Abrogation in the Quran

The word "nasaq" comes from the Arabic word meaning to erase or to compensate.
It is an important subject within Quranic sciences.
Nasih: The abrogator, the ayah that does the nasaq (on the scale of Fa'il).
Mansukh: The abrogated, the ayah being abrogated (on the maf'ool pattern).
Technical definition: To repeal a legal order (Hukam Sharaii) through a legal argument (li li Sharaii).

Allah enforces a legal order relevant to a specific time, then later cancels it and enforces a new one.
The old order is the canceled order (Mansukh), and the newly replaced order is Nasih.

Jews believe there can be no abrogation because commands come from Allah.
They think accepting abrogation would imply Allah made a mistake and withdrew the previous command (Buddha - Jewish opinion about abrogation).
They believe Allah's commands are complete, so there can be no abrogation.
The objection raised by Jews is superficial; abrogation doesn't mean a change in views but implies issuing orders.
Views of Allah are always perfect, the previous order was perfect for its time, and the new one suits new needs.
The abrogator doesn't declare the abrogated as wrong but fixes the time limit for the enforcement of the first order.
The change keeps in mind the infinite wisdom of Allah $SWT$ .

A doctor doesn't prescribe the same medicine to every person with the same disease; they consider age, medical history, etc.
Prescriptions change according to the changing condition of the patient.
Similarly, Allah changes orders according to the changing times, people, and situations.
We must have trust in Allah, tawakkul, and reliance on Allah $SWT$ .

Abrogation is not just a trait of the Islamic Sharia; it was present before the Prophet $SAW$ .
Examples from the Bible:
- In Sayyidina Yaqub's religious system, a man could have two real sisters as wives simultaneously (e.g., Liya and Raheel).
- This was forbidden in Sayyidina Musa's commandments.
- Every moving animal was permissible as food in Sayyidina Nuh's Sharia, but many were prohibited in Sayyidina Musa's Sharia.
- Divorce was permissible in Sayyidina Musa's Sharia but only allowed in Sayyidina Isa's legal rulings if the woman committed adultery.
- Hazrat Ibrahim had two sons, Hazrat Ismail and Hazrat Ishaq. From Hazrat Ismail came Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) and from Ishaq came prophets like Yusuf, Musa and Isa.
- All of the progeny coming from Hazrat Yaqub they are all of Bani Israel they're all called Bani Israel and they have all the prophets coming from there. Even legal commandments would change from one prophet to another.
- Even in their Sharia, changes occurred.
- Two sisters as wives was allowed for Hazrat Yaqub (AS) but not in Hazrat Musa's (AS) Sharia.
- The legal commandments are known as Sharia.

Earlier scholars applied a broader interpretation of abrogation; later scholars defined it strictly as the complete repeal of an order.
- Earlier scholars considered any change in the ayahs, akhamaat to be an abrogation.
- Later scholars considered an abrogation to be when an order was completely changed.

Surah Al-Baqara ( $2:221$ ): Do not marry the mushrik women until they believe.
Surah Al-Ma'ida (5:5): You can marry chaste women from among the People of the Book (Jews and Christians).
Earlier scholars considered Surah Al-Ma'ida (5:5) as abrogating Surah Al-Baqara ( $2:221$ ).
Later scholars say Surah Al-Ma'ida (5:5) specifies and limits a universal command, explaining Surah Al-Baqara ( $2:221$ ).

Abrogation is part of divine wisdom to suit evolving human circumstances.
Example: the injunction to face towards Beit Al-Makdis during Salah was later abrogated, and Muslims were ordered to face the Kaaba in Makkah.

Mu'tazila (Abu Muslim of Sahani): Maintain that no verse of the Quran has been abrogated; all verses continue to be obligatory.
* They don't accept abrogation because they consider it a defect and think the Quran should be free from it.
Some scholars express the same opinion as Mu'tazila, as well as some modernists who disagree with abrogation, and believe that its a defect.
They agree that there can be abrogation in the commandments of Allah, but not in the Quran itself.
If Allah has done abrogation in non-Quranic injunctions, why is it not possible in the Quran?

Gradual Imposition of Religious Doctrines: Allows followers to adjust to the Akamath of the Quran easily.
- Example: the Akamath of wine and alcohol being haram was given gradually.
Punishment: Allah sometimes does abrogation as punishment for the people.
- Surah Al-Anam (146): Allah forbade Jewish people from eating every animal with undivided hooves and the fat of oxen and sheep because of their violations and continuous you know breaking of the the commandments of Allah.
1. Retaining verses and sometimes punishment.
Surah Al-Baqura (106): We never abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten, we replace it with one better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is capable of everything.
- Allah does abrogate (new hukam comes).
- Nabi was made to forget those ayahs (also a form of abrogation).

Those who consider abrogation a fault argue that Surah Al-Baqarah (106) is a hypothetical situation like saying, "If Allah had a son, I would be the first of the worshippers."
This interpretation is incorrect because the occurrence of abrogation is logically possible, unlike Allah having a son.

Alama Jalaluddin Siyyuti has written 19 verses of the Quran, but Shaulu Allah Rimshul Aaleh has discussed only five of them to be abrogated.

Will-making:
- Previous Ayah (Mansukh): It is prescribed to you that when death approaches, a will be made in favor of parents and immediate family with fairness.
- Abrogating Ayah (Nasih): Surah Nisa with a complete ayah with the new inheritance of a certain amount to each family member.
Ratio of Fighters:
- Previous Ayah (Mansukh - Surah Al-Anfal 65): If there are 20 steadfast amongst you, they will overcome 200.
- Abrogating Ayah (Nasih - Surah Al-Anfal 66): Now Allah has lightened your burden; if there are a hundred steadfast amongst you, they will overcome 200.