How do we rationally and convincingly respond to those who claim the Qur’an has been distorted due to the abundance of continuously transmitted (mutawatir) variant readings?

The multiplicity of Quranic readings is not a distortion; rather, it is an expansion and a mercy from Allah, who revealed the Quran in seven ahruf (modes of reading), all of which have been authentically transmitted from the Prophet (peace be upon him) through continuous chains of narration (mutawatir asanid). These readings enrich the meanings and concur in their objectives, with no contradiction or conflict among them; rather, they corroborate one another. The meanings of some readings may vary to present different rulings and benefits, as in His Almighty’s saying: {And every human we have bound his fate to his neck, and We will bring forth for him on the Day of Resurrection a book which he will find spread open} (Quran 17:13), where it was read as (wanukhrij) and (yalqahu) and (yulaqqahu). And His Almighty’s saying: {In their hearts is a disease, so Allah increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they used to lie} (Quran 2:10), where it was read as (yakdhibun) and (yukadhibun).