The ruling on altering or modifying a verse of the Holy Qur'an while quoting or citing it

What do the esteemed scholars and respected Muftis say regarding the following issue: I respectfully submit that on November 4, 2020, at the Dil Pasand Sweets shop located at Teen Talwar, verse 39 of Surah Al-Kahf was incorrectly written, and the translation displayed was also incorrect. This display had been hanging for quite some time. The verse was: "مَا شَاءَ اللّٰہُ لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰہِ" but the translation provided was: "What Allah wills is not (possible)”, (There is no power to avoid sin or to do good except through the help of Allah). This translation involved a deliberate distortion of the verse and implied a denial of Allah’s will. The manager was fully aware that the verse and translation were incorrect, yet did nothing. When the matter was brought to the owner's attention, he claimed to be knowledgeable in religious matters and insisted that the verse and its translation were correct. When I pointed out the mistake, some individuals present at the shop tried to harass and intimidate me, saying things like "Beat him up! He’s saying the Qur’anic verse is wrong!" I was physically pushed. I then called 15 (police emergency number) and the police were summoned. Since the matter reached the police, it became necessary to seek a fatwa. Before I could file a formal complaint, the person responsible cleverly admitted his mistake and had a written apology prepared for himself. However, he refused to disclose the name of the person who originally wrote the incorrect verse and translation. On top of that, he filed a false complaint against me with the DIG South, alleging that I posed a threat to his life and property. He also tried to offer me money to settle the matter privately, but I refused, stating clearly that this is a religious (Shar‘i) matter, not one that can be resolved through financial transactions. This individual has: Misled the Muftis, Misled the police, displayed an incorrect Qur’anic verse and mistranslation, harassed me, tried to justify the error with baseless arguments. Therefore, I request a clear and immediate fatwa on this matter in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It should be made clear that although the phrase "مَا شَاءَ اللّٰہُ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰہِ" is correct in meaning, the actual wording in Surah Al-Kahf, verse 39 is: "مَا شَاءَ اللّٰہُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰہِ" and the phrase "لَا حَوْلَ" does not appear in the verse. Therefore, in the case under discussion, if the attached image matches the original display, and the verse was being cited as a reference from Surah Al-Kahf, then adding the words "لَا حَوْلَ" to the verse is incorrect. Knowingly altering the Qur'anic text and insisting upon such a change even after being informed of the error is a grave offense. It is obligatory upon the owner of the shop mentioned in the question (Dilpasand) to correct this mistake and exercise caution in such matters in the future. Failing to do so, the complainant or any individual will have the right to pursue legal action against them according to the law.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في الدر المختار: (و) اعلم أنه (لا يفتى بكفر مسلم أمكن حمل كلامه على محمل حسن أو كان في كفره خلاف، ولو) كان ذلك (رواية ضعيفة) اھ (4/ 229)۔
وفي حاشية ابن عابدين: (قوله لا يفتى بكفر مسلم أمكن حمل كلامه على محمل حسن) ظاهره أنه لا يفتى به من حيث استحقاقه للقتل ولا من حيث الحكم ببينونة زوجته (الى قوله) بدليل ما صرحوا به من أنهم إذا أراد أن يتكلم بكلمة مباحة فجرى على لسانه كلمة الكفر خطأ بلا قصد لا يصدقه القاضي وإن كان لا يكفر فيما بينه وبين ربه تعالى، فتأمل ذلك وحرره نقلا فإني لم أر التصريح به، نعم سيذكر الشارح أن ما يكون كفرا اتفاقا يبطل العمل والنكاح، وما فيه خلاف يؤمر بالاستغفار والتوبة وتجديد النكاح وظاهره أنه أمر احتياط. مطلب في حكم من شتم دين مسلم ثم إن مقتضى كلامهم أيضا أنه لا يكفر بشتم دين مسلم: أي لا يحكم بكفره لإمكان التأويل. ثم رأيته في جامع الفصولين حيث قال بعد كلام أقول: وعلى هذا ينبغي أن يكفر من شتم دين مسلم، ولكن يمكن التأويل بأن مراده أخلاقه الرديئة ومعاملته القبيحة لا حقيقة دين الإسلام، فينبغي أن لا يكفر حينئذ، والله تعالى أعلم اهـ وأقره في [نور العين] ومفهومه أنه لا يحكم بفسخ النكاح، وفيه البحث الذي قلناه. (4/ 229)۔