Abrogation (naskh) in the Quran refers to the alteration of a ruling contained within a verse by the revelation of a later verse.1 It is one of the most controversial topics within the study of Quranic Sciences (ulūm al-qurān) as it raises questions like: Is the Quran contradictory? Did Allah change His mind? What is the wisdom behind abrogation?
The phenomenon of abrogation is acknowledged by the Quran in the following verse:
“We do not abrogate a verse and allow it to be forgotten but that We bring what is better than it or like it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things?”2
Similarly, the Quran says:
“If We replace a verse in place of another verse, and Allah knows best what He reveals, they say: Indeed, he has forged it! No, rather most of them do not know.”3
One of the examples of abrogation mentioned by Muslim scholars is the removal of the obligation to offer charity when visiting the Prophet. Originally the Quran instructed Muslims wishing to privately consult with the Prophet to spend money in charity.4 However it is reported that no one acted upon it except Imam Ali.5 Subsequently, the requirement of giving charity was removed and Allah forgave all those who failed to do so and exhorted them to “establish prayer and give zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger.”6
Some people have criticised the existence of abrogation, arguing that it shows contradictions in the Quran. However, Allah refutes this saying
“Do they not reflect upon the Quran? If it had come from another besides Allah, they would have found much contradiction within it.”7
Accordingly, it is necessary to view the Quran in a holistic manner to appreciate the wisdom behind the abrogation of certain regulations. The example of the gradual prohibition of alcohol in the Quran clearly shows how abrogation was skilfully used to slowly guide the Arab community in a gentle way that they could tolerate. Alcohol was widely used during the period of jahilliya. It was first discouraged,8 then prohibited before prayer,9 and finally it was prohibited all together.10
[1] Another area of study is whether a ruling revealed in the Quran can be abrogated by other sources of Islamic law such as the Sunna of the Prophet and Imams or the consensus of scholars (ijma).
[2] Quran 2:106.
[3] Quran 16:101.
[4] Quran 58:12.
[5] Amongst the Sunni works please see: Ibn Jarir al-Tabari Tafsir, vol. 28, p. 15; 'Abd al-Wahid, Fath al-Qadir, vol. 5, p. 191. Amongst the Sia works please see: Bahrani, Tafsir al-Burhan, vol. 4, p. 309; Abu al-Qasim al-Musawi al-Khui, The Prolegomena to the Quran, trans. Abdulazziz Sachedina, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998).
[6] Quran 58:13.
[7] Quran 4:82.
[8] Quran 2:219.
[9] Quran 4:43.
[10] Quran 5:90. For a further study on abrogation see: John Burton, The Sources of Islamic Law: Islamic Theories of Abrogation (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2003); Louay Fatoohi, Abrogaiton in the Quran and Islamic Law: A Critical Study of the Concept of “Naskh” and its Impact, (New York: Routledge, 2014).