Does Belief in Abrogation Imply Deficiency in the Qur’an?
Source: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri
❖ Question:
Does acknowledging naskh (abrogation) in the Qur’an imply a deficiency in it?
❖ Answer:
Some Orientalists and Western-influenced critics object that the Qur’an is not preserved, claiming it has undergone alteration and that there are many verses which were abrogated but continued to be recited even after the death of the Prophet ﷺ.
The response is as follows:
- Abrogation existed in earlier revelations as well, so there is no reason to single out the Qur’an for criticism. Moreover, abrogation occurs only by the will of Allah.
- Abrogation took place during the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ. The Companions رضي الله عنهم were fully aware of the abrogating and abrogated texts, and this was never a cause of confusion for them.
- Abrogation is one of the Qur’an’s perfections, not a flaw. Allah speaks what He wills and preserves what He wills. He may abrogate a ruling and replace it with a better one, according to His infinite wisdom.
- In some cases, the ruling was abrogated but the recitation remained. Critics object: what is the benefit of reciting verses whose rulings no longer apply? The answer is that this contains profound wisdom, such as:
- Serving as a reminder of Allah’s mercy and easing of earlier burdens.
- A test for the believers — whether they submit to Allah’s decree of abrogation.
- Reciting these verses is still worship and carries reward.
- Rationally, there is nothing impossible about abrogation. Allah is the Master and we are His servants. As the Owner, He legislates as He wills and abrogates as He wills. Submission to abrogation is part of servitude.
- Abrogation is also a sign of the virtue of the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ, who displayed unparalleled obedience — even accepting rulings whose words are not in the Qur’an.
❖ Scholarly Explanation
◈ Imām al-Suyūṭī رحمه الله (d. 911H) wrote:
إن ذلك ليظهر به مقدار طاعة هذه الأمة فى المسارعة إلىٰ بذل النفوس بطريق الظن من غير استفصال لطلب طريق مقطوع به … كما سارع الخليل إلىٰ ذبح ولده بمنام والمنام أدنىٰ طريق الوحي وأمثلة هذا الضرب كثيرة
The wisdom behind abrogation is that it manifests the complete obedience of this Ummah — they hasten to comply even with a command established by indirect indication, without demanding absolute proof. They rush at the slightest signal, just as Ibrāhīm عليه السلام hastened to sacrifice his son based on a dream, the lowest form of revelation. There are many such examples.
(Al-Itqān fī ʿUlūm al-Qur’ān, 3/72)
Conclusion:Acknowledging naskh (abrogation) does not imply any deficiency in the Qur’an. Rather, it demonstrates Allah’s wisdom, His perfect authority in legislation, and the obedience of the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ. Belief in abrogation is part of true submission to Allah’s will.
