Validation of Sayyid Abu-l-Fadl Burqi‘i’s Attribution of the Distortion of the Qur’an to the Shi‘a

Burqi‘ī (1908-1993) was a Qur’anist clergy who criticized Shiite beliefs. He cites unreliable hadiths to argue that al-Kulaynī, some other Shiite scholars of hadiths, and the Shi‘a in general believe in “distortion of the Qur’an.” In this paper, we consider Sayyid Abu-l-Faḍl al-Burqui‘ī’s views of the distortion of the Qur’an, appraising its accuracy or inaccuracy. In this paper, the data are collected through a library method and have been processed via a descriptive-analytic method. The Shi‘a have numerous reasons to believe in the Qur’an’s immunity from distortion. In addition to many prominent Shiite figures who have pointed to its protection from distortion, impartial Sunni scholars have rejected accusations of Qur’anic distortion against the Shi‘a. Burqi‘ī cites the book, Faṣl al-Khiṭāb, as evidence for his accusation of Quranic distortion against the Shi‘a, while many Shiite scholars have written books in rejection of Faṣl al-Khiṭāb. One problem with Burqui‘ī is his lack of historical view of the issue and his failure to consider the main motivation of authors of hadith books, that is, collection of hadiths and prevention of their destruction.