How Can Abrogated Verses Be Omitted if the Quran Is Preserved?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
How can verses once recited in the Quran, such as those mentioned in reports about Surat al-Ahzab, be omitted if the Quran is preserved? Were they all abrogated, and who determines they are no longer part of the Quran?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Abrogation (Naskh) is when the legislator, Allah Most High, removes a previous ruling with a later one of His. Another definition is that, in the terminology of scholars, abrogation is the lifting of a partial practical Sacred Law ruling established by text by a later partial practical Sacred Law ruling established by text and contradicts it, not being connected to it in the time of its legislation. Read the detailed articles and answers below. [Zarkashi, al-Burhan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran; Suyuti, al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran; ‘Itr, ‘Ulum al-Quran; Qattan, Mabahith fi ‘Ulum al-Quran; Juday, ‘al-Muqadimmat al-Asasiyat fi ‘Ulum al-Quran; Salih, Mabahith fi ‘Ulum al-Quran]
Hadith
Ibn ‘Abbas narrates: Ubay ibn Ka‘b (Allah be pleased with him) was reciting Surat al-Ahzab. I said,
“It has 73 verses.” He replied, “Only?” I said, “Yes, only.” He said, “I have seen that this Surah is equal to Surat al-Baqara, and among the verses we used to recite in it was this:
الشَّيْخُ وَالشَّيْخَةُ إِذَا زَنَيَا فَارْجُمُوهُمَا الْبَتَّةَ نَكَالًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
“The old man and the old woman, when they commit adultery, stone them to death, a punishment from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might, Wise.”
This Hadith has a Sahih (authentic) chain of narration, but Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim did not narrate it.
Surat al-Ahzab: The Leagued Forces
Surat al-Ahzab is Madinan based on the consensus of the scholars. It was revealed concerning the hypocrites, their harm toward the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and their criticism of him and his marriages.
The current number of verses is 73, but it was said to be as long as Sura al-Baqara during the Prophet’s time. It included the verse of stoning (rajm):
“The old man and the old woman, if they commit adultery, stone them to death as a deterrent from Allah, and Allah is Almighty, Wise.” Abu Bakr al-Anbari narrated this from Ubay ibn Ka‘b.
Scholars interpret this to mean that Allah lifted (abrogated) some parts of Sura al-Ahzab, including the wording of the stoning verse, even if its legal ruling remains.
A narration from Aisha ( Allah be pleased with her) says: “Sura al-Ahzab used to be 200 verses during the time of the Prophet, but when the Quran was compiled, only what we have now could be found.” Abu Bakr explains this as meaning Allah raised (i.e., abrogated) parts of the sura that were once present.
Ubay ibn Ka‘b also swore that Sura al-Ahzab used to be as long as or longer than Sura al-Baqara and included the stoning verse. As for the claim that some verses were written on a paper kept in Aisha’s house and were eaten by a domesticated animal, this story is rejected by scholars and considered a fabrication by heretics. [Qurtubi, al-Jami‘ li Ahkam al-Quran]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. Insha’Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.
Related
- What Is Abrogation (Naskh) in the Quran?
- Can You Explain The Concept Of Abrogation In The Qur’an?
- Losing My Faith over Verses of Abrogation
- Quranic Studies Curriculum (Course)
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
