Islam: what is law of abrogation?

The penalty of Apostasy under contemporary Islamic Law is against those who were Muslim at one time and choose a different faith and propagate a attack Islam. This attack could be through conspiring a revolution or creating hate language through literature. An example of an apostate who would breaches the Islamic Law of Apostasy is Salman Rushdie. A breach of this Islamic Law is punishable by death, but please remember that Islamic Law is not etched in stone, and over time the penalty The Islamic Law against hostile apostasy may reform. Peace.

Law Of Abrogation

Naskh, an Arabic language word usually translated as "abrogation" and alternately appearing as the phrase al-nāsikh wal-mansūkh ("the abrogating and abrogated [verses]"), is a technical term for a major genre of Islamic legal exegesis directed at the problem of seemingly contradictory material within or between the twin bases of Islamic holy law: the Qur'ān and the Prophetic Sunna. In its application, naskh typically involves the replacement (tabdīl) of an earlier verse/tradition (and thus its embodied ruling) with a chronologically successive one. The complete suppression (izāla) of a regulation so that not even its wording remains is recognized as well, though only in the case of the Qur'ān.

for more information go to www.wikipedia.com

Islam: what is law of abrogation?

What chapter in the Koran is it found? Serious answers only plez

OK, here it is. Abrogation is the concept of what comes after is better than what came before. In other words if I say that this cupcake is good, but the next day I have a different cupcake (chock sprinkles instead of maple) and I like it better, I say that this maple cupcake is better than the choco sprinkle and from now on there will be no talk of choco sprinkles, ever! Abrogation allows Muslims to ignore a previous Koranic passage in favor of a newer, better one. This essentially negates all verses that were written before the abrogation verse. Here are the Koran abrogation verses....

002.106

YUSUFALI: None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: Knowest thou not that Allah Hath power over all things?

PICKTHAL: Nothing of our revelation (even a single verse) do we abrogate or cause be forgotten, but we bring (in place) one better or the like thereof. Knowest thou not that Allah is Able to do all things?

SHAKIR: Whatever communications We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or like it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things?

Here's another....

016.101

YUSUFALI: When We substitute one revelation for another,- and Allah knows best what He reveals (in stages),- they say, "Thou art but a forger": but most of them understand not.

PICKTHAL: And when We put a revelation in place of (another) revelation, - and Allah knoweth best what He revealeth - they say: Lo! thou art but inventing. Most of them know not.

SHAKIR: And when We change (one) communication for (another) communication, and Allah knows best what He reveals, they say: You are only a forger. Nay, most of them do not know.

It is important to remember that the Koran is assembled in order from longest to shortest Sura, therefore there isn't a context to follow. The Suras written in Mecca came before the Suras at Medina. The early Meccan Suras are the kind, gentle ones yet the abrogation verse effectively negates those passages as they are all written before the abrogation verse. Therin lies the problem, if you don;t know how the Koran is assembled it is very difficult to understand it correctly. Do your studying, read all you can and you'll understand what the facts are.

The abrogation of Qur'anic verses presents a problem for Muslims today. As we all know, people can make mistakes and correct them, but this is not the case with God. God has infinite wisdom and would not contradict Himself. The Qur’an itself admonishes against abrogation in suras 6:34 (and 10:65) which state, "...There is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of Allah." An even more damaging pronouncement is made in Sura 4:82 which reads, "Do they not consider the Qur'an? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancies.

Some examples of these abrogation's are:

1) If the words of Allah cannot be changed (Sura 6:34,115; 10:6), then how does Allah "substitute one revelation for another" (Sura 2:106, 16:101)?

2) Law of abrogation (Sura 2:106, 16:101) contradicts sweeping changes: in the Qibla (Sura 2:115,177,124-151), pilgrimage rites (Sura 2:158), dietary laws (Sura 2:168-174) law of talio (Sura 2:178-179), in bequests (Sura 2:180-182), the fast (Sura 2:182-187), and the pilgrimage again (Sura 2:196-203).

3)* Does Allah's day equal to 1,000 human years (22:47, 32:5) or 50,000 human years (70:4)?

4) Where is Allah and his throne? Is he nearer than the jugular vein (50:16), or is he also on the throne (57:4) which is upon the water (11:7), while at the same time so far away, that it takes between 1,000 and 50,000 years to reach him (32:5, 70:4)?

5)* Could Allah have a son? Sura 39:4 says he could if he wished it, yet (Sura 6:101) denies it.

6)* Was the earth created in 6 days (7:54; 25:59) or 8 days (41:9-12)?

7) Muhammad will not forget the revelations which Allah gives him (Sura 87:6-7), is then changed to withdrawing that which Allah's wills to withdraw (i.e. revelations) (17:86).

8)* Does the angel Gabriel bring the revelation from Allah to Muhammad (2:97), or is it the Holy Spirit (16:102)?

9)* If the Qur'an is in pure Arabic (12:2; 13:37; 16:103; 41:41,44) then why are there numerous foreign words in it (Egyptian, Acadian, Assyrian, Aramaic, Persian, Syriac, Hebrew, Greek, & Ethiopian)?

10) If the Qur'an is in "clear Arabic speech." (16:103) and "men of understanding do grasp it" (3:7), then why can "none knows its interpretation, save only Allah" (3:7)?

11) The infinite loop problem : Suras (26:192,195,196; 41:43-44) say the Arabic Qur’an is found in the earlier revelations (Torah and Injil), but they are written in Hebrew and Greek, and we know they don’t contain all that is found in the Qur’an (41:43). Hence these earlier writings have to be contained in yet other earlier writings and we are in an infinite loop, which is absurd.

12)* Does the newer revelation confirm the old (2:97) or substitute it [16:101]?

13)* If the Bible is considered authoritative (4:136; 5:47-52,68; 10:95; 21:7; 29:46), then why is so much of it contradicted by the Qur’an (5:73-75,116; 19:7; 28:9, etc...)?

14) Allah commits himself as law to act mercifully, which implies cause and effect (6:12), yet later in the same Sura it is he who decides everything (6:35 & 39).

15)* In (30:2; 16:49-50) everything is devoutly obedient to Allah, yet what about the proud disobedience of Satan (7:11, 15:28-31, 17:61, 20:116, 38:71-74, 18:50)?

16) Is the evil in our life from Satan (4:117-120), from Allah (4:78), or from Ourselves (4:79)?

17)How merciful is Allah's mercy? He has prescribed mercy for himself (6:12), yet he does not guide some, even though he could (6:35, 14:4).

18) In (5:82),Christians are the nearest to the Muslims "in love", yet in (5:51 & 57) are not Muslims told to refrain from having Christians as friends?

19) Was Muhammad the first to bow down to Allah (i.e. the first Muslim) (6:14,163; 39:12)? What about Abraham & his sons (2:132), all the earlier prophets (28:52-53), or Jesus' disciples (3:52)?

20) Only Allah is to be worshiped (4:116 and 18:110), yet are not the Angels commanded by Allah to bow down to Adam (15:29-30; and 20:116)?

21)* Allah stipulates that those who break an oath do so on forfeit of their soul (48:10; 6:91-92), yet permits Muhammad to break an oath (66:1-2).

22)* Sometimes Allah allows the greatest of all sins, shirk to be forgiven (4:153, 25:68-71), while at other times it is absolutely unforgivable (4:48, 116).

23) For Allah the unpardonable sin is the sin of Shirk (4:48, 116), yet Abraham committed this by initially believing the moon, sun, stars were his Lord (6:76-78).

24)* Are all prophets equal (3:84;2:285;2:136), or are some elevated above the others (2;253)? [see Ali's note:289]

25) Are the night prayers to be done half the night or less (73:2-4), or whatever was easy to do (73:20)?

26) How many wings do angels have: 2, 3, or 4 pairs (35:1), and why does Gabriel have 600 wings (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 455)?

27) If the inheritance laws provides an equal share for women and men (2:180 & 4:7), then why is it doubled for men in (4:11)?

28)* Is the punishment for adulteresses life imprisonment (4:15) or 100 strokes by flogging (24:2)?

29)* Why is it that Homosexuals are let off if they repent (4:16), though the same allowance is not given for heterosexuals (24:2; 4:15).

30) Why is the punishment for adultery for women and men equal in Sura 24 but different in Sura 4?

31) Is retaliation for a crime such as murder confined to people of equal rank (i.e. slave for slave) (2:178), or is it to be carried out by the heir (17:33)? [note: Ali adds Qisas and forgiving to the Arabic]

32) Can a rich man buy himself out of the fast by feeding an indigent (2:184), or is there really no compensation (2:185)?

33) If it is forbidden to adopt sons (33:4-5], then how can it be permissible to marry the wives of adopted sons (33:37)?

34) Can slander of chaste women be forgiven? Yes (24:4-5), No (24:23).

35) It just doesn't add up: Sura 4:11-12, 176 speaking on the inheritance law, specifies that when a man dies, and leaves behind [for instance] three daughters, two parents and a wife, the 3 daughters will receive 2/3 of the inheritance, 1/3 will go to the parents together [according to verse 4:11] and 1/8 for the wife [4:12] which adds up to more than the available estate. A second example: If a man leaves only his mother, his wife and two sisters, then the mother receives 1/3 ( 4:11), 1/4 for the wife [4:12] and 2/3 for the two sisters [4:176], which then adds up to 15/12 of the available property.

36) The Sword verses: Muslims are called to "fight and slay the pagan (idolaters) wherever you find them" (9:5); and "strike off their heads in battle" (47:5); and "make war on the unbeliever in Allah, until they pay tribute" (9:29); and "Fight then...until the religion be all of it Allah's" (8:39); and "a grievous penalty against those who reject faith" (9:3), while at the same time "There is no compulsion in religion" (Sura 2:256).

37) Did Noah's son drown (11:42-43), or were Noah and his family saved from the flood (21:76; 37:75-77)?

38) Was Noah driven out because the people thought him possessed (54:9), or did he remain, so that they could pass him by and ridicule him (11:38)?

39)* Did Abraham confront his people and smash their idols (21:51-59), or did he simply shut up and leave the area once he confronted them (19:41-49, 6:74-83)?

40) When Lot confronted the evil in his people did they ask to drive the clean men out (7:82 & 27:56), or ask for Allah’s wrath on them if he was telling the truth (29:28-29)?

41)* Were there 9 plagues, or signs (17:101), or only 5 (7:133)? [note Ali's note: 1091 adds the rod & leprous hands, (107-108), & droughts & short crops ayah 130]

42) If we are not permitted to repent in the face of death (4:18), then how was Pharaoh permitted to do so (10:90-92)?

43)* Did the Israelites repent about making and worshiping the golden calf before Moses returned from the mountain (7:148-150), or until Moses came back (20:91)?

44)* Does Aaron share in their guilt? No (20:85-90), yes (20:92, 7:151).

45)* Were there several angels (3:42-45) announcing the birth of Jesus to Mary, or only one (19:17-21; 3:47)?

46) Will there be many gardens in paradise (18:31, 22:23, 35:33, 78:32), or just one (39:73, 41:30, 57:21, 79:41)?

47) Will there be three distinct groups of people at the Last Judgment (56:7), or only two (90:18-19, 99:6-8)?

50)* On Judgment Day will the unjust people be given their record behind their back (84:10), or in their left hand (69:25)? [note: righteous are given it in their right hand]

51)* If Jesus is raised to Allah, (4:158), and stationed near to him (3:45), but worshiped by millions of Christians, will he not burn in hell, since "Verily ye (Unbelievers) and the (false) gods that ye worship besides Allah are (but) fuel for Hell!" (21:98)?

52) Who takes the souls at death: the Angel of Death (32:11), the angels (plural) (47:27), or is it Allah (39:42)?

53)* Did Jesus not die (4:157) or did he not only die, but rise again (19:33)? [note: refer to Sura 19:15, which repeats the same words for Yahya]

54) Are Jinns and men created only to serve God (51:56), or are many of them made for Hell (7:179)?

55) If Lust is so thoroughly condemned as being sinful (4:135; 19:59; 28:50; 30:29; 47:15; 79:40-41) why is polygamy, divorce, and concubinage in this life permitted (4:24-25), as well as the primary, and unlimited reward in heaven (55:46-78; 56:11-39)? Surely if lust is wrong on earth and hateful to a Holy God, it cannot be pleasing to him in paradise.

56) On that same note, if wine is forbidden while on earth (2:219; 5:91), why then are there rivers of wine which await the faithful in paradise (47:15; 76:5; 83:25)?

57)

Answer:

1. Two different interpretations

The Glorious Qur’an says in the following verse:

"None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: knowest thou not that Allah hath power over all things?"

[Al-Qur’an 2:106]

A reference to this is also made in chapter 16 verse 101 of Surah Nahl. The Arabic word mentioned is ayat which means ‘signs’ or ‘verses’ and which can also mean ‘revelations’. This verse of the Qur’an can be interpreted in two different ways:

a. The revelations that are abrogated are those revelations that were revealed before the Qur’an, for example the Torah, the Zaboor and the Injeel.

Here Allah (swt) says that He does not cause the previous revelations to be forgotten but He substitutes them with something better or similar, indicating that the Torah, the Zaboor and the Injeel were substituted by the Qur’an.

b. If we consider that the Arabic word ayat in the above verse refers to the verses of the Qur’an, and not previous revelations, then it indicates that none of the verses of the Qur’an are abrogated by Allah but substituted with something better or similar. This means that certain verses of the Qur’an, that were revealed earlier were substituted by verses that were revealed later. I agree with both the interpretations.

Many Muslims and non-Muslims misunderstand the second interpretation to mean that some of the earlier verses of the Qur’an were abrogated and no longer hold true for us today, as they have been replaced by the later verses of the Qur’an or the abrogating verses. This group of people even wrongly believe that these verses contradict each other.

Let us analyze a few such examples.

2. Produce a recital like the Qur’an / 10 Surahs / 1 Surah:

Some pagan Arabs alleged that the Qur’an was forged by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Allah (swt) challenges these Arabs in the following verse of Surah Al-Isra:

"Say: If the whole of Mankind and Jinns were together to produce the like of this Qur’an they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support."

[Al-Qur’an 17:88]

Later the challenge was made easy in the following verse of Surah Al-Hud:

"Or they may say, "He forged it." Say, "Bring ye then ten Surahs forged, like unto it, and call (to your aid) whomsover ye can, other than Allah, if ye speak the truth!’."

[Al-Qur’an 11:13]

It was made easier in the following verse of Surah Yunus:

"Or do they say, "He forged it"? Say: "Bring then a Surah like unto it, and call (to your aid) anyone you can, besides Allah, if it be ye speak the truth!’."

[Al-Qur’an 10:38]

Finally in Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah (swt) further simplified the challenge:

And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Surah like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (if there are any) besides Allah if your (doubts) are true.

But if ye cannot – and of a surety ye cannot – then fear the Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones – which is prepared for those who reject faith".

[Al-Qur’an 2:23-24]

Thus Allah (swt) made the challenges progressively easier. The progressively revealed verses of the Qur’an first challenged the pagans to produce a book like the Qur’an, then challenged them to produce ten Surahs (chapters) like those in the Qur’an, then one Surah and finally it challenges them to produce one Surah somewhat similar (mim mislihi) to the Qur’anic Surahs. This does not mean that the later verses that were revealed i.e. of Surah Baqarah chapter 2 verses 23 and 24 contradict the earlier three verses. Contradiction implies mentioning two things that cannot be possible simultaneously, or cannot take place simultaneously.

The earlier verses of the Qur’an i.e. the abrogated verses are still the word of God and the information contained in it is true to this day. For instance the challenge to produce a recital like the Qur’an stands to this day. Similarly the challenge to produce ten Surahs and one Surah exactly like the Qur’an also holds true and the last challenge of producing one surah somewhat similar to the Qur’an also holds true. It does not contradict the earlier challenges, but this is the easiest of all the challenges posed by the Qur’an. If the last challenge cannot be fulfilled, the question of anyone fulfilling the other three more difficult challenges does not arise.

Suppose I speak about a person that he is so dumb, that he would not be able to pass the 10th standard in school. Later I say that he would not be able to pass the 5th standard, and further say that he would not be able to pass even the 1st standard. Finally I say that he is so dull that he would not even be able to pass K.G. i.e. kindergarten. One has to pass kindergarten before one can be admitted to school. What I am stating is that the person is so dull as to be unable to pass even kindergarten. My four statements do not contradict each other, but my last statement i.e. the person would not be able to pass the kindergarten is sufficient to indicate the intelligence of that person. If a person cannot even pass kindergarten, the question of him passing the first standard or 5th or 10th, does not arise.

3. Gradual prohibition of intoxicants

Another example of such verses is that related to gradual prohibition of intoxicants. The first revelation of the Qur’an to deal with intoxicants was the following verse from Surah Baqarah:

"They ask thee concerning wine and gambling say: ‘In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit’."

[Al-Qur’an 2:219]

The next verse to be revealed regarding intoxicants is the following verse from Surah Nisa:

"O ye who believe! approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say" [Al-Qur’an 4:43]

The last verse to be revealed regarding intoxicants was the following verse from Surah Al-Maidah:

"O ye who believe! intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork; eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper."

[Al-Qur’an 5:90]

The Qur’an was revealed over a period of 22½ years. Many reforms that were brought about in the society were gradual. This was to facilitate the adoption of new laws by the people. An abrupt change in society always leads to rebellion and anarchy.

The prohibition of intoxicants was revealed in three stages. The first revelation only mentioned that in the intoxicants there is great sin and some profit but the sin is greater than the profit. The next revelation prohibited praying in an intoxicated state, indicating that one should not consume intoxicants during the day, since a Muslim has to pray five times a day. This verse does state that when one is not praying at night one is allowed to consume intoxicants. It means one may have or one may not have. The Qur’an does not comment on it. If this verse had mentioned that one is allowed to have intoxicants while not praying then there would have been a contradiction. Allah (swt) chose words appropriately. Finally the total prohibition of intoxicants at all times was revealed in Surah Maidah chapter 5 verse 90.

This clearly indicates that the three verses do not contradict each other. Had they been contradicting, it would not have been possible to follow all the three verses simultaneously. Since a Muslim is expected to follow each and every verse of the Qur’an, only by following the last verse i.e. of Surah Maidah (5:90), he simultaneously agrees and follows the previous two verses.

Suppose I say that I do not live in Los Angeles. Later I say that I do not live in California. Finally I say, I do not live in the United States of America. This does not imply that these three statements contradict each other. Each statement gives more information than the previous statement. The third statement includes the information contained in the first two statements. Thus, only by saying that I do not live in the United States of America, it is obvious, that I also do not live in California nor New York. Similarly since consuming alcohol is totally prohibited, it is obvious that praying in an intoxicated state is also prohibited and the information that in intoxicants is "great sin and some profit for men; but the sin is greater than profit" also holds true.

4. Qur’an does not contain any contradictions

The theory of abrogation does not imply that there is a contradiction in the Qur’an, since it is possible to follow all the verses of the Qur’an at the same time.

If there is a contradiction in the Qur’an, then it cannot be the word of Allah (swt).

"Do they not consider the Qur’an (with care)? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancy (contradictions)."

[Al-Qur’an 4:82]