Is the statement of a scholar regarding an error in writing "لا ريب فيه" (there is no doubt in it) to become "لا زيت فيه" (there is no oil in it) as being not a distortion but a scribal error, considered disbelief (kufr)?

The scribe's error in such instances lies in the vocalization (dotting), not the script itself. It has been reported that textual corruptions (tashifāt) occurred, such as "that is the book, there is no oil in it" instead of "there is no doubt in it." However, this particular error is not attributed to Hamzah Az-Zayyat. Textual corruption is possible, especially before the dotting of letters, and it is an unintentional error. As for intentional distortion (taḥrīf), it is a lie against Allah and an act of disbelief (kufr). A reading that conforms to Arabic grammar and has a sound chain of transmission but deviates from the written script is called shādhah (anomalous) and is not permissible to recite. Anything that conforms to the meaning and the script, or one of them, without a transmitted chain is fabricated, and whoever intentionally fabricates it commits an act of disbelief.