Narrative Of Hazrat Ali Having A Master Copy Of Quran
Dr Shahzad Saleem has discussed in detail about the sources of such reporting. Summary of his article by Chatgpt is following Here’s a concise summary of the article: The article examines both Sunnī and Shiite narratives about ‘Alī’s collection of the Qur’ān after the Prophet Muhammad’s death. Both sets of accounts are analyzed separately and found to have weak chains of narration and significant contradictions —not just with each other, but also with the Qur’ān’s own statement about its preservation and the historical evidence supporting that claim. Sunnī Narrative : Claims ‘Alī compiled a chronologically arranged version of the Qur’ān immediately after the Prophet’s death. He prioritized this over pledging allegiance to Abū Bakr, alleging that the Qur’ān’s arrangement was being altered. Abū Bakr reportedly approved of his effort. However, the narrative ends abruptly— no mention of the compilation being submitted or used , raising doubts about the purpose or outcome of the effort. Shiite Narrative : Offers a more detailed story—‘Alī presented his collection to the Muhājirūn and Ansār , who rejected it , claiming they already had it. Angered, ‘Alī withdrew it, stating it would only be revealed later, at the time of the al-Qā’im (a messianic figure). Shiite sources suggest the current Qur’ān is incomplete and the full version remains with the descendants of ‘Alī. The article critiques both views, noting they conflict with: The Qur’ān’s claim of being collected and preserved during the Prophet’s lifetime. Historical records indicating the Qur’ān was memorized and written during his life. The idea that ‘Alī compiled a chronological Qur’ān is also questioned, as evidence for this claim is weak . Conclusion : Due to the fragmentary, contradictory, and poorly sourced nature of these accounts, the article suggests ‘Alī’s compilation story may either be a myth or simply refer to a private collection , like others had at the time—not an official or alternate version of the Qur’ān.