Distortion (alteration) has various meaning , for the clarity of  answer , first of all, we would like to focus our attention  on these various meanings and views of the Muslims about them. 
1 – Distortion of Meanings:
        “Distortion of meaning” is this that they express the meaning of verse and interpret  a verse in such a way which would be contrary to its true consideration.   So, therefore, according to this consideration, all ‘exegesis by self  opinions’ and erroneous and incorrect explanations that were mentioned up to now and will be mentioned in future, is a kind of ‘distortion of meaning’ of the holy Quran .
 2. Distortion of to be less or more alphabet  and movements  along with  protection of the holy Quran  and without depletion of it, in such a way that it would be  too hard to distinguish  that which one is   the genuine  Quran in actual fact ;like whatever is present in various kinds of recitations.
 Definitely, one of these recitation is correct, while in the case of the remaining recitations either they have added something or lessened something else.
          Some Shia scholars are of the faith that the recitation of Hafs from Asim that is in practice at present time, is the real recitation of the holy Quran that has been transformed from generation to generation and hand to hand , the regular and successive holy Quran is the same holy Quran amongst the people while, the remaining recitations are a kind of jurisprudential endeavor   .
  As long as concern of  fact that this  holy Quran has been related to Hafs , it doesn’t means that Hafs recited  holy Quran in such way and the people  followed him but its means that Hafs  followed the recitation that was regular and in practice amongst the people.   
      It has also been narrated from Imams (Infallible Leaders) that the holy Quran was revealed according to this statement “the Quran is single word, from the  Individual .” and these traditions prove the remaining recitations to be erroneous while prove to be  perfection  of  one of these recitations.
If we enclosure  this tradition with other tradition in which people have been commanded to recite  the holy Quran as people recite it, we will come to know that  the genuine Quran is the same which  is successive and in practice amongst the people. Therefore, it has not been occurred any distortion and   alteration in the phonetics and alphabets of the holy Quran.  

3 - By distortion mean to be less or more word or words along with the protection of real Quran.
       It has been said that such kind of distortion, in the holy Quran was occurred in beginning of Islam and historical reports express this fact but with the unity of Osman’s manuscript (of the holy Quran), this problem was solved    .  After collection of the Quran, Osman ordered to his governors that the manuscripts   (of the holy Quran) which opposed the manuscript collected by him, should be burnt in to ashes.
       (However according to faith of Shia School of Thought, Osman’s manuscript of Quran was the same Quran that was in practice and regular by the era of holy Prophet (SAW)). Therefore in this perspective and meanings, this kind of distortion and alteration, was disconnected practically but earlier than this era, it was present.   
By distortion means to be less or more verse or verses or chapter along with safety of real Quran and conformity regarding to recitation of holy prophet (SAW).
             whatever is present amongst  the Sunni School of Thought  like; some of them considerالله الرحمن الرحیم  بسم   (in the name of Allah the Merciful , the Compassionate) , as a part of revelation, in the beginning  of chapter while ,on the other side, some others, don’t consider them as a part of revelation. However, all the Muslims are agreed on this view that Prophet (SAW) used to recite الله  بسم   (in the name of Allah) in the beginning of each chapter except chapter of Touba (atonement ).   
    5 – Distortion to reduction or addition:
       It means, either the Quran that is present in our hands would not be consisting of whole Quran or   anything other would be added in it from outside. Shia School of Thought has refuted the occurrence of such kind of distortion and alteration and many arguments have also been described in this context that would be expressed in its own place.
         Therefore, on the ground of phonetics and movements, although expect the recitation in practice, others recitations are present insides the books yet these are a sort of jurisprudential endeavor which are not successive. Nevertheless, the scholars of Quranic sciences have narrated criterion in order to indentify the correct or incorrect recitations. However, in case of accepting this kind of distortion in the holy Quran, it should be said that distortion and alternation in this perspective, doesn’t bring any harm to  the immorality of the holy Quran; because the genuine recitation is also available and in practice. Whatever, brings harm for the immorality of the holy Quran , is distortion that means to be more words or sentences or verses from  the outside. According to all Muslims scholars, this kind of alteration and distortion has not been occurred in the holy Quran .


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