Abrogation of certain verses from the Quran - myth or reality?

Transcription

1 Abrogation of certain verses from the Quran myth or reality?

2 Outline Introduction The abrogation doctrine Evidence for the doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Evidence against the doctrine How did this happen? Conclusion Abrogation myth or reality /69

3 Outline Introduction The abrogation doctrine Evidence for the doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Evidence against the doctrine How did this happen? Conclusion Abrogation myth or reality /69

4 What is abrogation? Abrogation q of a verse in the Quran means that the verse is no longer to be followed. Scholars who believe in abrogation identify the abrogated verses based on a conflict that they perceive with other verses. This is not a method for reconciling different verses. It is a method for annulling ÈA. some of the verses. According to different scholars, there are anywhere between 5 verses and 00 s of verses in the Quran that are claimed to be abrogated. Abrogation myth or reality 4/69

5 Verse 4:4 (ZA Ë 5:90 ( èyka ÜÏ that addresses drinking: Example èpñƒ) is claimed to have been abrogated by the later verse èpñƒ) that prohibited drinking alcohol. Here is the part of 4:4 øpa ¾ ƒ Õ æk ð èc Ë ñḳ Q K B ñ J Ó ák Y Ë Aî E AK \ (4) "... àñ Ëñ K AÓ ñò ʪ K úæ k 4:4 O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying... Abrogation myth or reality 5/69

6 Undisputed Fact All scholars, whether proabrogation or antiabrogation, agree on the following fact: No verse in the text of the Quran j ÜÏ ú æ X á Ḳ has ever been declared abrogated by either God or the Prophet (pbuh). There is not a single exception. abrogation? Well,... So how come we are even talking about Abrogation myth or reality 6/69

7 There is heavyweight support for abrogation Although every claim that a verse was abrogated has been merely a matter of opinion, the roster of those who support these opinions looks like Who s who in Islamic scholarship. For example, Ibn Abbas A Òî D«é <Ë ú æ P A J.ªË áḳ é <Ë YJ.«Imam AbuHaneefa Imam AlShafeiy é J Jk ñḳ ÐA ÓB ù ª A Ë ÐA ÓB Sheikh AlShaarawy ø ð Qª Ë ú Íñ JÓ Y Ò m qj Ë Abrogation myth or reality 7/69

8 There is opposition, too Some credible scholars have opposed the abrogation doctrine in principle. They are a minority, but in recent times they have become a significant minority. Among them, AlAsfahany ú GA ê B ÕÎ Ó ñḳ (rd Hijri century) Imam Muhammad Abduh Dr. Muhammad AlBahey èyj. «Y Òm ÐAÓB ú æî D. Ë Y Ò m.x Sheikh AlGhazaly ú Í Q ªË Y Ò m qj Ë Abrogation myth or reality 8/69

9 Abrogation is serious business Divisions in Islam can happen based on which verses are followed and which are disregarded. For example, one verse (the sword verse 9:5 éḳñ JË èpñƒ áó 5 ék ) is claimed to abrogate more than 00 verses which teach peaceful coexistence. Extremists use that to justify their violence, and Islamophobes use it to justify attacks on Islam. Some matters of serious law are affected. If a verse is wrongly declared abrogated, possible injustice will ensue. So many scholars over the Islamic history have added verses to the abrogation list that one of every 7 verses in the Quran is claimed to be abrogated by some scholar. Abrogation myth or reality 9/69

10 Outline Introduction The abrogation doctrine Evidence for the doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Evidence against the doctrine How did this happen? Conclusion Abrogation myth or reality 0/69

11 The origin of abrogation The word abrogation q comes from verse :06 ( èq J.Ë èpñƒ áó 06 ék ): É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ JÓ ð Aî DÓ Q m A '. H K AîD J K ð é K (06) QKY Z ú æ áó q K A Ó :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? Linguistically, q can mean: remove, replace, abrogate, or copy. After the death of the Prophet (PBUH), early scholars used it technically to mean amend or elaborate as well. The word was confined to mean abrogate (annul) by later scholars. This is how :06 is interpreted. Abrogation myth or reality /69

12 The object of abrogation Many types of abrogation are postulated in religion, e.g., one religion abrogates another, abrogation within the Sunna, etc. In this talk, we will focus on one notion only: The object of abrogation is a verse in the text of the Quran. The verse remains in the text and is part of the Quran. However, it is not authoritative any more. This is referred to as èðc JË àð X ÕºmÌ' q (abrogation of the ruling, but not the recitation). The Prophet (PBUH) never used such expression. In fact, the expression was created by others after his death. Abrogation myth or reality /69

13 Abrogation of Quranic Verses The abrogation doctrine we are discussing in this talk asserts that Some verses in the text of the Quran abrogated. j ÜÏ ú æ X á Ḳ have been The text that abrogated them is another conflicting verse in the Quran. That was extended to allow the Sunna to abrogate verses in the Quran! That was further extended to allow consensus or inference through similarity to abrogate verses in the Quran!! Abrogation myth or reality /69

14 The Abrogation Doctrine The doctrine postulates that: There are verses in the text of the Quran are abrogated, not to be followed any more. j ÜÏ ú æ X á Ḳ that The determination of which verses are abrogated can be done through scholarly reasoning XA î D k.. The main criterion for determining abrogated verses is the apparent conflict with other verses that were revealed later. This is our focus. We believe that the abrogation doctrine is fundamentally flawed. Abrogation myth or reality 4/69

15 Outline Introduction The abrogation doctrine Evidence for the doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Evidence against the doctrine How did this happen? Conclusion Abrogation myth or reality 5/69

16 Evidence for the abrogation doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Abrogation myth or reality 6/69

17 Evidence for the abrogation doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Abrogation myth or reality 7/69

18 Quranic Basis: The Abrogation Verse :06 É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ JÓ ð Aî DÓ Q m A '. H K AîD J K ð é K (06) QKY Z ú æ áó q K A Ó :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? Does this verse prove that there is abrogation? If so, what is being abrogated according to this verse? What may be abrogating? Abrogation myth or reality 8/69

19 What :06 actually says É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ JÓ ð Aî DÓ Q m A '. H K AîD J K ð é K (06) QKY Z ú æ áó q K A Ó :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? The wording of the verse is a conditional construct. The verse tells us what would happen if abrogation occurred. Still, it is legitimate to ask why would God bring up the subject if there were no abrogated verses? Abrogation myth or reality 9/69

20 The Abrogation Verse :06 in context Q g áó Ѻ J Ê «È Q K à á» Q å Ü Ï B ð Ḥ A Jº Ë É ë áó ðq» ák Y Ë X ñ K AÓ (05) Õæ ª Ë É Ë ðx é <Ë ð ZA á Ó é J Ô g QḲ Jm ' é<ë ð Ñ º Ḳ P áó É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ A JÓ H K AîD J K ð é K q K AÓ ð A î DÓ Q m '. (06) QKY Z ú æ áó :05 Neither those who disbelieve from the People of the Scripture nor the polytheists wish that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord. But God selects for His mercy whom He wills, and God is the possessor of great bounty. :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? Abrogation myth or reality 0/69

21 Common word between :05 and :06 Q g áó Ѻ J Ê «È Q K à á» Q å Ü Ï B ð Ḥ A Jº Ë É ë áó ðq» ák Y Ë X ñ K AÓ (05) Õæ ª Ë É Ë ðx é <Ë ð ZA á Ó é J Ô g QḲ Jm ' é<ë ð Ñ º Ḳ P áó É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ A JÓ H K AîD J K ð é K q K AÓ ð A î DÓ Q m '. (06) QKY Z ú æ áó :05 Neither those who disbelieve from the People of the Scripture nor the polytheists wish that any good should be sent down to you from your Lord. But God selects for His mercy whom He wills, and God is the possessor of great bounty. :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? Abrogation myth or reality /69

22 What is meant by verse in :06? The interpretation of ék in :06 as verse in previous revelations before the Quran, or as an entire previous revelation, has been challenged: É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ JÓ ð Aî DÓ Q m A '. H K AîD J K ð é K (06) QKY Z ú æ áó q K A Ó :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? Some proabrogation scholars insist that verse can only be a Quranic verse. They argue that, per Arabic dictionaries, the word ék never means verse in previous revelations, e.g., in the Bible. Abrogation myth or reality /69

23 Yes, it does. Here is the proof. The word ék was used repeatedly in the Quran to refer to verses in previous revelations. Here is one example of many: É J ÊË ZA K é <Ë H AK à QÔ«È èpñƒ áó ék àñ Ê JK éü ßA é Ó Ḥ A Jº Ë É ë áó () àð Y j. Ñ ë ð Z ñ ƒ ñ Ë : They are not [all] the same; among the People of the Scripture is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of God during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer]. Abrogation myth or reality /69

24 Conclusion about the Abrogation Verse :06 É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ JÓ ð Aî DÓ Q m A '. H K AîD J K ð é K (06) QKY Z ú æ áó q K A Ó :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? The logical interpretation of :06, also found in a number of exegeses, is that the verse is talking about the Quran abrogating previous books. This is supported by the context, and by the specific words used in :06 and used elsewhere in the Quran. This answers the question why would God reveal :06 if there were no abrogated verses in the Quran? Abrogation myth or reality 4/69

25 Evidence for the abrogation doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Abrogation myth or reality 5/69

26 Sahaba narrations about abrogation Neither the Quran nor the Sunna have ever declared a specific verse abrogated, so many abrogation claims are based on narrations of the Sahaba, the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) Ñ î D«é <Ë ú æ P éḳaj Ë. We will debate the use of these narrations as a basis for the abrogation doctrine based on two specific points. Linguistic: The word q was used by the Sahaba to mean different things other than annulment. These meanings are legitimate, but have nothing to do with abrogation. Scholarly: Major scholars have disagreed with the abrogation statements of the Sahaba, even when the authenticity was not challenged. In one case, AbuHaneefa, and AlShafeiy were against an abrogation claim supported by Ibn Abbas and Abdullah ibn Omar. Abrogation myth or reality 6/69

27 Linguistic Case: The poets verse A claim of abrogation of 6:4 (the verse about poets in Z Q ª Ë èpñƒ) was attributed to Ibn Abbas: ½Ë X áó q ( àðða ªË ÑêªJ. K ZQª Ëð) AÒî D«é<Ë úæ P AJ.«áḲ á«.(q J» é<ë ðq» Xð HAmÌ'A Ë ñêô«ð ñ JÓ ák YË B ) ÈA ú æ Jƒð Translation: And the poets the deviators follow them then He abrogated and excepted from it by Except those [poets] who believe and do righteous deeds and remember God often. An exception is just an amendment since the orignial rule is not annulled. Therefore, 6:4 was admittedly not abrogated, but Ibn Abbas still used the word q to describe what happened to it. Abrogation myth or reality 7/69

28 Scholarly Case: The fate of nonmuslims Verse :6 ( èq J.Ë èpñƒ): Q k B Ð ñ J Ë ð é <ËAḲ á Ó (6) àñ K Q m ' Ñë Bð Ñî D Ê «á Ó á JḲ A Ë ð øpa JË ð ðxa ë ák Y Ë ð ñ J Ó ák Y ñ k B ð Ñî Ẹ P Y J«Ñë Q k. Ë à Ñ ê Ê AmÌ 'A ÉÔ «ð :6 Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans those [among them] who believed in God and the Last Day and did righteousness will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. was claimed to be abrogated by verse :85 ( à QÔ«È èpñƒ): (85) ákq å A m Ì ' áó è Q k B ú ñ ë ð é JÓ É J. K á Ê A JK X Ð C ƒb Q «J. K á Ó ð :85 And whoever desires other than Islam as religion never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers. Abrogation myth or reality 8/69

29 Scholarly Case (continued) The basis of the abrogation claim is a narration attributed to Ibn Abbas. It doesn t say that :85 abrogated :6, but rather that God revealed :6 then He revealed...a JK X Ð C ƒb Q «J. K only implied. á Ó ð, so the abrogation claim is Verse :6 can irrefutably be proved not to be abrogated, bacause of another verse that was revealed later than the abrogating verse :85. Moreover, The scope of :6 is understood to be about preislamic times:...q k B Ð ñ J Ë ð é <ËAḲ á Ó á Ó á JḲ A Ë ð ø PA JË ð ð XA ë ák Y Ë ð ñ J Ó ák Y Ë... and this interpretation is supported by the circumstance of revelation where Salman AlFaresi expressed concern to the Prophet (PBUH) about those who died before Islam. Abrogation myth or reality 9/69

30 Scholarly Case (continued): Two verses side by side Q k B Ð ñ J Ë ð é <ËAḲ á Ó (6) àñ K Q m ' Ñë Bð Ñî D Ê «á Ó á JḲ A Ë ð øpa JË ð ðxa ë ák Y Ë ð ñ J Ó ák Y ñ k B ð Ñî Ẹ P Y J«Ñë Q k. Ë à Ñ ê Ê AmÌ 'A ÉÔ «ð :6 Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews or Christians or Sabeans those [among them] who believed in God and the Last Day and did righteousness will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. Q k B Ð ñ J Ë ð é <ËAḲ á Ó á Ó ø (69) àñ K Q m ' Ñë Bð Ñî D Ê «Ë ð ñ J Ó ák Y Ë ñ k C AmÌ 'A ÉÔ «ð PA JË ð àñ JḲ A Ë ð ð XA ë ák Y 5:69 Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews or Sabeans or Christians those [among them] who believed in God and the Last Day and did righteousness no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. à Abrogation myth or reality 0/69

31 Conclusion: Facts about Sahaba abrogation narrations Without going into questions of authenticity or merit of different Sahaba narrations, we demonstrated that these narrations could not be taken as authoritative basis for abrogation of Quranic verses for two specific reasons: The Sahaba Ñ î D«é <Ë ú æ P legitimately used the word q to mean things other than abrogation. There are many clear examples, and this fact is widely acknowledged. Prominent scholars have frequently rejected Sahaba narrations about abrogated verses, even when authenticity was not challenged. Either the Sahaba narrations are authoritative or else they are not. They cannot be both. Abrogation myth or reality /69

32 Evidence for the abrogation doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Abrogation myth or reality /69

33 Was verse :40 ( èq J.Ë Example : The widow verses èpñƒ): È ñ m Ì' úí A «A JÓ Ñê k. ðp B é J ð Ag. ð P àð P Y K ð Ñ º JÓ à ñ ñ JK áî D K ú á Ê ª AÓ ú Ñ º J Ê «ha J k. C á k. Q k àa ḥ Q k (40) Õæ º k QK Q «é<ë ð ðq ª Ó áó ák Y Q «:40 And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind for their wives is a bequest: maintenance for one year without turning [them] out. But if they leave [of their own accord], then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable way. And God is Exalted in Might and Wise. Ë ð abrogated by verse :4? Abrogation myth or reality /69

34 Here is verse :4 ( èq J.Ë Example (continued) èpñƒ): Qå «ð Q îd é ª Ḳ P áî D K AḲ á. ð Q ª Ü ÏAḲ áî D K ú á Ê ª A ÒJ Q K Ag. ð P àð P Y K ð Ñ º JÓ à ñ ñ JK ák Y Ñ º J Ê «ha J k. C á ê Ê g. á ª Ê Ḳ XA é<ë ð (4) QJ. k àñ Ê Ò ª K A Ü ß. :4 And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind they, [the wives, shall] lie in wait for four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And God is [fully] Acquainted with what you do. Ë ð The claim is that the period of one year in :40 has been reduced to a period of four months and ten days in :4. Is this the case? Abrogation myth or reality 4/69

35 Example (continued) Verse :40 is talking about an obligation: on the estate of the man to maintain the widow È ñ m Ì' úí A «A JÓ Ñê k. ðp B é J ð Ag. ð P àð P Y K ð Ñ º JÓ à ñ ñ JK áî D K ú á Ê ª AÓ ú Ñ º J Ê «ha J k. C á k. Q k àa ḥ Q k (40) Õæ º k QK Q «é<ë ð ðq ª Ó áó ák Y Q «:40 And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind for their wives is a bequest: maintenance for one year without turning [them] out. But if they leave [of their own accord], then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable way. And God is Exalted in Might and Wise. Ë ð Abrogation myth or reality 5/69

36 Example (continued) Verse :4 is talking about an obligation: on the widow to abstain for a grace period Qå «ð Q îd é ª Ḳ P áî D K AḲ á. ð Q ª Ü ÏAḲ áî D K ú á Ê ª A ÒJ Q K Ag. ð P àð P Y K ð Ñ º JÓ à ñ ñ JK ák Y Ñ º J Ê «ha J k. C á ê Ê g. á ª Ê Ḳ XA é<ë ð (4) QJ. k àñ Ê Ò ª K A Ü ß. :4 And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind they, [the wives, shall] lie in wait for four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And God is [fully] Acquainted with what you do. Ë ð Abrogation myth or reality 6/69

37 Example (continued): Conclusion Who is obligated and what the obligation is are patently different between the two verses. No conflict at all. No evidence to indicate that :4 was revealed after :40. Nonetheless, this is one of the frequently quoted cases as evidence of abrogation. Ibn AlZubair (A Ò î D«é <Ë ú æ P Q Ḳ QË áḳ é <Ë YJ.«) is said to have challenged the inclusion of :40 in the text of the Quran on account that the verse was abrogated, but Uthman ( é J«é <Ë ú æ P àa «áḳ àa Ò J «) said he would not alter anything from its place in the text (reported by AlBukhary ø PAj J.Ë per AlSuyooti s book à Q Ë ÐñÊ«ú àa KB ). Abrogation myth or reality 7/69

38 Example : The Godconsciousness verses Was verse :0 ( à QÔ«È (0) àñ ÒÊ Ó Õ æ K ð B èpñƒ): á KñÜ ß B ð é KA K k é <Ë ñ K ñj Ó ák Y Ë Aî E AK :0 O you who have believed, fear God as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims. abrogated by verse 64:6 ( á ḲA ª JË èpñƒ): Ñ º K B Q g ñ (6) àñ jê Ü Ï K ð ñ ªJ ð ñª Ö Þ ð Õ æª J ƒ AÓ é <Ë ñ KA Ñ ë ½ J Ëð A é K l ñ K á Ó ð 64:6 So fear God as much as you can and listen and obey and spend; it is better for your selves. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul it is those who will be the successful. Abrogation myth or reality 8/69

39 Example (continued) When é KA K k é <Ë ñ K (fear God as He should be feared) was revealed, Omar Ibn AlKhattaab ( é J«é <Ë ú æ P) cried and said God has just ordered us to do the impossible! The Prophet (pbuh) smiled at that remark but said nothing. Then, when Õ æª Jƒ A Ó é <Ë ñ K (fear God as much as you can) was revealed, Omar breathed a sigh of relief! Some people claimed that the abrogating verse here is :86 A ê ªƒ ð B A K é<ë ʾK B (God does not charge a soul except with that within its capacity). To understand é KA K k in :0, we need to look at the verse in context. Abrogation myth or reality 9/69

40 Example (continued): The context of :0 Y ª Ḳ Ñ»ð X Q K é <ËAḲ Õæ J ª K (0) àñ ÒÊ Ó Õ æ K ð B ḤA Jº Ë ñ Kð ák Y Ë áó A K Q ñªj à ñ J Ó ák Y Ë Aî E AK (00) ákq A Ñ º KA Üß á Ó ð é Ëñƒ P Ñ ºJ ð é <Ë HA K Ñ º J Ê «úî JK Õæ K ð àð Q º K J» ð (0) Õ æ J Ó Qå ú Í ø Y ë Y á Kñ Ü ß B ð é KA K k é <Ë ñ K ñ J Ó ák Y Ë A î E A K :00 O you who have believed, if you obey a party of those who were given the Scripture, they would turn you back, after your belief, [to being] unbelievers. :0 And how could you disbelieve while to you are being recited the verses of God and among you is His Messenger? And whoever holds firmly to God has [indeed] been guided to a straight path. :0 O you who have believed, fear God as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims. Abrogation myth or reality 40/69

41 (0) àñ ÒÊ Ó Õ æ K ð B Example (continued) á KñÜ ß B ð é KA K k é <Ë ñ K ñj Ó ák Y Ë Aî E AK :0 O you who have believed, fear God the true way He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims. The verses before tell us not to obey the people of the book, and that we have God s Prophet and His verses to rely on. The conclusion comes in :0 that we should fear God the true way He should be feared and not die except as Muslims. The true way is the Islamic way. Jews do not necessarily believe in life after death. They fear God only in this life. Christians do believe in the Hereafter, but they believe that they will not be punished if they have accepted the alleged sacrifice of Christ. Neither dogma is true and neither dogma is a true way of fearing God that we Muslims should adopt. Abrogation myth or reality 4/69

42 Example (continued): A related case Verse :78 ( ị mì' in question. èpñƒ) was also claimed to be abrogated. Here is the part (78) "... Ñ»A J. J k. ñ ë èx A êk. k é <Ë ú ð Yë A g. ð \ :78 And struggle for God the true way struggling for Him should be. He has chosen you... We all know what happens when people struggle for God, but not in the true way! Abrogation myth or reality 4/69

43 Is verse 4:4 (ZA Ë verse 5:90 ( èyka ÜÏ Example : The one we started with èpñƒ) abrogated by the later prohibition of alcohol in èpñƒ)? Here is the part of 4:4 that addresses drinking: øpa ¾ ƒ Õ æk ð èc Ë ñḳ Q K B ñ J Ó ák Y Ë Aî E AK \ (4) "... àñ Ëñ K AÓ ñò ʪ K úæ k 4:4 O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying... Abrogation myth or reality 4/69

44 Conclusion about perceived conflicts The perceived conflicts are just that perceived Any logical reconciliation between verses trumps the claim of abrogation. There is not a single verse in the 50+ abrogation claims that needs to be annulled to avoid conflict. The reconciliation of a perceived conflict often leads to a beautiful, subtle understanding. Abrogation myth or reality 44/69

45 We have refuted all components that support the abrogation doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Abrogation myth or reality 45/69

46 Outline Introduction The abrogation doctrine Evidence for the doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Evidence against the doctrine How did this happen? Conclusion Abrogation myth or reality 46/69

47 The case against abrogation We will provide evidence against the abrogation doctrine in principle :. Evidence that there couldn t be abrogated verses in the text of the Quran, even if we could tell which ones.. Evidence that which verses in the text of the Quran are abrogated could not have been left uncertain.. Evidence that there cannot be real contradiction between verses in the Quran. Abrogation myth or reality 47/69

48 . No annulled verses in the Quran Consider the following Quranic passage ( I Ê èpñƒ áó): (4) QK (4) Y JÔ g Õ æ º Q «ḤA Jº Ë k áó é K ð Ñ ë ZA g. A Ü Ï Q» YËAḲ ð Q ÉK Q K é Ê g áó B ð é K Y K á Ḳ» ák Y Ë à áó É AJ. Ë éj K AK B 4:4 Indeed, those who disbelieve in the message after it has come to them... And indeed, it is a mighty Book. 4:4 Falsehood cannot approach it from within it or from behind it; [it is] a revelation from a [Lord who is] Wise and Praiseworthy. Let us look at the word É A J.Ë which is often translated as falsehood, but can literally mean something that is no longer valid. Abrogation myth or reality 48/69

49 . No annulled verses in the Quran (continued) Here is the dictionary é ª ÊË K A Ó definition of the origin of É A J.Ë : é J J. Ëð é Jº Ó é Ê ð Zú æ Ë ḤAë X ñëð,ygð É ÐCËð ZA Ëð ZAJ.Ë Translation: Something being gone, and lack of its staying or remaining AlTabari øq. Ë, interpreted q K (abrogate) in another verse (:5 ị mì' a prominent early exegete who is proabrogation, èpñƒ): to mean É J. K which is a conjugation of É A J.Ë. Abrogation myth or reality 49/69

50 . No annulled verses in the Quran (continued) AlAsfahany, the early antiabrogation scholar, also invoked 4:4 in his rejection of the abrogation doctrine. (4) Y JÔ g Õ æ º k áó ÉK Q K é Ê g áó B ð é K Y K á Ḳ áó É AJ. Ë éj K AK B 4:4 Falsehood cannot approach it from within it or from behind it; [it is] a revelation from a [Lord who is] Wise and Praiseworthy. The scholars countered with a circular argument: Abrogated verse cannot be described as É A Ḳ since their recitation is still valid, and God wouldn t have us recite something É AḲ. In other words, if you believe in the abrogation doctrine, then you must believe in the abrogation doctrine! The scholars considered the meaning of É A J.Ë to be falsehood only, without any mention of the alternative meaning of no longer valid. Abrogation myth or reality 50/69

51 . Which verses are abrogated cannot be uncertain Consider the following verse : ( è Q J.Ë () á J Ò ÊË ø Y ë éj èpñƒ áó): Ị K P B ḤA Jº Ë ½Ë X : That is the Book no doubt in it is guidance for the watchful [of God] If there were invalid verses in the text of the Quran, and the Prophet (pbuh) never identified them, this would shed doubt on the validity of different verses as evidenced by the disagreements among scholars about which verses are abrogated. Among the 50+ verses that are claimed to be abrogated by credible proabrogation scholars, there is no unanimity on even one verse! Abrogation myth or reality 5/69

52 Here is how uncertain it is 9 إحصاء وتصنيف إحصاء وتصنيف إحصاء وتصنيف إحصاء وتصنيف سورة ق: 50 0 سورة لقمان: سورة النحل: وهذا هو الجدول الا ول: سورة الذاريات: 5 49 سورة الطور: 5 50 سورة النجم: 5 5 سورة القمر: 54 5 سورة الواقعة: 56 5 سورة المجادلة: سورة الحشر: سورة الممتحنة: سورة السجدة: سورة الا حزاب: سورة سبا : 4 4 سورة فاطر: 5 5 سورة يس: 6 6 سورة الصافات: سورة ص: 8 8 سورة الزمر: سورة المو من: سورة الا سراء: 7 7 سورة الكهف: 8 8 سورة مريم: سورة طه: 0 0 سورة الا نبياء: سورة الحج: سورة المو منون: سورة النور: 7 4 مسلسل اسم السورة ورقمها في المصحف الا جهوري الكرمي السيوطي ابن الجوزي ابن برآات عبد القاهر ابن سلامة النحاس ابن حزم سورة البقرة: سورة ا ل عمران: سورة النساء: سورة الماي دة: سورة الا نعام: سورة الا عراف: 7 7 سورة الا نفال: سورة التغابن: سورة فصلت: 4 4 سورة الفرقان: سورة التوبة: سورة القلم: سورة المعارج: سورة المزمل: سورة المدثر: 74 6 سورة القيامة: سورة الشورى: سورة الزخرف: 4 4 سورة الدخان: سورة الجاثية: سورة الا حقاف: سورة القتال: 47 5 سورة الشعراء: 6 6 سورة النمل: 7 7 سورة القصص: 8 8 سورة العنكبوت: 9 9 سورة الروم: سورة يونس: سورة هود: سورة يوسف: سورة الرعد: سورة إبراهيم: 4 4 سورة الحجر: 5 5 Al Ajhuri Al Karmi Al Suyuti Ibn Al Jawzi Ibn Barakat Abd Alqaher Al Muqri Al Nahhas Ibn Hazm 9 إحصاء وتصنيف 6 سورة الدهر: 76 6 سورة عبس: سورة التكوير: 8 65 سورة الطارق: سورة الا على: سورة الغاشية: 88 Total chapters: 7 Total verses: سورة الانشراح: سورة التين: سورة العصر: 0 سورة الماعون: 07 7 سورة الكافرون: المجموع: 7 سورة Other scholars Shah Waliullah: 5 Al Zurqani: 9 Zaid: 5 Abrogation myth or reality 5/69

53 . There are no contradictions in the Quran Consider the following verse 4:8 (ZA Ë èpñƒ áó): (8) Q J» A C J k éj ð Y g. ñ Ë é <Ë Q «Y J«áÓ àa ñ Ë ð à Q Ë àð Q Ḳ Y J K C 4:8 Then do they not reflect upon the Quran? If it had been from [any] other than God, they would have found within it much contradiction. This verse challenges the main premise in the abrogation methodology, namely that a contradiction between two verses exists that cannot be resolved unless one of the verses is not valid. Abrogation myth or reality 5/69

54 . There are no contradictions in the Quran (continued) A pointed hadeeth (narration of the Prophet PBUH):, PY Ë ú àðq A J K Ñëð éḳam úî«ḥq k Õ΃ð éjê«é<ë úî é<ë ÈñƒP à ù AÖ ß A¾, Y» é<ë É K ÕË : Èñ K Ég. Pð, Y» é<ë É K ÕË : Èñ K Ég. Pð, YîẸ ÕºÊJ. àa áó ½Êë AÖ ß? Õç 'QÓ YîẸ : ÈA, àaóqë Ịk éêk. ð ú B A ªḲ é ªḲ Y JË é<ë ḤA J» È Q K AÖ ß ð, ªJ.Ḳ é ªḲ é<ë ḤA J» ñḳqå èñj. Jk. A é J«ÕæJî E AÓð èñêª A éḳ Õç 'QÓ AÓ ðq,a ªḲ é ªḲ Ḥ YºJË Translation of the key part:... Those before you were destroyed by that; they attacked part of the book of God using another part. The book of God was revealed for its parts to affirm each other, not to belie each other... Abrogation myth or reality 54/69

55 Conclusion: The case against abrogation in principle Although the burden of proof is on those who claim abrogation, we have provided evidence against the possibility of abrogation:. Evidence that there couldn t be abrogated verses in the text of the Quran, even if we could tell which ones: a Quranic verse + linguistic evidence. Evidence that which verses in the text of the Quran are abrogated could not have been left uncertain: a Quranic verse + historical evidence. Evidence that there cannot be real contradiction between verses in the Quran: a Quranic verse + a hadeeth Abrogation myth or reality 55/69

56 Outline Introduction The abrogation doctrine Evidence for the doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Evidence against the doctrine How did this happen? Conclusion Abrogation myth or reality 56/69

57 The Culprits How could a false doctrine of such profound impact prevail for so long? We believe there are 4 culprits:. Linguistic Confusion: q has different meanings.. Switching from Verse to Ruling in the abrogation doctrine.. Selffulfilling Consensus: Vilifying the dissenters. 4. Bundling of different types of abrogation. Abrogation myth or reality 57/69

58 . Linguistic Confusion The word q was used to mean one thing, then quoted to mean another (formally called semantic ambiguity). The narrations of the Sahaba Ñ î D«é <Ë ú æ P. The use of q by the first major scholar AbuHaneefa é J Jk ñḳ ÐAÓB as a reconciliation tool, not just annulment. He and his followers used the word liberally, even discussing partial abrogation. The first major abrogation scholar AlJassas A m. Ì ' belonged to the Hanafi school. Literary brevity, where the definition of words was not spelled out and key statements were not elaborated, was the norm in the early times. This made it easier to misinterpret early statements. Abrogation myth or reality 58/69

59 . Switching from Verse to Ruling The fundamental concept that enabled the abrogation doctrine is the notion of abrogating a ruling of a verse, but not the recitation of that verse How did this notion start when :06 explicitly è ðc J Ë àð X Õ º m Ì' q. states that the object of abrogation is a verse ék? The narration attributed to Ibn Abbas that interprets :06 as abrogating a ruling and keeping the verse is a disconnected ñ Ó narration. The only authentic basis for this interpretation of :06 is attributed to the companions of Ibn Masseoud é J«é <Ë ú æ P Xñ ª Ó áḳ ḤA m. That interpretation was adopted by early exegetes. Abrogation myth or reality 59/69

60 . Switching from Verse to Ruling (continued) The only justification scholars provided for twisting the interpretation of :06 to apply to rulings, not the whole verse, is :06 talks about a better verse than the abrogated verse. One verse cannot possibly be better than another verse. However, a ruling in a verse may be better than a ruling in another verse. A better verse is a problem only if the two verses are Quranic verses, not if the abrogating is Quranic and the abrogated belongs to previous scriptures. God can certainly create a verse that is better than another if He so chooses (e.g., the Quran versus previous scriptures). Indeed, :06 finishes with QKY Z ú æ É ú Î «é <Ë à Õ Î ª K Õ Ë (Didn t you know that God is of everything able). Abrogation myth or reality 60/69

61 . Switching from Verse to Ruling (continued) We looked for evidence that the object of abrogation in :06 can possibly be interpreted as anything but a verse. É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ JÓ ð Aî DÓ Q m A '. H K AîD J K ð é K (06) QKY Z ú æ áó q K A Ó :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? can conceivably mean from a verse and that may be the basis for the ruling interpretation. The construct é K áó Abrogation myth or reality 6/69

62 . Switching from Verse to Ruling (continued) However, the Quranic evidence goes against such interpretation. É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ JÓ ð Aî DÓ Q m A '. H K AîD J K ð é K (06) QKY Z ú æ áó q K A Ó :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? áó... AÓ addresses the totality of the object, small or big éë ÈA K AÓ é K YḲ áó and translated well as whatever. The conditional AÓ The construct appears in the Quran times, and in all cases it appears with the article áó, and in the 0 other occurrences it does mean any form of the object. Abrogation myth or reality 6/69

63 . Switching from Verse to Ruling (continued) Even if that interpretation held, it would not help with the main dilemma of one verse being better than another verse: É úî «é <Ë à ÕΪ K ÕË AêÊ JÓ ð Aî DÓ Q m A '. H K AîD J K ð é K (06) QKY Z ú æ áó q K A Ó :06 Whatever verse We may abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring better than it or similar to it. Did you not know that God is most capable of everything? However, the it in better than it (Aî DÓ Q m '. a verse é K (feminine in Arabic), not to from a verse Arabic). ) in :06 is explicitly referring to é K áó (masculine in Abrogation myth or reality 6/69

64 . Selffulfilling Consensus There is a strong push in Islamic scholarship towards unanimity, probably because of the legitimate fear of a schism é J J that may result from differing opinions. There is also a strong role in Islamic scholarship for precedence, much stronger than the same principle in modern law, probably because of the legitimate fear of a novelty é «YḲ. Often, dissidence was attacked and even ridiculed. For example, the prominent exegete AlQurtuby ú æ. Q Ë says about abrogation: ZA JJ. «B é Ê ê m. Ì ' B stupid). è Qº J K B (it is not rejected except by the ignorant, the A consensus was claimed by declaring that the opinion of the dissenters doesn t count éḳ Y Jª K B, without even discussing it. Abrogation myth or reality 64/69

65 . Selffulfilling Consensus (continued) The aggressive attitude towards dissident opinions creates a selffulfilling consensus. Peer pressure steers scholars away from pursuing, or publicizing, dissenting views. Even the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs éjóc ƒb àñ J ÊË ú ΫB Êj. ÖÏ changed its antiabrogation stance! Although there are many antiabrogation books by established scholars, they are much harder to obtain than proabrogation books. AlAsfahani ú GA ê B ÕÎ Ó ñḳ was the only credible scholar in the early times who dissented, thus depriving the majority from a claim of unanimity. He got the lion s share of attacks over the centuries. Abrogation myth or reality 65/69

66 4. Bundling The consensus about abrogation was also created by bundling different types of abrogation together.. Abrogation of previous books of revelation before the Quran.. Abrogation of Sunna rulings.. Abrogation of Quranic verses, whether or not they made it to the text of the Quran. Scholars summarily mention that there is a consensus about abrogation, without saying what the consensus is exactly about. All Resistance to any form of abrogation is painted with the same brush, regardless of the specifics. Consensus is claimed while there is vast disagreement about which verses are abrogated (not a single unanimous agreement in 50+ cases). Abrogation myth or reality 66/69

67 Outline Introduction The abrogation doctrine Evidence for the doctrine Quranic basis Sahaba narrations Perceived conflicts Evidence against the doctrine How did this happen? Conclusion Abrogation myth or reality 67/69

68 CONCLUSION Contrary to the established abrogation doctrine, we have argued that: There are no verses in the text of the Quran that are abrogated. j ÜÏ ú æ X á Ḳ The determination of which verses are abrogated cannot be done through scholarly reasoning XA î D k.. The main criterion for determining abrogated verses is the illconceived conflict with other verses that were revealed later. That s the way we see it, and God knows best. Abrogation myth or reality 68/69

69 VIEWGRAPHS The viewgraphs of this lecture can be downloaded from: Go to the abrogation forum. Abrogation myth or reality 69/69