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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. There was scholarly disagreement as to which verses were abrogated (see the article [[List of Abrogations in the Qur'an]]). | '''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== | ||
The concept of ''Naskh'', or abrogation, has traditionally been an important feature of [[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 [[ | 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 verses clearly [[Contradictions in the Quran|contradict one another]]. The concept of abrogation is commonly understood to be mentioned in the Quran itself, sometimes apparently as a defence against criticism directed at Muhammad when he forgot or changed verses. | ||
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> | 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> | ||
Not all Muslims believe in abrogation, though it is the mainstream view. Nevertheless, there has never been agreement as to the scope of verses affected, nor even the precise definition of the term, such as whether it includes clarifications. The most commonly referenced application of the doctrine today is the gradual prohibition on the consumption of [[alcohol]], though those who reject the concept of abrogation argue that alcohol was never in any way permitted. The verses about alcohol do not feature in the more limited sets of abrogated verses proposed by some scholars such as al-Suyuti (see [[List of Abrogations in the Qur'an]]). | |||
Traditionally, abrogation is understood to be of three types: Abrogation of the verses and the ruling; abrogation of the ruling but not the verses; abrogation of the verses but not the ruling. The latter is famously proposed regarding the punishment of [[Stoning|stoning]] for married adulterers, which does not appear in the Quran we have today. | |||
==Qur'an== | ==Qur'an== | ||
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The Mu`tazili grammarian and author of the Qur'anic commentary Jami` al-Ta'wil li-Muhkam al-Tanzil, Abu Muslim al-Asfahani (254-322), was reputed to have denied intra-Qur'anic naskh altogether. Al-Razi and al-Shawkani refuted him in al-Mahsul and Irshad al-Fusul respectively, but others (such as Ibn Daqiq al-`Id and the contemporary scholar `Ali Hasabullah) justified his stance as a difference in terminology only (khilaf lafzi) - due, for example, to interpreting the word aya as "(super)natural sign" or "previous Scriptures" rather than "Qur'anic verse," or a reconsideration of purported abrogation to be mere specification (ikhtisas). Hence al-Qarafi's rebuttal, when al-Razi questioned the claim of consensus on the existence of abrogation: "Agreement has indeed formed over meaning; difference is only over naming."}} | The Mu`tazili grammarian and author of the Qur'anic commentary Jami` al-Ta'wil li-Muhkam al-Tanzil, Abu Muslim al-Asfahani (254-322), was reputed to have denied intra-Qur'anic naskh altogether. Al-Razi and al-Shawkani refuted him in al-Mahsul and Irshad al-Fusul respectively, but others (such as Ibn Daqiq al-`Id and the contemporary scholar `Ali Hasabullah) justified his stance as a difference in terminology only (khilaf lafzi) - due, for example, to interpreting the word aya as "(super)natural sign" or "previous Scriptures" rather than "Qur'anic verse," or a reconsideration of purported abrogation to be mere specification (ikhtisas). Hence al-Qarafi's rebuttal, when al-Razi questioned the claim of consensus on the existence of abrogation: "Agreement has indeed formed over meaning; difference is only over naming."}} | ||
==Examples of Abrogation (According to Some Scholars)== | ==Examples of Abrogation (According to Some Scholars)== | ||
{{main|List of Abrogations in the Qur'an}} | {{main|List of Abrogations in the Qur'an}} | ||
Some of 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 and was generally held by those who lived near centres of imperial power (see [[Jihad in Islamic Law]]). | |||
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. | This verse appears in Surah '''Al Taubah''' (Repentance), which is traditionally 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|{{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'''. [i.e. 4:176]}} | ||
{{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, | {{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, | ||
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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. }} | 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. }} | ||
===If they incline towards peace, you incline also=== | ===If they incline towards peace, you incline also=== | ||
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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]:}} | ||
===Let there be no compulsion in religion=== | |||
'''Verse 2:256''' | |||
Some scholars considered the following verse to be abrogated, though this is not the most common view today (see [[Let There be no Compulsion in Religion]]). | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|2|256}}|2=Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.}} | |||
'''Meaning of Verse 2:256''' | |||
{{Quote|Tafsir Ibn Kathir (unabridged)|Allah says: "There is no compulsion in religion", meaning: do not force anyone to embrace Islam, because it is clear and its proofs and evidences are manifest. Whoever Allah guides and opens his heart to Islam has indeed embraced it with clear evidence. Whoever Allah misguides blinds his heart and has set a seal on his hearing and a covering on his eyes cannot embrace Islam by force...hence Allah revealed this verse. '''But, this verse is abrogated by the verse of "fighting...Therefore, all people of the world should be called to Islam. If anyone of them refuses to do so, or refuses to pay the Jizya they should be fought till they are killed. This is the meaning of compulsion.''' In the Sahih, the Prophet said: "Allah wonders at those people who will enter Paradise in chains", meaning prisoners brought in chains to the Islamic state, then they embrace Islam sincerely and become righteous, and are entered among the people of Paradise.}} | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
*[[List of Abrogations in the Qur'an]] | *[[List of Abrogations in the Qur'an]] | ||
*[[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Islamic Theology]] | *[[Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Islamic Theology]] | ||
==References== | ==References== |