Abrogation of verses in Quran

No Abrogation in the Qur’an

There is no abrogation (naskh) in the Qur’an. All its verses remain valid and harmonious. When chapter 2 mentions abrogation, it refers to the replacement of previous scriptures with the superior guidance of the Qur’an, not the cancellation of Qur’anic verses themselves.

۞مَا نَنسَخۡ مِنۡ ءَايَةٍ أَوۡ نُنسِهَا نَأۡتِ بِخَيۡرٖ مِّنۡهَآ أَوۡ مِثۡلِهَآۗ أَلَمۡ تَعۡلَمۡ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٌ 2:106

Examples Often Misinterpreted as Abrogation .¹

1. Inheritance and Will (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:180 → Surah An-Nisa 4:7, 4:12):
   The detailed inheritance laws in Surah An-Nisa complement the will command in Surah Al-Baqarah, ensuring fairness without negating the principle of writing a will.

   كُتِبَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَكُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ إِن تَرَكَ خَيۡرًا ٱلۡوَصِيَّةُ لِلۡوَٰلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۖ حَقًّا عَلَى ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ 2:180

2. Combat Ratio (Surah Al-Anfal 8:65 → 8:66):
   The shift from a 1:10 to a 1:2 ratio in battle reflects Allah’s mercy and the believers’ capacity. This is a contextual easing, not an abrogation.

   يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ حَرِّضِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ عَلَى ٱلۡقِتَالِۚ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمۡ عِشۡرُونَ صَٰبِرُونَ يَغۡلِبُواْ مِاْئَتَيۡنِۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّاْئَةٞ يَغۡلِبُوٓاْ أَلۡفٗا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِأَنَّهُمۡ قَوۡمٞ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ 8:65

3. Marital Rules for the Prophet ﷺ (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:50 → 33:52):
   Both verses address different aspects of the Prophet’s ﷺ personal life, offering flexibility without contradiction.

   يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ إِنَّآ أَحۡلَلۡنَا لَكَ أَزۡوَٰجَكَ ٱلَّـٰتِيٓ ءَاتَيۡتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتۡ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّـٰتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَٰلَٰتِكَ ٱلَّـٰتِي هَاجَرۡنَ مَعَكَ وَٱمۡرَأَةٗ مُّؤۡمِنَةً إِن وَهَبَتۡ نَفۡسَهَا لِلنَّبِيِّ إِنۡ أَرَادَ ٱلنَّبِيُّ أَن يَسۡتَنكِحَهَا خَالِصَةٗ لَّكَ مِن دُونِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَۗ قَدۡ عَلِمۡنَا مَا فَرَضۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ فِيٓ أَزۡوَٰجِهِمۡ وَمَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُمۡ لِكَيۡلَا يَكُونَ عَلَيۡكَ حَرَجٞۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمٗا 33:50

4. Charity Before Consulting the Prophet ﷺ (Surah Al-Mujadila 58:12 → 58:13):
   The lifting of the charity requirement alleviated a burden on believers. This demonstrates practical adjustments, not abrogation.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نَٰجَيۡتُمُ ٱلرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُواْ بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡ نَجۡوَىٰكُمۡ صَدَقَةٗۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ وَأَطۡهَرُۚ فَإِن لَّمۡ تَجِدُواْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٞ رَّحِيمٌ 58:12

5. Night Prayer Obligation (Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:1-4 → 73:20):
   The reduction in prayer time acknowledges believers’ challenges, allowing individual flexibility while maintaining the essence of devotion.

   يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡمُزَّمِّلُ 73:1

Addressing Misconceptions

Claims such as the “goat-eating verses” narrative, found in some hadith, lack authenticity and contradict the Qur’an’s preservation. The Qur’an is complete, without loss or alteration, as promised by Allah in Surah Al-Hijr (15:9): “Indeed, We have sent down the Qur’an, and indeed, We will be its guardian.”

False Stoning Law and the Abrogation of Recitation

Umar ibn al-Khattab (Sahih Bukhari 6829) stated:
“Allah sent Muhammad ﷺ with the truth and revealed the Book to him, including the verse of stoning, which we recited and implemented. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ practiced stoning, and so did we. I fear people may later abandon this obligation, claiming the verse is absent in the Qur’an. Stoning is the truth for married adulterers proven by evidence, pregnancy, or confession.”

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Sunni Opinion on the Abrogation of Stoning Verse Recitation

Naskh Tilawah (abrogation of recitation, retention of ruling) is cited by some Sunni scholars:

• Criticism:

  • No clear hadith confirms the Prophet ﷺ abrogated a Qur’anic verse.
  • Forgotten verses would still be widely known if recited earlier.

• Ruling in Law:

  • Stoning is validated through authentic hadiths showing the Prophet ﷺ implemented it.
  • Scholars like Imam Al-Shafi’i, Imam Malik, and Imam Ahmad uphold its enforcement, possibly specific to Jews and Christians under their laws.