Quran Issues:
Preservation - Breastfeeding & Marriage
Question: Has the Quran been perfectly preserved?
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Overview
Muslims often claim (usually in contrast to the Bible) that the Quran has been perfectly preserved from the time it was revealed to Muhammad. This means that nothing has been altered or lost, and the same Quran that Muslims read and recite today is exactly what Muhammad received and recited fourteen-hundred years ago. The following (taken from Islamic sources and the testimony of Aisha) can be cited in response to this claim.
According to Sahih Muslim (1452a & 1452b), Aisha said that it was revealed in the Quran that ten occurrences of breastfeeding between two individuals makes marriage unlawful. This stipulation was later abrogated to five occurrences of breastfeeding. However, no mention of this ruling can be found in modern editions of the Quran. Sunan Ibn Majah (1944 - Graded: Hasan) narrates Aisha's report that the manuscript containing the verse on stoning and breastfeeding an adult ten times was eaten by a sheep shortly after Muhammad's death. This likely explains why the passages on breastfeeding and marriage (and stoning) are missing in modern editions of the Quran.
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Hadith Narrations
Sahih Muslim, 1452a
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with, her) reported that it had been revealed in the Holy Qur'an that ten clear sucklings make the marriage unlawful, then it was abrogated (and substituted) by five sucklings and Allah's Apostle died and it was before that time (found) in the Holy Qur'an (and recited by the Muslims).
Sahih Muslim, 1452b
'Amra reported that she heard 'A'isha (Allah he pleased with her) discussing fosterage which (makes marriage) unlawful; and she ('A'isha) said: There was revealed in the Holy Qur'an ten clear sucklings, and then five clear (sucklings).
Sunan Ibn Majah, 1944 (Graded: Hasan)
It was narrated that 'Aishah said: “The Verse of stoning and of breastfeeding an adult ten times was revealed, and the paper was with me under my pillow. When the Messenger of Allah died, we were preoccupied with his death, and a tame sheep came in and ate it.”