Al Naskh (Abrogation) in Al Quran
“Legislative, Historical & Critical Study” by Prof Mustafa Zaid
One of the important issues that confront us when we read and contemplate the Qur’an is the issue of Al Naskh. In this video, I will not address the question: Is there Naskh [abrogation] to some verses of the Holy Quran; or there is no Naskh to any of the verses. This question had been addressed throughout the centuries and scholars differed on its ruling. I am more inclined towards the opinion that there are no Naskh in the Quran. However, this video is not to discuss arguments for and against.
I will only provide the summary of the conclusion of an extensive, comprehensive, and acclaimed research, conducted by the late Dr. Mustafa Al-Sayed Badr Zaid, may Allah have mercy on him.
Dr. Mustafa Zaid was Professor and Head of Al Shariah Department [the Islamic Law Department] at Cairo University and Beirut Arab University from 1960 till 1976, and held the same position in the Islamic University in Al Madinah during the period 1976 till 1978. (Where he died in 1978 (1398 AH) and was buried in Al Baqi3 البقيع cemetery in Al Madinah Al Munawara).
توفي رحمه الله في المدينة المنورة و دفن فيها في بقيع الغرقد الي جوار قبر الإمام مالك سنة 1398هـجرية.
The extensive research was published in 1971 in a book, titled “Al Naskh in the Holy Qur’an, a Historical and Critical Legislative Study.” (980 pages in two volumes). The Arabic language book is available on the Internet and can be downloaded.
Dr. Mustafa Zaid is one of the scholars who said there are Naskh in the verses of the Quran. He thoroughly studied all the verses which other scholars claimed were abrogated, and concluded the results, which I am summarizing hereafter, as they were presented in his book. (For the Readers who are interested to read the verses mentioned in this Summary and in this article, I have listed them in the Appendix at the end of this Article).
Here is the Summary:
1- The abrogation [Naskh] verse (106) in Surat (2) indicates that abrogation is admissible, and the replacement verse in Surat (16) indicates its occurrence.
2- The meaning of abrogation (as mentioned in the verse) is removal. [the word Naskh in Arabic language means removal and also means copying, Professor Mustafa Zaid said in this verse Naskh means removal]
3- The fourth section, contained a lengthy study of the claims of the abrogation of sixty-three verses, which were all abrogated by one verse, which is the verse of the Sword (as it is commonly called, Verse 5 of Surah (9), and the study concluded the invalidation of all these claims. All the 63 verses are valid and not abrogated.
4- As for the fourth and final chapter, it presents the verses where Al Naskh occurred, and the abrogation is correct and valid. These are five events in six verses. They are:
- In Surat (73) Al-Muzzammil. That it is obligatory to perform tahajjud prayer in verses 2 & 3, then such obligation is abrogated in verse 20 of the same Surah.
- In Surat (58). The obligation of offering charity contribution when consulting the Messenger (PBUH) in verse 12, then such obligation was removed in verse 13 of the same Surah.
- In Surat (8) [Al-Anfal]. The order in verse 65 to stand and fight in front of ten times their number of infidels. Then such order was eased and abrogated in verse 66 of the same Surah, by the order to stand and fight in front of only 2 times their number of infidels. Both verses in the same Surah.
- The punishment for adultery in the two verses 15 & 16 of Surat [4] Al-Nisa’a. and its abrogation in Al hadd punishment in the verse (2) of Surat al-Nur (24).
- And the incident of abrogating the concept of not to go near praying while under the influence of wine (Alcoholic drinks) in verse (43) Surat [4] (Al-Nisa’a). And the prohibition of drinking Alcohol in verse (90) Surah (5).
Accordingly, this comprehensive and detailed study, which was praised by many jurists and scholars, showed that the verses that were abrogated, are only six verses concerning the five cases that we mentioned, Thus, it can be said that the distance between the scholars who denied the occurrence of abrogation in the Quran and those who said it does occur, that distance has narrowed to the point where a Muslim who is not familiar with the subject of Naskh, when he has viewed the five mentioned abrogation, can read the Qur’an and act on it all, without someone telling him this verse is abrogated and is invalid.
The importance of the application of what said before, is that all the Qur’anic verses which call for peace, mercy, free will, tolerance, respect for others and many more, all these verses are valid and obligatory on all good Muslims.
Read the Quran, with confidence that every word you read is valid, do not listen any more to whoever tells you: “But this verse was abrogated” specially by verse 5 of surat (9) sūrat Al-Tawbah (The Repentance), because as we seen in this most acclaimed and approved research. It was not.
We come here to the end. For Readers who are interested to read the verses mentioned. These verses are listed in the following Appendix.
Appendix
Summary of Verses where Naskh Occurred:
A) The abrogated 6 verses and the 5 events:
i. In Surat (73) Al-Muzzammil. That it is obligatory to perform tahajjud prayer in verses 2 & 3, then such obligation is abrogated in verse 20 of the same Surah.
{ O you who wrapped yourself in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad SAW) (1) Rise [to pray] all the night except a little (2) Half or less than half (3) Or more, and recite the Qur’an with measured recitation [rhythmic tones](4) For We shall send down on you a heavy words (5)} Surah (73)
{Verily, your Lord knows that you do stand (to pray at night) a little less than two-thirds of the night, and (sometime) half the night, or a third of the night, as do a party of those with you, Allah measures the night and the day. He knows that you are unable to pray the whole night, so He has turned to you (in mercy). Recite, then, of the Qur’an that which is easy for you. He knows that there will be some among you sick, others travelling through the land, seeking of Allah’s Bounty; and others fighting in Allah’s Cause. So recite as much of the Quran as may be easy (for you), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat, and lend to Allah a goodly loan, Whatsoever good you do for yourself you will find it with Allah, better and greater in the recompense. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Allah is all Forgiving and All Merciful (20)} Surah (73)
ii. In Surat (58). The obligation of offering charity contribution when consulting the Messenger (PBUH) in verse 12, then such obligation was removed in verse 13 of the same Surah.
{Believers, whenever you consult the Prophet, offer charity before your consultation. This will be better for you and more pure. However, if you do not find anything to give in charity, then God is All-forgiving and All-merciful (12)} Surah (58)
{Are you afraid of offering charity before your consultation (with him)? If you do not so, and Allah has forgiven you, then perform the prayer, and pay Al Zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger, Allah is aware of what you do(13)} Surah (58)
iii. In Surat (8) [Al-Anfal]. The order in verse 65 to stand and fight in front of ten times their number of infidels. Then such order was eased and abrogated in verse 66 of the same Surah, by the order to stand and fight in front of only 2 times their number of infidels. Both verses in
{O Prophet (Muhammad SAW)! Urge the believers to fight. If there are twenty steadfast persons amongst you, they will overcome two hundred, and if there be a hundred steadfast persons they will overcome a thousand of those who disbelieve, because they (the disbelievers) are people who do not understand (65) Surah (8)
{Now Allah has eased your (task), for He knows that there is weakness in you. So if there are of you a hundred steadfast persons, they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are a thousand of you, they shall overcome two thousand by permission of Allah. Allah is with the patient (66)} Surah (8)
iv. The punishment for adultery in the two verses 15 & 16 of Surat [4] An-Nisa’a. and its abrogation of al hadd punishment in the verse (2) of Surat al-Nur.
{Those who commit unlawful sexual intercourse of your women – bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine the guilty women to houses until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way (15) And the two who commit it among you, punish them both. But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allah is ever Accepting of repentance and Merciful (16)} Surah (4)
{The woman and the man guilty of adultery, flog each of them with a hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment (2)} Surah (24)
v. And the incident of abrogating the concept of not to go near praying while under the influence of wine (Alcoholic drinks) in Surat An-Nisa’a. And the forbidding of drinking Alcohol in verse
{O you who believe! Do not go near prayer when you are in a drunken state until you know what you are saying …. (43)} Surah (4)
{O you who believe! wine (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al Ansab, and Al Azlam (idols and divining arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan’s (Satan) handiwork. So, avoid (strictly) them all in order that you may be successful (90)} Surah (5).
B) Other verses that mentioned in the Article:
{مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا ۗ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (106) }
(We do not abrogate of Ayat or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things? (106)} Surah (2)
{وَإِذَا بَدَّلْنَا آيَةً مَّكَانَ آيَةٍ ۙ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُنَزِّلُ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُفْتَرٍ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ} (101)
{And when We replace Ayat in place of (another) Ayah, and Allah knows the best of what He reveals, they (the disbelievers) say: “You (O Muhammad SAW) are Muftari (falsely inventing it) but most of them do not know (101)} Surah (16)
آية السيف في سورة التوبة (سورة براءة) لا تنسخ أي آية أخرى.
{فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ ۚ فَإِن تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ (5)} سورة (9)
The Sword Verse Does not abrogate any other verse.
{Then when the Sacred Months have passed, then kill the Mushrekeen wherever you find them. Capture, besiege, and ambush them. But if they repent and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, then let them [go] on their way free. Verily, Allah is All Forgiving, All Merciful (5)} Surah (9)