In this, al-MuJ:taqqiq al-Karaki is in-agreement with what we mentioned earlier in this work, to the effect that the uninterruptedly transmitted traditions demonstrate that if a tradition is in contradiction of the Quran, it should be abandoned. Among such traditions is the one related by Ibn Babawayh al-Saduq, with a sound chain of transmission going back to the Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him). He said:

When one encounters obscurity, it is better to pause than to plunge into perdition, be‌ cause above. every truth there is a greater verity [that supports it], and above every correctness there is a light [that leads to it]. Thus, whatever agrees with the Book of God, adopt it, and whatever contradicts the Book of God, discard it.٤١

Another such tradition has been related by SaIdb. Hibat Allah al-Qutb al-Rawandi, whose authentic chain of transmission also goes back to the Imam al-Sadiq. He said:

When two contradictory traditions come to you, then compare [their contents] with the Book of God. Whatever agrees with the Book of God, accept it, and whatever dis‌ agrees with the Book of God, reject it.٤٢

The Fourth Error

This error deals with the way the Quran was collected, and the manner in which alterations occurred during this process. Since we are going to discuss the collection of the Quran in the next chapter we shall clarify this error there.

NOTES

I. Kulayni, al-Kaft, as cited by Muhammad b. Murta٤a Fay٤ ai-Kashi [Kashani], Kitab al-Waft, ١٥ vols. (Tehran: Kitabfurtishi lslamiyyha, ai-Maktabat al-lslamiyya, n.d.), vol. ٥ (Toward the End of Kitab al-Salat), p. ٢٧٤.
٢. See chapter ٦ for the statements of these scholars.
٣. Kashi, al-Waft, vol. ٥, p. ٢٧٤; Kashi, Ilm al-Yaqfn, ٢ vols. (n.p., n.d.) vol. ٢, p. ٥٤٥.
٤. AI-Balaghi discusses this question in the introduction to his exegesis Ala al-Ra/:lman.
See RafiI, l}f!:z al-Quran, p. ٤٢.
٥. This refers to the burning of the noncanonical codices, which was ordered by Caliph
Uthman when his official codex was prepared.-Trans.
٦. RafiI, Ijaz al-Quran, p. ٤٢.
٧. Bukhari, Sa/:١١/:١, vol. ٨, p. ٢٦; Muslim, Sa/:١١/:١, vol. ٥, p. ١١٦, without any addition fol- lowing inna.
٨. Suyli\I, al-ltqan, vol. I, sec. ١٨, pp. ١٦٧-٦٨.
٩. lbid.,sec.l٩,p.l٩٨. •
١٠. AI:Jmad b. I:Ianbal, Musnad al-Imam A/:lmad b. ljanbal wa bi-Hamishihi Muntakhab
Kanz al-Ummalft Sinan al-Aqwal wa al-Ajal, ٦ vols. (Beirut: Dar adir, a. Suyli\I, al-Itqan, vol. ٢, pp. ٤٠-٤١.
١٢. Ibid.
١٣. Q. ٣٣:٥٦, but the italicized phrase is not in the present text.-Trans.
١٤. Ibid.
١٥. Muslim, $af:zif:z, vol. ٣, p. ١٠٠.
١٦. Ibn Abd al-Muttaqi, Muntakhab Kanz al- Ummal, vol. ٢, p. ٤٣.