Yusuf Estes explains his belief about the Mushaf, that it is not actually the Quran, but rather it “represents” the Quran. He says:
When somebody writes down what Quran means on paper, it’s actually called “mushaf” from the root “suhuf” which means scripture. You can’t hold Quran in your hand, cause it means recitation. It means that which is being recited. Of course when we write down the sounds, we say, “This is Quran,” but what we mean is: What’s written here represents the Quran.
Source: “Muslim / Christian Dialogue – the Ultimate Truth” (part 2 of 3), originally on the 1-Islam channel, on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFrKQ4NNsVg (at precisely 24:10 to 24:43), uploaded on Feb. 8, 2012.
Important Commentary
Yusuf Estes clearly states here that the mushaf is not the actual Quran, and that it only represents the Quran. This is a violation of the basic Islamic belief that Ahlus-Sunnah hold by consensus, recorded in the Muslims’ source books of creed.
Imam Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree (d.310) said:
The Speech of Allah, the Mighty and Honored, is not created, no matter how it is written, no matter how it is recited, no matter where it is recited, whether it is found in the heavens or on earth, wherever it is memorized, whether it is written in al-Lowh al-Mahfooth (Preserved Tablet) or drawn on the boards in children’s classrooms, whether it is engraved on a stone, written on a paper, memorized by heart, or recited verbally. Whoever says otherwise, or claims that a Quran on earth or in the heavens is not the same Quran we recite with our tongues and write in our mus-hafs, or believes otherwise, whether he hides it or speaks openly with it as his Religion, such a person is a disbeliever in Allah, subject to capital punishment. He is free from Allah, and Allah is free from him… (Sareeh as-Sunnah, p.18)
Imam Ibn Abil-‘Izz al-Hanafee (d.792) said:
Whoever says that what is written in the mushafs is a representation of Allah’s Speech, or a narration of Allah’s Speech, and that it is not actually the Speech of Allah, has surely opposed the Book, the Sunnah, and the Salaf of this nation, and that is sufficient as misguidance! (Sharh ‘Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah, pp.143-144)
This belief propagated by Yusuf Estes is a serious mistake. In fact, it is not the belief held by anyone from Ahlus-Sunnah. It is merely a revival of some of the beliefs of some of the ancient sects of the Jahmiyyah Cult.
For more information on this important topic, refer to this free e-book:
Yusuf Estes And the Quran 