Al-Baqarah Verse 106

If We ever abrogate[[ The Quran was revealed over a period of twenty-three years. New rules were introduced when the believers were ready to accept and apply them. Replacing a ruling with another is called abrogation (naskh). For example, alcohol consumption was forbidden over three stages (see {2:219}, {4:43}, and {5:90}, respectively). Some of the Prophet’s companions said, “If drinking had been forbidden from day one, no one would have accepted Islam!” ]] a verse or cause it to be forgotten, We replace it with a better or similar one. Do you not know that Allah is Most Capable of everything?

We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring a better one or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is Most Capable of all things?

And for whatever verse We abrogate or cast into oblivion, We bring a better or the like of it; knowest thou not that God is powerful over everything?

Any revelation We cause to be superseded or forgotten, We replace with something better or similar. Do you [Prophet] not know that God has power over everything?

Whatsoever verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten We bring a better one or the like thereof; knowest thou not that Allah is over everything Potent?

None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar; Knowest thou not that Allah Hath power over all things?

We bring a better verse or at least the like of it for whatever we abrogate or cause it to be forgotten.

When We cancel a message (sent to an earlier prophet) or throw it into oblivion, We replace it with one better or one similar. Do you not know that God has power over all things?

When We abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten, We will bring one better than it or one similar; do you not know that Allah is Able to do all things?

For any verse that We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring another which is better than it, or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things?

(Though they would exploit the abrogation of some rules of secondary degree to challenge your authority, the truth is that) We do not abrogate any verse or omit it (leaving it to be forgotten) but We bring one better than it or the like of it (more suited to the time and conditions in the course of perfecting religion and completing Our favor upon you). Do you not know (and surely you do know) that God has full power over everything?

Whatever Message We abrogate or abandon it, We bring a better (Message) than that or (at least) the like of it. Do you not know that Allâh is indeed Possessor of power to do all He will.

We do not erase/nullify/abolish from a sign/verse/evidence , or We make it forgotten, (except that) We come/bring with better than it, or similar/equal/alike to it. Do you not know that God (is) on every thing powerful/capable ?

When We abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten, We will bring one better than it or one similar; do you not know that Allah is Able to do all things?

Whatever verse We may annul or cause you to forget, We will bring a better one than it, or one like it; do you not know that Allah has power over all?

Whatever a Verse (revelation) do 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?

Whatever message We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or one like it. Knowest thou not that Allah is Possessor of power over all things?

Whatever communications We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or like it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things?

Nothing of our revelation (even a single verse) do we abrogate or cause be forgotten, but we bring (in place) one better or the like thereof. Knowest thou not that Allah is Able to do all things?

For whatever sign We change or eliminate or cause to recede into oblivion, We bring forth a better sign, one that is identical. Do you not know that God has power over all things?

If We supersede any verse or cause it to be forgotten, We bring a better one or one similar. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things!

Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh (We abrogate) or Nunsiha (cause to be forgotten), We bring a better one or similar to it. Know you not that Allah is Able to do all things

If We abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten, We will replace it by a better one or one similar to it. Do you not know that God has power over all things?

We never nullify a verse, nor cause it to be forgotten, unless We bring one better than it, or similar to it. Do you not know that God is capable of all things?

When the disbelievers began to deride the matter of abrogation, saying that one day Muhammad enjoins his Companions to one thing and then the next day he forbids it, God revealed; And whatever verse (m is the conditional particle), that has been revealed containing a judgement, We abrogate, either together with its recital or not [that is only its judgement, but its recital continues]; there is a variant reading, nunsikh, meaning `[Whatever verse] We command you or Gabriel to abrogate', or postpone, so that We do not reveal the judgement contained in it, and We withhold its recital or retain it in the Preserved Tablet; a variant reading [of nunsi'h] is nunsih, from `to forget'; so `[Whatever verse We abrogate] or We make you forget, that is, We erase from your heart'; the response to the conditional sentence [begun with m] is; We bring [in place] a better, one that is more beneficial for [Our] servants, either because it is easier [to implement] or contains much reward; or the like of it, in terms of religious obligation and reward; do you not know that God has power over all things?, including abrogating and substituting [verses]? (the interrogative here is meant as an affirmative).

The Meaning of Naskh

Ayah says;

مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ايَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا

Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh (We abrogate) or Nunsiha (cause to be forgotten), We bring a better one or similar to it.

Ibn Abi Talhah said that Ibn Abbas said that,
مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ايَةٍ
(Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh) means,

"Whatever an Ayah We abrogate."

Also, Ibn Jurayj said that Mujahid said that,
مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ايَةٍ
(Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh) means,

"Whatever an Ayah We erase."

Also, Ibn Abi Najih said that Mujahid said that,
مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ايَةٍ
(Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh) means,

"We keep the words, but change the meaning."

He related these words to the companions of Abdullah bin Mas`ud.

Ibn Abi Hatim said that similar statements were mentioned by Abu Al-Aliyah and Muhammad bin Ka`b Al-Qurazi.

Also As-Suddi said that,
مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ايَةٍ
(Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh) means,

"We erase it."

Further, Ibn Abi Hatim said that it means,

"Erase and raise it, such as erasing the following wordings (from the Qur'an), `The married adulterer and the married adulteress;stone them to death,' and, `If the son of Adam had two valleys of gold, he would seek a third."'

Ibn Jarir stated that,
مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ايَةٍ
(Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh) means,

"Whatever ruling we repeal in an Ayah by making the allowed unlawful and the unlawful allowed."

The Nasakh only occurs with commandments, prohibitions, permissions, and so forth.

As for stories, they do not undergo Nasakh.

The word, `Nasakh' literally means, `to copy a book'.

The meaning of Nasakh in the case of commandments is removing the commandment and replacing it by another. And whether the Nasakh involves the wordings, the ruling or both, it is still called Nasakh.

Allah said next,

أَوْ نُنسِهَا

or Nunsiha (cause it to be forgotten).

Ali bin Abi Talhah said that Ibn Abbas said that,
مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ايَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا
(Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh or Nunsiha) means,

"Whatever Ayah We repeal or uphold without change."

Also, Mujahid said that the companions of Ibn Mas`ud (who read this word Nansa'ha) said that it means,

"We uphold its wording and change its ruling."

Further, Ubayd bin Umayr, Mujahid and Ata said, `Nansa'ha' means,

"We delay it (i.e., do not abrogate it)."

Further, Atiyah Al-Awfi said that the Ayah means,

"We delay repealing it."

This is the same Tafsir provided by As-Suddi and Ar-Rabi bin Anas.

Abdur-Razzaq said that Ma`mar said that Qatadah said about Allah's statement,
مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ايَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا
(Whatever a verse (revelation) do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten),

"Allah made His Prophet forget what He willed and He abrogated what He will."

Allah's said,

نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا

We bring a better one or similar to it,

better, relates to the benefit provided for the one it addresses,

as reported from Ali bin Abi Talhah that Ibn Abbas said,
نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا
(We bring a better one) means,

"We bring forth a more beneficial ruling, that is also easier for you."

Also, As-Suddi said that,
نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا
(We bring a better one or similar to it) means,

"We bring forth a better Ayah, or similar to that which was repealed."

Qatadah also said that,
نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا
(We bring a better one or similar to it) means,

"We replace it by an Ayah more facilitating, permitting, commanding, or prohibiting."
Naskh occurs even though the Jews deny it

Allah said,

أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللّهَ عَلَىَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ



أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللّهَ لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالَارْضِ

وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ