Could you also please give us a qualifying criteria of how the ibadee methodology would elevate a Hadith to the status of revelation and what is your authority for that. Does that now leave man with the authority to create the requirements for a divine text and thereby giving man the authority to create (a new) divine text.”
You see it is challenging to take you seriously Osman as you have already reached your conclusion.
So, this reply in all candour is less for your benefit than it is for the sincere who read such exchanges. The thing that anyone looking into the Quraniyooon religion should ponder is how they posit the epistemological certainly of the Hafs transmission of the Qur’an to begin with. What is their stance on the status of the basmalla, it is obviously an ayat in the hafs transmission of the Qur’an that is a given. However, is it an ayat before al fatiha? Before every other verse of the Hafs Qur’an including chapter 9? Is al Fatiha part of the Hafs Qur’an or not. Which harf and qir’aat of the Qur’an do those who follow the Quraniyoon religion rely upon. As regard Joseph and quransmessage we had a very interesting exchange on this many years ago on Facebook. He did not fare very well.
In fact, followers of the Quraniyoon religion (regardless of their many sects and offshoots) they are simply absent from the scene when it comes to the idea of a single transmitter (Muhammed -saw) conveying the Hafs Qur’an -than the adherents of the Quraniyoon religion are content (or perhaps blind) to the 1300 years of history concerning its transmission. They have today unwittingly decided to be reliant upon the 1924 Qur’an produced by scholars from Al Ahzar. Very convenient. So yes, when pressed on why they follow the hafs Qur’an (over other transmissions of the Qur’an) We do not have any answer internally from the Qur’an. Because anyone who spends even a little time researching the matter knows that a book did not fall out of the sky but a text that Allah (swt) in his wisdom transmitted as a single narrator -than to dozen narrators and from there onward.
The next logical conclusion is that such a Hadith would rank on par with the Quran, as both are revelations and are at concurrent times (unlike the Quran superseding previous revelations). One could then use your personally developed test against those Hadith that you’ve rejected.
Which is rather unfortunate. It shows an unwillingness to engage with the scholarship. For example, if you and I were to exchange contact information and speak live on the phone and I could question you on the exact number of scholarly works you have read on the subject.
“My personal conclusion is that only the Quran serves as the full legal authority of God almighty to humans (as the furqan), that any practices and beliefs that do not contradict it (and do not contradict common sense) are acceptable but not compulsory. Very much like the illustration on your website (which I must say is very similar to the one on quransmessage.com).”
Which by your very statement you have made the hafs Qur’an subservient to your understanding of what is ‘common sense’. Is there a consensus son common sense? Look, if you want to follow the Hafs Qur’an only (to the exclusion of all other transmissions of the Qur’an) that is your choice.
I just do not find trusting the human transmission of the Hafs Qur’an as the only source of guidance compelling. I find that Allah (swt) could have revealed the Qur’an to each individual but decided not to. It is something to ponder. Much of the “Only the Hafs transmission of the Quran movement” (to the exclusion of other transmissions of the Qur’an) to be vacuous, incongruent, and inconsistent. It is for me uninspiring in every respect. They usually centre around the cult of a particular person or personality. Some of them are small groups of 20 that look like they are attending an AA meeting. They usually follow that person’s interpretation of the text.
It appeals mostly to people who are deeply ignorant of the Arabic language. We have yet to find any of them that can recite it properly. The only thing on the agenda is rail against the hadith.
May Allah (swt) guide them.
Salaam brother
Not sure if you’ve received my reply.
The question that you intended to address has not been answered at all. It doesn’t help your argument to keep referencing the Quraniyoon or a certain sect. The question is quite simple :
Could you also please give us a qualifying criteria of how the ibadee methodology would elevate a Hadith to the status of revelation and what is your authority for that. Tied to that if you could also confirm whether you have a complete*copy of such extra Quranic revelation and the support you have for such completeness or is it possible that other Hadith May subsequently be elevated to revelation status. And then of the two revelations, does one have more strength over the other. Again please provide some evidence in support of your assertions.
Shukran
The title of the article is simply put:
“Not all of Allah’s revelation is in the Qur’an” and an example of that was provided. An example that has not been refuted by yourself or anyone else.
Also, you already came to your conclusion if for example you are a seeker, or truth seeker that is another matter altogether.
You people , who have trusted in men to give you the hafs transmission of the Qur’an have not given us the reason why you prefer to follow the Hafs transmissions of the Qur’an over other transmissions of the Qur’an.
Again please provide some evidence for the belief that we must follow
1) The Hafs transmission of the Qur’an -alone.
Would be very interested to see the evidence for your epistemological claims.
“Could you also please give us a qualifying criteria of how the ibadee methodology would elevate a Hadith to the status of revelation and what is your authority for that..”
This claim is spoken in ignorance wish shows the comment is not in good faith. This blog has shown the criteria for accepting a hadith.
Now, can you kindly show us with supporting evidence why the Hafs transmission of the Qur’an is the only acceptable transmission as compared to the others?
It is a very simple straight forward question. Will be waiting.
I’ll gauge your sincerity in your next response.
Brother
You made certain claims. I’m simply asking about those claims. If you don’t have the answers to it you can simply state so. The examples you give do not address the questions in the least. Perhaps take some time to read the question.
And lastly it’s not for either of us to judge each other’s sincerity.
Shukran
Yes and I have given the answers to those claims.
You seem rather evasive.
You see what I am looking for Osman Moosa is consistency.
I am looking for in particular epistemological consistency.
For those following the convo
epistemological would be:
relating to the theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope, and the distinction between justified belief and opinion.
So I am hoping to glean from you some methodology in which your religion ascertains truth.
But you are approaching the subject from presuppositions. That this particular transmission of the Qur’an is based upon epistemological certainty where as approaches to the hadith are not.
So what we are looking for is consistency.
In fact Al hamdulillah I want to thank you because coming back from Tarwih prayer and reflecting on other conversations with members of your religion I realized I have made a colossal mistake. That mistake being even calling you all “Qur’an Only” because you are not.
Allah-willing going forward I will change my articles to reflect this new found reality. That reality being that you people are ‘Hafs Qur’an only transmission to the exclusion of other transmissions of the Qur’an’ That reflects your reality more appropriately.
So yes we want to know on what consistent basis and what epistemological principles does your particular sect of the “Hafs Only Qur’an transmission” utilize to determine:
1) Is Al Fatiha part of the Qur’an?
2) Is the basmallah a verse for al fatiha?
3) Is the basmallah a verse in front of every chapter of the Qur’an?
4) On what consistent basis is your belief based on the Hafs transmission of the Qur’an to other transmissions of the Qur’an?
4a) Follow up to Question 4. Is this because it became mass practice? Is that what establishes certainty for you?
4b) Follow up to Question 4. Is this because the chain of transmitters for this particular transmission of the Qur’an is sound?
5) How do you establish epistemological certainty for the Hafs transmission of the Qur’an to the exclusion of other transmissions of the Qur’an -using ONLY TEXT from the Hafs transmission of the Qur’an.
You see Osman I have been dealing with the now re-named Hafs Only transmission of the Qur’an religion and its adherents for a long long time.
I am not new at this. I am aware of your arguments and your angles.
I am simply looking for consistency and none of you have shown me that you are prepared to offer that.
“And lastly it’s not for either of us to judge each other’s sincerity.”
This is where you are wrong. There are bad actors, trolls they abound.
We absolutely can judge by the dhahir (the apparent) and we could be wrong in that judgement. That is why Allah (swt) on the day of judgement is the final judge; because Allah (swt) judges by the Haqiqa (the reality, the truth).
May Allah (swt) guide you all to the Qur’an (in all its authentic transmissions) and the Sunnah (in all its authentic transmissions)