The End of the Quran as Muslims Know It: Today’s Quran in the Light of Its Early Manuscripts

By Oskar

The Traditional Claim of Quranic Preservation

“The Quran is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad and then dictated to his Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters, Suras, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Quran is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad fourteen centuries ago.” (Islamicity.com, accessed 19 May 2011)

This claim is a fundamental belief among Muslims worldwide. However, the discovery of an ancient manuscript known as DAM 0 1-27.1, found in 1972 in the Great Mosque of Sana’a, Yemen, presents a significant challenge to this assertion. Recent academic studies, aided by ultraviolet photography, have revealed variations between the Quran of today and its early manuscripts. These variations include different words, missing phrases, spelling differences, and even changes in the order of Surahs and words within verses.

The Evidence from the Sana’a Palimpsest

A palimpsest is a manuscript in which the original text has been washed off or scraped away to be overwritten with a newer text. This process typically occurs over centuries, yet in the case of DAM 0 1-27.1, it happened within the first century of the Hijrah (7th-8th century AD). The manuscript contains both primary and secondary text layers, both written in the early Hijazi script.

Examples of Variations:

1. Missing Words That Change Meaning

Sahih International Translation:
“… (if) they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. And there will not be for them on earth (any protector or helper.)”

Sana’a Manuscript (DAM 0 1-27.1) Translation:
“… (if) they turn away, Allah will punish them in this world. And there will not be for them on earth (any protector or helper.)”

The phrase “in the Hereafter” is missing in the early manuscript, significantly altering the theological meaning.

2. Different Words Replacing Today’s Quranic Text

Instead of “jahannamu” (hell) in today’s Quran, the old manuscript reads “l-naru” (the fire), which matches another verse in Surah 24:57.

Similarly, “yaqsimuna” in the manuscript is replaced by “yahlifuna” (they swear) in today’s standard Quran.

Implications and Unanswered Questions

The Sana’a palimpsest is not merely a bad copy or an anomaly. It represents four different versions of the Quran, with both the primary and secondary texts showing distinct variations and later corrections. If Uthman’s recension had already been widely distributed, why were these variations allowed to persist in an Islamic center of learning?

Further, why do the differences in DAM 0 1-27.1 not match the known variant readings from Ibn Mas’ud’s or Ubay bin Ka’b’s collections?

Muslim Responses to This Discovery

1. Dismissing Western Scholars

Some argue that Western Orientalists are biased against Islam and that these findings should be ignored. However, critical research has also been conducted by Muslim scholars such as Dr. Nasr Abu Zaid, who faced backlash for advocating a literary analysis of the Quran. If the Quran is the unaltered Word of God, why should research into its textual history be seen as a threat?

2. Claiming It’s an Unofficial Copy

If DAM 0 1-27.1 was just a local, unofficial copy, why did it exist within the Great Mosque of Sana’a? This mosque was one of the earliest centers of Islamic learning. Wouldn’t it have been replaced immediately if it did not conform to the official recension?

3. Ignoring the Evidence

Some may choose to ignore the problem altogether, preferring not to investigate the contradictions. However, historical truth remains unchanged regardless of whether it is acknowledged or ignored.

A Path Forward: Seeking the True Word of God

The discovery of textual variations in early Quranic manuscripts poses serious questions about its claim of being unchanged and perfectly preserved. Unlike Islam, where textual perfection is a central doctrine, the Bible acknowledges its transmission history openly.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

While the Quran refers to Jesus as “Kalimatullah” (The Word of God) in Surah 4:171, the Bible uniquely identifies Him as God’s eternal Word made flesh (John 1:1, Revelation 19:13). The Quran's textual instability contrasts with the consistent message of Jesus' divinity, death, and resurrection throughout history.

Final Thought

Where do we go from here? You have a choice. You can respond with:

• Anger – Rejecting the evidence and dismissing all questions.

• Ignorance – Refusing to investigate further.

• Truth-Seeking – Exploring Jesus’ claims and His role as God’s ultimate revelation.

If you seek truth sincerely, investigate the message of Jesus, who provides certainty and salvation beyond textual debates.