Abrogation in the Religion

Question:

O Shaykh Abu Hatim, I hope you can reply to this question because it is being spread a lot in the groups, and people are being trialed in their religion due to this speech.

The questioner says:

What is the ruling on the one who says the Qur’ān does not have abrogations nor that which has been abrogated, and that those who say this are incompetent in explaining the Qur’ān, and that this is lie upon Allah.

And they use as evidence the statement of the Most High:

(ما يبدل القول لدي)
“My Word cannot be changed”

What is your reply to this.
May Allah bless you oh Shaykh?

Answer:

The evidence from the Book and Sunnah, as well as the consensus of the scholars prove both abrogating (verses) and abrogated exist in the Qur’ān. Likewise, the sound intellect indicates this.

The early scholars as well as the later ones have written much works on this topic.

Among the many evidences in the Qur’ān, is the statement of Allah, the Most High:

(مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ءَايَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَآ أَوْ مِثْلِهَآ ۗ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ)

“Whatever a Verse (revelation) We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better one or similar to it. Know you not that Allah is able to do all things?”
[Surah Al-Baqarah:106]

And from the evidences in the Sunnah:

‘Previously, I forbade you all from visiting the grave, but as of now, visit the graves, for it reminds you of the Hereafter’

And the narration of ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, concerning the abrogation of the verse on stoning, although the ruling still applies.

And the narration of ‘Aaisha, may Allah be pleased with her, concerning the abrogation of the verse on breastfeeding.

And abrogation and replacement are only in regards to rulings and commands.

It does not enter into what relates to the Promises, nor the core beliefs, foundations or fundamental principles of the legislation.

And this is the meaning of the statement of Allah, the Most High:

(مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ)

“The Sentence that comes from Me cannot be changed, and I am not unjust (to the least) to the slaves.”
[Surah Qāf:29]

Because the promises which have come in the Quraan, do not change; because abrogating promises is a form of contradiction and a lie, and the speech of Allah, exalted is He, is free of this.

Allah, the Most High, said:

(وَتَمَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ صِدْقًا وَعَدْلًا)

“And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice.”
[Surah Al-An’aam:115]

Qatāda said:
“Truthful in what He said, Just in His judgments.”

Ibn Kathīr said:
“Truthful in His promises and Just in His commands.”
[End of speech]

The context of the verse clarifies this, as the one who uses this verse as evidence to rebuke abrogation, took the verse out of context, and took what he thought was a proof for him, and in reality manifesting through this:

• His lack of preserving the trust.
• An Invalidation of his evidence.

Whereby Allah, the Most High, addresses the disbelievers in the fire:

(قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا۟ لَدَىَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِٱلْوَعِيدِ [مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ] )

Allah will say: “Dispute not in front of Me, I had already, in advance, sent you the threat.
[The Sentence that comes from Me cannot be changed, and I am not unjust (to the least) to the slaves.”]
[Surah Qāf:28-29]

The context is clear that Allah is speaking from the angle of promise.

Allah, the Most High, informed them what He previously threatened the disbelievers with of hellfire and punishments and now find themselves in is a compensation for their belying the verses of Allah and His messengers, is Inescapable and is going to happen, and there is no changing of this with Him, and that He will not fail in His promise.

The Most High, said:

(رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ جَامِعُ ٱلنَّاسِ لِيَوْمٍ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ)

“Our Lord! Verily, it is You Who will gather mankind together on the Day about which there is no doubt. Verily, Allah never breaks His Promise”
[Surah Aal-‘Imraan:9].

And He, the Most High, said:

(رَبَّنَا وَءَاتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَىٰ رُسُلِكَ وَلَا تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۗ إِنَّكَ لَا تُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ)

“Our Lord! Grant us what You promised unto us through Your Messengers and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection, for You never break (Your) Promise.”
[Surah Aal-‘Imraan:194]

Shaykh-Ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“Breaking His Promise would be going back on His Words, and He, exalted is He, puts His Words in effect.

This becomes clear in His, the Most High, statement:

(قَالَ لَا تَخْتَصِمُوا۟ لَدَىَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِٱلْوَعِيدِ . مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ)

Allah will say: “Dispute not in front of Me, I had already, in advance, sent you the threat.
The Sentence that comes from Me cannot be changed, and I am not unjust (to the least) to the slaves.”
[Surah Qaaf:28-29]

He, may He be Exalted, informed that He has already warned them, and said:

(مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَى)

“The Sentence that comes from Me cannot be changed.”

This necessitates that He is Truthful in what He promised in terms of Paradise also, and that His promise of this also cannot be changed.”
[Al-Fatawaa 14/497-498]

The ‘Allaamah Ash-Shinqeeti, may Allah have mercy upon him, said in “Adwaa Al-Bayaan” when explaining the verse:

“The meaning of “القول” which cannot be changed in the noble verse is His promise to the disbelievers.”
[End of speech]

The verse quoted by this distorter refutes his own doubt, as it supports the view of the truthful that abrogation does not apply in the affairs of promises/information – it only applies in the judgments.

As for when things superficially appear to clash in what relates to promises or affairs which Allah informs; it is warded by reconciling the evidences, through this it then becomes clear and the different evidences explain each other, because these promises are revelations and do not contradict.

Allah, the Most High, said:

(وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ ٱللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا۟ فِيهِ ٱخْتِلَٰفًا كَثِيرًا)

“Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradictions.”
[An-Nisaa:82]

?Shaykh-Ul-Islaam, Ibn Taymiyyah in the book “Repelling..” said:

“The book of Allah is of two categories:
Promises/information and Commands.

• As for Promises/information [etc]: Then this is not open to abrogation/contradiction, rather if there seems to be any contradiction then one is used to explain clarify the meaning of the other.
• As for the Commands:Abrogation is possible, and nothing abrogates Allah’s Revelation except something that Allah has revealed.Whoever wishes to abrogate the legislation of Allah which He has revealed, based on his own opinion and desire would be considered an Atheist, and whoever rejects a promise of Allah or something which Allah has informed with based on his opinion and rational, would also be considered an Atheist.” [End of speech]

Elaborating on this topic would lengthen the answer.

And Allah is grantor of success.

Answered by:
Shaykh Abu Hatim Yusuf Al-‘Inaabi Al-Jazaa’iree – may Allah preserve him.

Source:
t.me/abouhatem/244

Answered on:
14th, Rabee’ Al-Aakhar, 1438H.

Translated by:
Abu ‘Abdirrahman ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmed Ash-Shingaani