Surah Al-Baqara (2) — Ayah 106

(Ayah 107,106) ➊ The meaning of abrogation is to annul a previous command with a later command, just as initially Bayt al-Maqdis was appointed as the qiblah, then the command was given to face the Ka'bah, and just as in our Shari'ah, many commands of the previous Shari'ahs were abrogated. The Jews denied abrogation, which is why they rejected 'Isa (peace be upon him), saying why did he abrogate some commands of the Torah. They also objected to the Qur'an, saying that if the first command was from Allah and was correct, then why was it abrogated? Allah gave several answers to this; the detail of the first answer is that the first command is, in reality, only for a set period, and abrogation is the announcement of the end of that period. Until then, the first command was full of wisdom, and later, when there was a need for another command similar or better, it was implemented. This is observed at all times in the universe. From a drop of fluid to a clot, then a lump, then bones, then a fetus, then childhood, youth, old age, death, and resurrection—all are forms of abrogation. The changing seasons, such as winter, then spring, then summer, then monsoon, and likewise the cycle of day and night, are examples of this. A doctor prescribing one prescription for a patient, then prescribing another for a new situation, is also an example; this does not mean the first prescription was wrong. Another answer given to this objection is that if Allah could not abrogate His command, He would be rendered powerless, so it is said: "Do you not know that surely Allah is fully capable of everything." Further, it is said: "Do you not know that the dominion of the heavens and the earth belongs only to Allah." What kind of king would He be if He could not enforce a new command in place of the previous one?

➋ The Qur'an can be abrogated by the Qur'an and by the Sunnah, and likewise, the Sunnah can be abrogated by the Sunnah and by the Qur'an, because both are divine revelation, and divine revelation can be abrogated by divine revelation.
Example of abrogation of Qur'an by Qur'an: In Surah al-Nisa (15), Allah prescribed the punishment for women who commit adultery that they should be confined to their houses until death takes them or Allah makes a way for them, then at the beginning of Surah al-Nur, the command was given to flog the adulterer and the adulteress one hundred lashes each. See also Surah al-Anfal (65, 66) and al-Mujadilah (12, 13).
Example of abrogation of Sunnah by Qur'an: For example, in the beginning, after sleeping following Maghrib during fasting, eating, drinking, and approaching one's wife was forbidden, then Allah said: «{ فَالْئٰنَ بَاشِرُوْهُنَّ وَ ابْتَغُوْا مَا كَتَبَ اللّٰهُ لَكُمْ وَ كُلُوْا وَ اشْرَبُوْا …}» [ البقرہ : ۱۸۷ ] The change of qiblah is also an example of abrogation of Sunnah by Qur'an.
Example of abrogation of Sunnah by Sunnah: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُوْرِ فَزُوْرُوْهَا وَ نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ لُحُوْمِ الْأَضَاحِيِّ فَوْقَ ثَلاَثٍ، فَأَمْسِكُوْا مَا بَدَا لَكُمْ ] "I had forbidden you from visiting graves, so now visit them, and I had forbidden you from storing the meat of sacrificial animals for more than three nights, so now keep it as long as you wish." [ مسلم، الأضاحی، باب بیان ما کان من النہی … : ۹۷۷، قبل ح: 1976، عن بریدۃ رضی اللہ عنہ ]
Example of abrogation of Qur'an by authentic Sunnah, even if it is not mutawatir: As in Surah al-Nisa, Allah mentioned those women whom it is forbidden to marry, including the prohibition of combining two sisters in one marriage, then He said: «{ وَ اُحِلَّ لَكُمْ مَّا وَرَآءَ ذٰلِكُمْ }» [ النساء : ۲۴ ] "Other than these, all women are lawful for you." According to this verse, it is permissible to combine a maternal aunt and her niece, or a paternal aunt and her niece in one marriage, but the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade this, so it became forbidden, and the Ummah is agreed upon this.
Note! In reality, this is an example of an additional ruling to the Book of Allah by the Sunnah; some people call an addition to the Book of Allah abrogation, so according to their statement, this is an example of abrogation, otherwise Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said that he did not find any satisfactory example of abrogation of the Qur'an by the Sunnah.

➌ Abrogation occurs in commands, not in reports, otherwise every liar, when his prediction or any report of a past or present event turns out to be false, would say it was abrogated, as is the case with the followers of Mirza Qadiani.

➍ Some verses and commands which were not intended to be preserved, Allah caused to be forgotten, as He said: «{ سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلَا تَنْسٰۤى(6) اِلَّا مَا شَآءَ اللّٰهُ }» [ الأعلٰی : ۶، ۷ ] "We will surely make you recite, so you will not forget, except what Allah wills."