Tahrif, i.e., Distortion: Favorite Pastime of the Modernists

Modernism and Islam are incompatible. For this reason, Modernists resort to various kinds of lies and tricks in order to make their heresy look nice and give it a look that seems to be in-sync with traditional Islam. One of the favorite pastimes of Modernists is to use Tahrif, i.e., distortion. 

In previous times, the Jews and Christians would resort to Tahrif. The Noble Qur'an speaks about this in a number of ayaat. It seems as though Liberals and Modernists today have taken off from where previous nations have left. They twist and turn and distort the message of the Noble Qur'an, the Blessed Sunnah, the Pure Ahadith, the grand Seerah, and anything associated and stemming from the traditional scholars of Islam. 

These meanings and interpretations of the Modernists are mostly from their own side, there is no evidence or proof found for their interpretations and whimsical ideas. In essence, this is how Modernists are led astray, and lead others astray. 

There are various types of Tahrif, as we learn from the Noble Qur'an:

1. Attributing something to Allah Ta'ala that He did not say. 

So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn. [Surah al-Baqarah:79]

2. Twisting the tongue when pronouncing the words in order to deceive the listener that it is the word of Allah Ta'ala, but it is not.

And indeed, there is among them a party who alter the Scripture with their tongues so you may think it is from the Scripture, but it is not from the Scripture. And they say, "This is from Allah," but it is not from Allah. And they speak untruth about Allah while they know. [Surah Aal-'Imran: 78]

Among the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] places [i.e., usages] and say, "We hear and disobey" and "Hear but be not heard" and "Ra'ina," twisting their tongues and defaming the religion. And if they had said [instead], "We hear and obey" and "Wait for us [to understand]," it would have been better for them and more suitable. But Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few. [Surah an-Nisa': 46]

3. Providing interpretations of the Noble Qur'an and turning the words away from their intended and correct meaning and purport without proof or evidence.

As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. [Surah Aal-'Imran: 7]

May Allah Ta'ala save us from the filth of Modernism, and making whimsical fanciful interpretations of the Noble Qur'an. Ameen