CHAPTER V
THE TESTIMONY OF KĀZI BAIZĀWI CONCERNING THE VARIOUS READINGS OF THE QURĀN
Those who have read the commentaries of the famous Muhammadan scholar Kāzi Baizāwi well know that he, also, has pointed out many variations in the different copies of the Qurān. We give below a few examples from the writings of this well-known commentator.
It is a matter for surprise that in the very first chapter of the Qurān, a chapter the excellences of which Muslim writers are never tired of relating, and which every good Muhammadan should repeat in his daily prayers, a number of various readings exist, and have caused no little perplexity to Mubammadan scholars. Thus we learn from the Kāzi that in verse 5 in some copies we have "(
Arabic characters), whilst in others the word is spelt "(Arabic characters)". Yet it is perfectly certain that both readings cannot be correct.
Again, in verse 6 of the same Sūra, Baizāwi tells us that the words "(Arabic characters)" (Sirāt allazīna anamta alaihim) have in some copies of the Qurān been changed to (Arabic characters) (Sirāt man anamta alaihim). What, then, becomes of the supposed freedom of the Qurān from corruption, in view of such facts; and where, we ask, is the much-vaunted Divine protection of the Qurān? Is it not perfectly clear that in some copies the word '(Arabic characters)' (allazīna) has either been changed to '(Arabic characters)' (man); or else in other copies the original word '(Arabic characters)' (man) has been corrupted into '(Arabic characters)' (allazīna)?
Again Baizāwi tells us, in the eighth verse of the same Sūra a serious variation of reading occurs. According to Baizāwi
