Toward a Theory of Redaction: A Historical-Critical Study of the Variant Traditions of the Qur'an

<p>This study presents a synoptic literary analysis of several of the Qur'an's variant traditions to illuminate the complex redactional processes that shaped its final form. The research employs a historical-critical approach, particularly redaction criticism, with a keen focus on the specific literary and grammatical features as key markers for identifying editorial interventions and alterations within these traditions. The following analysis advances the study of the Qur'an's variant traditions by introducing a unique redaction-critical methodology by providing a systematic framework to analyze textual relationships, grammatical shifts, and thematic coherence, and identifying markers of redactional work. Crucially, it redefines the role of Qur'anic redactors not merely as collectors, but as shapers and authors who imbued the text with their own theological conceptions and distinct outlooks. This research challenges the view of the Qur'an as a single, linear text, instead revealing it as a complex product of literary, textual, and theological influences, with internal variations stemming from its intricate history</p>