In previous articles I have detailed the testimonies of Ibn Abbas, Aisha, Umar, Mujahid Ibn Jabr, Abu Darda, Sayd Bin Jubayr, Ibn Umar,

that the Quran is a corrupted scripture. Abdullah Ibn Masud is yet another early member of the Muslim community who believed in its corruption.

Ibn Masud is generally regarded as one of the most prominent members of the companions and was a memoriser of the Quran. He was so highly thought of by Muhammad in this regard that he was 1 of 4 that he recommended that people should learn the Quran from stating “Take (Learn) the Quran from four: Abdullah bin Masud, Salim, Mu’adh, and Ubai bin Ka’b’.” (Bukhari 3758). Here are some of the lessons this teacher espoused:

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Evidence 1: Ibn Masud outright rejected the Uthman Quran

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In the following testimonies, we read that Ibn Masud believed that Uthman’s version of the Quran ran contrary to the one taught by Muhammad to Muslims, and thus refused a state order to burn his version of the Quran and persuaded the Muslims of the time: the Sahaba and Tabi’un to conceal the Quran he believed to be the real one:

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Az-Zuhri said: “‘Ubaidullah bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Utbah informed me that ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud disliked Zaid bin Thabit copying the Musahif, and he said: ‘O you Muslims people! Avoid copying the Mushaf and the recitation of this man. By Allah! When I accepted Islam he was but in the loins of a disbelieving man’ – meaning Zaid bin Thabit – and it was regarding this that ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud said: ‘O people of Al-‘Iraq! Keep the Musahif that are with you, and conceal them. For indeed Allah said: And whoever conceals something, he shall come with what he concealed on the Day of Judgement (3:161). So meet Allah with the Musahif.'” Az-Zuhri said: “It was conveyed to me that some men amongst the most virtuous of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah disliked that view of Ibn Mas’ud.”

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This sermon to the Sahaba and Tabi’un are recorded in many places. This version is from Tirmhidi 3104 and was classed Sahih by Darussalam and Hasan-Sahih by Tirmhidi. It is also found in Bukhari 5000 and Muslim 2462 as well as Mustadrak 2896 which was classed Sahih by both Hakim and Dhahabi. Ibn Sa’d’s, Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kabir, Vol. 2, p.444 also records him as emphatically saying: “So conceal the manuscripts! I like it better to read according to the recitation of him whom I love more than that of Zayd bin Thabit.” But even more damning, is this quote from Musnad Ahmad: “I had heard seventy Surahs from the tongue of the Holy Prophet, shall I leave all those things that I had obtained from the tongue of Holy Prophet?” This narration was classed Sahih by Ahmad Shakir in Musnad Ahmad, Volume 4 page 88 Hadith 3929 and Hasan by Shuayb Arnaut in Syar alam alnubala volume 1 page 487.

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Evidence 2: 51:58 is incorrectly recorded

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In the Uthmanic manuscript we read chapter 51 verse 58 as follows:

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ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ For Allah is He Who gives (all) Sustenance,- Lord of Power,- Steadfast (for ever).

Quran 51:58

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However, Ibn Masud believed that the Uthmanic version is not the one taught by Muhammad. The words ٱللَّهَ هُوَ (For Allah) are removed from his version and instead have إِنِّي أَنَا (I am).

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عن ‏ ‏عبد الله بن مسعود ‏ ‏قال قرأني رسول الله ‏ ‏صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ ‏إني أنا الرزاق ذو القوة المتين The Messenger of Allah taught me to recite: “I am the Bestower of sustenance, the Lord of Power, the Strong”.

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This narration is found in Sunan Al-tirmidhi 2940 and was classed Sahih by Darussalam and Hasan-Sahih by Tirmhidi. Unfortunately, some of the English translations of the hadith, such as the one used by Sunnah.Com completely distort the words of Ibn Masud by translating إِنِّي أَنَا in such a way that it appears to be identical to the Uthman Quran.

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Evidence 3: 2 whole chapters are not meant to be in the Quran

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For context here, there are 2 Quran chapters called traditionally called Al-Mu’awwidhatan, sometimes translated as “Verses of Refuge”. It refers to the last two suras (chapters) of the Qur’an, al-Falaq (ch. 113), and An-Nās (ch. 114), which are two consecutive short prayers. Ibn Masud believed that both those chapters are not actually meant to be in the Quran.

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أخبرنا : محمد بن الحسن بن مكرم بالبصرة قال: ، حدثنا : داود بن رشيد قال : ، حدثنا : أبو حفص الأبار ، عن منصور ، عن عاصم بن أبي النجود ، عن زر بن حبيش قال: لقيت أبي بن كعب فقلت له: إن بن مسعود كان يحك المعوذتين من المصاحف ويقول: أنهما ليستا من القرآن فلا تجعلوا فيه ما ليس منه Narrated Zirr ibn Hubaysh: ‘I met Ubai bin Ka’b and said to him: ‘Ibn Masud used to remove the verses of refuge from the Quranic codices, saying: ‘Both of them are not part of the Quran and do not include in it what is not part of it”

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Pretty self explanatory I would say. This particular narration was recorded in Sahih Ibn Hibban, Volume 10 page 274 Hadith 4429. Another one appears in Majma al-Zawa’id 11562 and was classed Sahih by Haythami. Ibn Hajar deemed it Sahih in Fath al Bari, Volume 8 page 74 and Suyuti quoted multiple places where this narration exists such as Ziarat Al-Musnad, Al-Tabarani, Musnad Bazaar and Ibn Majah. Then said all of the narrations are Sahih in Al-Itqan volume 1 page 212.

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Evidence 4: Quran 92:3 is completely different

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In the Uthmanic Quran, chapter 92 verse 3 is as follows:

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وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَى And Him Who hath created male and female.

Quran 92:3

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However, the followers of Abdullah Ibn Masud, Alqama and Abu Ad-Darda all testify that the correct version of the verse is والذكر والأنثى (By the male and the female.’) Alqama and the followers say it is the recitation of Ibn Masud and Darda separately testifies that this how he heard the verse from Muhammad. From Bukhari 4944:

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حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ قَدِمَ أَصْحَابُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ فَطَلَبَهُمْ فَوَجَدَهُمْ فَقَالَ أَيُّكُمْ يَقْرَأُ عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ كُلُّنَا‏.‏ قَالَ فَأَيُّكُمْ يَحْفَظُ وَأَشَارُوا إِلَى عَلْقَمَةَ‏.‏ قَالَ كَيْفَ سَمِعْتَهُ يَقْرَأُ ‏{‏وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى‏}‏‏.‏ قَالَ عَلْقَمَةُ ‏{‏وَالذَّكَرِ وَالأُنْثَى‏}‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقْرَأُ هَكَذَا، وَهَؤُلاَءِ يُرِيدُونِي عَلَى أَنْ أَقْرَأَ ‏{‏وَمَا خَلَقَ الذَّكَرَ وَالأُنْثَى‏}‏ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أُتَابِعُهُمْ‏.‏ Narrated Ibrahim: The companions of `Abdullah (bin Mas`ud) came to Abu Darda’, (and before they arrived at his home), he looked for them and found them. Then he asked them,: ‘Who among you can recite (Qur’an) as `Abdullah recites it?” They replied, “All of us.” He asked, “Who among you knows it by heart?” They pointed at ‘Alqama. Then he asked Alqama. “How did you hear `Abdullah bin Mas`ud reciting Surat Al-Lail (The Night)?” Alqama recited: ‘By the male and the female.’ Abu Ad-Darda said, “I testify that I heard me Prophet reciting it likewise, but these people want me to recite it:– ‘And by Him Who created male and female.’ but by Allah, I will not follow them.”

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Evidence 5: a “mistake” in Quran 3:81

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In the Uthmanic Quran we read chapter 3 verse 81 in the following manner:

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وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلنَّبِيِّۦنَ لَمَآ ءَاتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَٰبٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَآءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِۦ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُۥ ۚ قَالَ ءَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِى ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَٱشْهَدُوا۟ وَأَنَا۠ مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّٰهِدِينَ Behold! Allah took the covenant of the prophets, saying: “I give you a Book and Wisdom; then comes to you a messenger, confirming what is with you; do ye believe in him and render him help.” Allah said: “Do ye agree, and take this my Covenant as binding on you?” They said: “We agree.” He said: “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.”

Quran 3:81

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However Mujahid Ibn Jabr in a Sahih hadith from tafsir Tabari with all trustworthy narrators, testifies that the verse should be read this way, with his justification coming from the Masud Quran

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حدثني محمد بن عمرو قال : ثنا أبوعاصم عن عيسى عن ابن أبي نجيح عن مجاهد في قوله { وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آَتَيْتُكُمْ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ } قال هي خطأ من الكاتب ، وهي في قراءة ابن مسعود { وإذ أخذ الله ميثاق الذين أوتوا الكتاب }. Muhammad bin Amro <– Abu Asim <– Isa <– Ibn Abi Nujaih <– Mujahid who said about the verse: “Behold! Allah took the covenant of the prophets, saying: I give you a Book and Wisdom” He said: ‘It is a mistake of the scribes. In the recitation of Ibn Masud it was in this manner: “And Allah made a covenant with the people who were given the book’.

Tafsir Tabari 3:81

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These variations have multiple differences, the first is that in the Uthmanic version he names the people he made a covenant with as prophets, while the Masud version does not have this stating they were the people given the book. Furthermore, the Uthmanic version actually has a quote from God about what he said to the prophets in regards to the covenant while the Masud version simply matter of factly says what happened regarding the incident.