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'''Abrogation''' ([[Abrogation|Naskh]]) refers to one [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] verse superseding another, and is itself supported by Qur'anic verses and various [[hadith]] narrations. | {{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=3|Content=3|Language=1|References=3}} | ||
'''Abrogation''' ([[Abrogation|Naskh]]) refers to one [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] verse superseding another, and is itself supported by Qur'anic verses and various [[hadith]] narrations. There was scholarly disagreement as to which verses were abrogated (see the article [[List of Abrogations in the Qur'an]]). | |||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
Understanding the necessity for Naskh is crucial in understanding [[Islam]] and its theology. The Qur'an is said to have been revealed by the angel [[Gabriel|Jibreel]] to [[Muhammad]] over a period of twenty-three years.<ref>''Living Religions: An Encyclopaedia of the World's Faiths,'' Mary Pat Fisher, 1997, page 338, I.B. Tauris Publishers, </ref><ref> | Understanding the necessity for Naskh is crucial in understanding [[Islam]] and its theology. The Qur'an is said to have been revealed by the angel [[Gabriel|Jibreel]] to Prophet [[Muhammad]] over a period of twenty-three years.<ref>''Living Religions: An Encyclopaedia of the World's Faiths,'' Mary Pat Fisher, 1997, page 338, I.B. Tauris Publishers, </ref><ref>{{Quran|17|106}}</ref> During those years, a lot had changed in his personal and private life. | ||
Muhammad began as a preacher, and ended his life as the founder and Head of the first Islamic state, so it is not surprising that the style and message of [[:Category:Medinan Surah|later Medinan]] Qur'anic revelations changed and often conflicted with [[:Category:Meccan Surah|earlier Meccan]] ones. | Muhammad began as a preacher, and ended his life as the founder and Head of the first Islamic state, so it is not surprising that the style and message of [[:Category:Medinan Surah|later Medinan]] Qur'anic revelations changed and often conflicted with [[:Category:Meccan Surah|earlier Meccan]] ones. | ||
Today's Qur'an, when read at face value with its non-chronological organization, can support any number of views on several subjects, and when read as a whole, many [[surah]]s clearly contradict one another. This is why Muhammad himself (through Qur'anic [[revelations]]) introduced this concept into Islam. | Today's Qur'an, when read at face value with its non-chronological organization, can support any number of views on several subjects, and when read as a whole, many [[surah]]s clearly contradict one another. This is why Muhammad himself (through Qur'anic [[Revelation|revelations]]) introduced this concept into Islam. | ||
At the time of the [[Caliph|caliphate]], some scholars (particularly a preacher from Kufa, | At the time of the [[Caliph|caliphate]], some scholars (particularly a preacher from Kufa, Iraq) were banned from explaining and preaching the Qur'an by early 'ilmic authority figure (usually 'Alī but sometimes also Ibn 'Abbās) because of their ignorance of the principles of naskh.<ref>Powers, ''The Exegetical Genre nāsikh al-Qur'ān wa mansūkhuhu'', ISBN 0-19-826546-8, p. 124</ref><ref>Andrew Rippin, ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies'' 47, ISSN 0041-977X, pp. 26, 38</ref> | ||
Some may claim this doctrine does not exist or is not a part of mainstream Islam. However, when you view the [[Chronological Order of the Qur'an|chronological order]] of the revelations, it becomes undeniable. Moreover, Muslims adhere to this doctrine everyday | Some may claim this doctrine does not exist or is not a part of mainstream Islam. However, when you view the [[Chronological Order of the Qur'an|chronological order]] of the revelations, it becomes undeniable. Moreover, Muslims adhere to this doctrine everyday by prohibiting the consumption of [[alcohol]]. | ||
==Qur'an== | ==Qur'an== | ||
===Verse 2:106=== | ===Verse 2:106=== | ||
{{Quote|1=[http://islamawakened.org/quran/2/106/default.htm Qur'an Text/Transliteration 2:106] |2='''Arabic:'''<font size="4"> | {{Quote|1=[http://islamawakened.org/quran/2/106/default.htm Qur'an Text/Transliteration 2:106] |2='''Arabic:'''<font size="4">مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ </font> | ||
'''Transliteration:''' ''Ma nansakh min ayatin aw nunsiha na/ti bikhayrin minha aw mithliha alam taaalam anna Allaha aala kulli shay-in qadeerun'' | '''Transliteration:''' ''Ma nansakh min ayatin aw nunsiha na/ti bikhayrin minha aw mithliha alam taaalam anna Allaha aala kulli shay-in qadeerun'' | ||
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===Sahih Bukhari=== | ===Sahih Bukhari=== | ||
The following [[sahih]] narration indicates | The following [[sahih]] narration indicates, that there are many verses in the Qur'an that have been abrogated, but all of them had to be included. | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|60|53}}|I said to 'Uthman bin 'Affan (while he was collecting the Qur'an) regarding the Verse:-- "Those of you who die and leave wives ..." (2.240) "'''This Verse was abrogated''' by an other Verse. So why should you write it? (Or leave it in the Qur'an)?" 'Uthman said. "O son of my brother! I will not shift anything of it from its place."}} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|60|53}}|I said to 'Uthman bin 'Affan (while he was collecting the Qur'an) regarding the Verse:-- "Those of you who die and leave wives ..." (2.240) "'''This Verse was abrogated''' by an other Verse. So why should you write it? (Or leave it in the Qur'an)?" 'Uthman said. "O son of my brother! I will not shift anything of it from its place."}} | ||
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===Al Muwatta=== | ===Al Muwatta=== | ||
Neither the abrogating nor the abrogated verses on suckling appear in the text of the Qur'an today. This, along with the | Neither the abrogating nor the abrogated verses on suckling appear in the text of the Qur'an today. This, along with the Qur'anic [[Stoning|verse of rajm]] (stoning), were written on a piece of paper and were reportedly lost when a goat [[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Stoning|ate them]].<ref>Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal. vol. 6. page 269; Sunan Ibn Majah, page 626; Ibn Qutbah, Tawil Mukhtalafi 'l-Hadith (Cairo: Maktaba al-Kulliyat al-Azhariyya. 1966) page 310; As-Suyuti, ad-Durru 'l-Manthur, vol. 2. page 13</ref> | ||
{{Quote|{{Muwatta|30|3|17}}|Yahya related to me from Malik from Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr ibn Hazm from Amra bint Abd ar-Rahman that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Amongst what was sent down of the Qur'an was 'ten known sucklings make haram' - '''then it was abrogated''' by 'five known sucklings'. When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, died, it was what is now recited of the Qur'an." | {{Quote|{{Muwatta|30|3|17}}|Yahya related to me from Malik from Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr ibn Hazm from Amra bint Abd ar-Rahman that A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Amongst what was sent down of the Qur'an was 'ten known sucklings make haram' - '''then it was abrogated''' by 'five known sucklings'. When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, died, it was what is now recited of the Qur'an." | ||
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Yahya said that Malik said, "One does not act on this."}} | Yahya said that Malik said, "One does not act on this."}} | ||
{{Quote|{{Muwatta|37|5| | {{Quote|{{Muwatta|37|5|4|b}}| | ||
Yahya said that he heard Malik say, "This ayat is abrogated. It is the word of Allah, the Blessed, the Exalted, 'If he leaves goods, the testament is for parents and kinsmen.' What came down about the division of the fixed shares of inheritance in the Book of Allah, the Mighty, the Exalted, '''abrogated''' it" ...}} | Yahya said that he heard Malik say, "This ayat is abrogated. It is the word of Allah, the Blessed, the Exalted, 'If he leaves goods, the testament is for parents and kinsmen.' What came down about the division of the fixed shares of inheritance in the Book of Allah, the Mighty, the Exalted, '''abrogated''' it" ...}} | ||
===Ibn Majah=== | |||
{{Quote|Ibn Majah Vol. 3, Book 9, Hadith 1942|It was narrated that 'Aishah said: | |||
“Once of the things that '''Allah revealed in the the Qur'an and then abrogated''' was that nothing makes marriage prohibited except ten breastfeedings or five well-known (breastfeedings).” (Sahih)}} | |||
==Scholars== | ==Scholars== | ||
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===Early Scholars=== | ===Early Scholars=== | ||
Dr David Powers notes the following regarding the highs and lows of abrogation in the Qur'an. | |||
- " | {{Quote|1=Dr David Powers<ref>Powers, D.S, "The Exergetical Genre nasikh al-Qur'an", pp.122-126 in Rippen, A (ed.), "Approaches to the History of the Interpretation of the Qur'an", Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1988</ref>|2=The number of verses that are considered to have been abrogated increased dramatically between the eighth and eleventh centuries (al-Zuhri mentions 42 abrogated verses, al-Nahhas 138, and Ibn Salama, 238), at which point an upper limit seems to have been reached (Ibn ‘Ata’iqi identifies 231 abrogated verses, and al-Farsi, 248). | ||
... | |||
al-Suyuti (d. 911/1505) recognised only twenty instances of true abrogation and Shah Wali Allah (d 1762) reduced that number to five.[26] | |||
Ibn al-’Ata’iqi, on the other hand, while citing 231 instances of abrogation, appendixes the phrase wa fihi nazar, indicating doubt or uncertainty to his discussion of twenty-six verses." | Ibn al-’Ata’iqi, on the other hand, while citing 231 instances of abrogation, appendixes the phrase wa fihi nazar, indicating doubt or uncertainty to his discussion of twenty-six verses." | ||
[26] These figures are mentioned in Ernest Hahn, ‘Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan’s The Controversy over Abrogation (in the Qur’an) | |||
... | |||
At | There is also considerable disagreement over the scope of abrogation within the Qur’an itself. At one extreme, there were apparently certain people who argued that ‘the Qur’an does not contain either an abrogated or an abrogating verse’;[38] these people, according to Ibn Salama, ‘'''have deviated from the truth''' and by virtue of their lying, have turned away from God’. | ||
According to Ibn | At the other extreme were those scholars who maintained that any narrative, positive command, or prohibition in the Qur’an may be abrogated.[39] | ||
[38] Ibn Salama, p. 26; cf. Al-Nahhas, pp 2-3 | |||
[39] Ibn Salama, p. 26}} | |||
According to Ibn Salama , those who reject abrogation have deviated from the truth. Once again, its improtant to note at the time of the caliphate, some scholars (particularly a preacher from Kufa, Iraq) were banned from explaining and preaching the Qur'ān by early 'ilmic authority figures because of their ignorance of the principles of naskh. | |||
===Modern Scholars=== | ===Modern Scholars=== | ||
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===Only Meccan Verses are Universal Commands=== | ===Only Meccan Verses are Universal Commands=== | ||
When you understand abrogation, | When you understand abrogation, the drive behind Islamic terrorism and extremism becomes somewhat comprehensible, even if one disagrees with it. This has led some apologists to flatly deny they are even aware of such a concept existing within Islam. Some have even attempted to create their own methods in choosing which verses apply to today's world. | ||
One such example of this is the reversal of the truth; it is the obscure and baseless claim that the Medinan verses are read only in an historical and non-legal context, while the less violent Meccan verses are universal commands. | One such example of this is the reversal of the truth; it is the obscure and baseless claim that the Medinan verses are read only in an historical and non-legal context, while the less violent Meccan verses are universal commands. | ||
This in itself is not a negative thing, but when they try to pass this off to non-Muslims as authentic Islam and claim this is widely accepted by Islamic scholars, while never attempting to rectify the alleged misconceptions with their co-religionists, it is nothing more than | This in itself is not a negative thing, but when they try to pass this off to non-Muslims as authentic Islam and claim this is widely accepted by Islamic scholars, while never attempting to rectify the alleged misconceptions with their co-religionists, it is nothing more than deceptive propaganda. | ||
Furthermore, | Furthermore, this claim is theologically difficult. It contradicts several sahih hadith, and {{cite quran|5|90|end=91|style=ref}} which prohibit the consumption of Alcohol and gambling, are Medinan verses.<ref>Allamah Abu 'Abd Allah al-Zanjani - [{{Reference archive|1=http://tanzil.net/pub/ebooks/History-of-Quran.pdf|2=2011-05-13}} The History of the Quran] - Al-Tawheed Vol. 4, No. 3; Vol. 5, No. 1, 2, & 3</ref><ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.qran.org/q-chrono.htm|2=2011-05-13}} Quran Verses in Chronological Order] - Qran.org, accessed May 13, 2011</ref><ref>Kevin P. Edgecomb - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.bombaxo.com/chronsurs.html|2=2011-05-13}} Chronological Order of Quranic Surahs] - Bombaxo, 2002</ref><ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://www.masjidtucson.org/quran/chapters_chronological_sequence.html|2=2011-05-13}} Quran Chapters and their Chronological Sequence of Revelation] - International Community of Submitters (ICS)</ref><ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://tanzil.net/wiki/Revelation_Order|2=2011-05-13}} Revelation Order] - Tanzil Project, accessed May 13, 2011</ref> | ||
Prior to the revelation of these verses, there were | Prior to the revelation of these verses, there were no prohibitions against intoxicants and games of chance. So when is the last time you have heard Muslims claiming drinking alcohol and gambling is permitted in Islam today? | ||
===Abrogation Exists Only Between the Qur'an and Previous Scriptures=== | ===Abrogation Exists Only Between the Qur'an and Previous Scriptures=== | ||
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Since [[Jesus|Isa]] never wrote a book, we can infer that Allah is talking about the Injil, and Musa; the Taurat. Why would Allah “make no distinction” between them if he had abrogated parts of it? Surely he would have seen fit to mention “except the parts we have substituted”? | Since [[Jesus|Isa]] never wrote a book, we can infer that Allah is talking about the Injil, and Musa; the Taurat. Why would Allah “make no distinction” between them if he had abrogated parts of it? Surely he would have seen fit to mention “except the parts we have substituted”? | ||
==Examples of Abrogation== | ==Examples of Abrogation (According to Some Scholars)== | ||
{{main|List of Abrogations in the Qur'an}} | {{main|List of Abrogations in the Qur'an}} | ||
The verses listed in this section were believed by some scholars to have been abrogated by {{Quran|9|5}}, known as the "verse of the sword". This view was held by those scholars, such as ibn Salama, whose beliefs about the number of abrogated verses were at the upper end of the range. This view became less common among later scholars. | |||
This verse appears in Surah '''Al Taubah''' (Repentance), which is considered to be the closing remarks of Allah. It is also the most aggressive chapter of the entire Qur'an. | |||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|11|3941}}|Abu Ishaq said that he heard al-Bara' b 'Azib (Allah be pleased with him) say: The last complete sura revealed (in the Holy Qur'an) is Sura tauba (i e. al-Bara'at, ix.), and the last verse revealed is that pertaining to '''Kalala'''.}} | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|4|176}}|(*They ask you for a legal verdict. Say: "Allah directs (thus) about Al-Kalalah- )|}} | |||
{{Quote|1=[http://tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=9&tid=20750 This is the Ayah of the Sword]<BR>Tafsir ibn Kathir|2="Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, | |||
'''I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the Zakah.''' | |||
This honorable Ayah (9:5) was called the Ayah of the Sword, about which Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, '''"It abrogated every agreement of peace between the Prophet and any idolator, every treaty, and every term.'''" Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas commented: "No idolator had any more treaty or promise of safety ever since Surah Bara'ah was revealed. }} | |||
===Let there be no compulsion in religion=== | ===Let there be no compulsion in religion=== | ||
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===If they incline towards peace, you incline also=== | ===If they incline towards peace, you incline also=== | ||
'''Verse 8: | '''Verse 8:61''' | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|8|61}}|But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in Allah: for He is One that heareth and knoweth (all things).}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|8|61}}|But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in Allah: for He is One that heareth and knoweth (all things).}} | ||
'''Meaning of Verse 8: | '''Meaning of Verse 8:61''' | ||
{{Quote|1=[http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=8&tAyahNo=61&tDisplay=yes&Languageid=2 Surat Al-'Anfāl (The Spoils of War) 8:61]<BR>Ibn Abbas in Tafsir Ibn Abbas and Tafsir al-Jalalayn (Suyuti) |2=‘This has been abrogated by the “sword verse” [Q. 9:5]’}} | {{Quote|1=[http://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=8&tAyahNo=61&tDisplay=yes&Languageid=2 Surat Al-'Anfāl (The Spoils of War) 8:61]<BR>Ibn Abbas in Tafsir Ibn Abbas and Tafsir al-Jalalayn (Suyuti) |2=‘This has been abrogated by the “sword verse” [Q. 9:5]’}} | ||
'''Scholars on 8: | '''Scholars on 8:61''' | ||
{{Quote|Ibn Taymiyyah, ‘Governance According to Allaah’s Law in Reforming the Ruler and his Flock’|"It is the consensus of the scholars of this Ummah that if part of the religion is Allah's and other part is not, fighting must go on until the entire religion is Allah's".<ref>Shaykh ul-Islaam Taqi ud-Deen Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah - '[http://www.fisabeelillah.org/books/manhaj/The-Religious-And-Moral-Doctrine-Of-Jihad.pdf The Religious and Moral Doctrine of Jihaad]' - p.28, © Copyright 2001 Maktabah Al Ansaar Publications, ISBN: 0-9539847-5-3</ref>}} | {{Quote|Ibn Taymiyyah, ‘Governance According to Allaah’s Law in Reforming the Ruler and his Flock’|"It is the consensus of the scholars of this Ummah that if part of the religion is Allah's and other part is not, fighting must go on until the entire religion is Allah's".<ref>Shaykh ul-Islaam Taqi ud-Deen Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah - '[http://www.fisabeelillah.org/books/manhaj/The-Religious-And-Moral-Doctrine-Of-Jihad.pdf The Religious and Moral Doctrine of Jihaad]' - p.28, © Copyright 2001 Maktabah Al Ansaar Publications, ISBN: 0-9539847-5-3</ref>}} | ||
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{{Quote|[http://quran.com/2/190 Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:190]<BR>Tafsir al jalayn (Suyuti)|this stipulation was abrogated by the verse of barā’a, ‘immunity’ [Q. 9:1], or by His saying [below]:}} | {{Quote|[http://quran.com/2/190 Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2:190]<BR>Tafsir al jalayn (Suyuti)|this stipulation was abrogated by the verse of barā’a, ‘immunity’ [Q. 9:1], or by His saying [below]:}} | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
*[[ | *[[List of Abrogations in the Qur'an]] | ||
*[[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Islamic Theology]] | *[[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Islamic Theology]] | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[http://www.meforum.org/1754/peace-or-jihad-abrogation-in-islam Peace or Jihad? Abrogation in Islam] | *[http://www.meforum.org/1754/peace-or-jihad-abrogation-in-islam Peace or Jihad? Abrogation in Islam] | ||
*[http://www.politicalislam.com/blog/abrogation-and-the-koran/ Abrogation and the Koran] | *[http://www.politicalislam.com/blog/abrogation-and-the-koran/ Abrogation and the Koran] | ||
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[[Category:Qur'an]] | [[Category:Qur'an]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Abrogation]] | ||
[[Category:Fiqh (legal theory)]] | |||
[[Category:Shariah (Islamic Law)]] | |||
[[Category:Sacred history]] | |||
[[Category:Criticism of Islam]] | |||
[[Category:Allah]] | |||
[[Category:Revelation]] | |||
[[Category:Revelational Circumstances of the Qur'an]] | |||