The Doctrine That Changes Everything
One of the most important—yet least known—doctrines in Islamic theology is naskh (نسخ), or abrogation. This principle teaches that Allah can cancel or supersede earlier Quranic verses with later revelations. Understanding abrogation is crucial because it determines which verses of the Quran Muslims should follow today.
The doctrine has profound implications: many peaceful, tolerant verses revealed early in Muhammad's prophetic career were later abrogated by violent, intolerant verses revealed after he gained military power in Medina.
The Quranic Basis for Abrogation
"We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?" — Quran 2:106
"And when We substitute a verse in place of a verse - and Allah is most knowing of what He sends down - they say, 'You, [O Muhammad], are but a forger.' But most of them do not know." — Quran 16:101
These verses establish that Allah replaced earlier revelations with later ones. The Arabic word naskh literally means "to cancel" or "to abrogate."
Two Types of Abrogation
Islamic scholars identified two main types of abrogation:
- The verse and its ruling are both abrogated - The verse is removed from the Quran entirely
- The ruling is abrogated but the verse remains - The verse stays in the Quran but Muslims are no longer required to follow it
The second type is most relevant to understanding violence in the Quran. Peaceful verses remain in the text but are superseded by later violent commands.
The Chronological Revelation of the Quran
The Quran is not arranged chronologically—it's organized roughly by length of chapters (surahs). To understand abrogation, you must know when verses were revealed:
- Meccan Period (610-622 CE): Muhammad had no political or military power. Verses from this period are generally peaceful, focusing on worship and persuasion.
- Medinan Period (622-632 CE): Muhammad became a political and military leader. Verses from this period are often violent, commanding warfare and conquest.
According to the doctrine of abrogation, later Medinan verses supersede earlier Meccan verses when they contradict.
Famous Abrogated Verses
1. "No Compulsion in Religion" (Quran 2:256)
"There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error." — Quran 2:256
This verse is frequently cited to prove Islam is tolerant. However, classical scholars like Ibn Kathir stated this verse was abrogated by verses commanding fighting, particularly Quran 9:5 (the Sword Verse) and 9:29 (fighting Christians and Jews).
2. "To You Your Religion, To Me Mine" (Quran 109:6)
"For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." — Quran 109:6
This Meccan verse suggests peaceful coexistence. Classical commentators agree it was abrogated by later verses commanding jihad against unbelievers.
3. "Forgive and Overlook" (Quran 2:109)
"So forgive and overlook until Allah delivers His command." — Quran 2:109
This command to forgive disbelievers was explicitly abrogated by the verse of the sword, according to Ibn Kathir.
How Many Verses Were Abrogated?
Islamic scholars disagree on the exact number, but estimates range widely:
- Al-Suyuti: Identified 20-21 abrogated verses
- Ibn Salama: Listed 238 abrogated verses
- Ibn al-Bazzaz: Claimed Quran 9:5 alone abrogated 124 peaceful verses
What's significant is not the exact number, but the unanimous agreement among classical scholars that peaceful verses were superseded by violent ones.
The Sword Verse and Mass Abrogation
Many scholars believe Quran 9:5—the Sword Verse—abrogated more peaceful verses than any other:
"And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them..." — Quran 9:5
Ibn Kathir wrote: "This is the Ayah of the Sword... it abrogated every peace treaty between the Prophet and any idolater, every pact, and every term." For more details, see our article on The Sword Verse.
Classical Scholarly Consensus
Ibn Kathir (d. 1373)
In his renowned Tafsir, Ibn Kathir repeatedly identifies which peaceful verses were abrogated by violent ones. He didn't see this as embarrassing—it was mainstream Islamic scholarship.
Al-Suyuti (d. 1505)
His book Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Quran includes an entire section on abrogation, listing specific verses and their replacements.
Al-Tabari (d. 923)
One of the earliest and most authoritative commentators, he confirmed that later violent verses supersede earlier peaceful ones.
Why This Matters Today
Modern Muslims often cite peaceful Quranic verses to prove Islam is tolerant. However, if those verses were abrogated by later violent verses, they don't represent Islam's final teaching.
Consider this progression:
- Early in Mecca: "Forgive and overlook" (2:109)
- Middle period: "Fight those who fight you" (2:190)
- Late in Medina: "Kill the polytheists wherever you find them" (9:5)
According to abrogation, the third command supersedes the first two.
The Modern Denial of Abrogation
Some contemporary Muslims deny or downplay abrogation because it's theologically problematic:
- Why would a perfect, eternal book need correction?
- Why would Allah reveal peaceful verses only to cancel them?
- Doesn't this suggest Muhammad's message changed based on circumstances?
However, denying abrogation contradicts 1,400 years of Islamic scholarship and creates new problems: If peaceful and violent verses both apply, which takes precedence? How do Muslims obey contradictory commands?
Comparison with Biblical Revelation
The Bible does show progressive revelation, but in a fundamentally different way. The Old Covenant was always intended to be fulfilled and transcended by the New Covenant through Jesus Christ:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." — Matthew 5:17
The direction is from violence to peace, from external law to internal transformation, from ethnic exclusivity to universal inclusion. This is the opposite trajectory of the Quran. Learn more in our Prophets section.
Questions to Consider
- If Allah is all-knowing, why did He reveal verses that would later need to be cancelled?
- If classical scholars unanimously accepted abrogation, why do some modern Muslims deny it?
- Does it concern you that violent verses abrogated peaceful ones, not vice versa?
- How can peaceful verses represent true Islam if they were cancelled by violent verses?
- What does the trajectory from peace to violence reveal about Muhammad's message?
Conclusion
The doctrine of abrogation is not a minor theological technicality—it's essential to understanding what the Quran actually teaches. Classical Islamic scholarship unanimously agreed that later violent verses superseded earlier peaceful ones. This explains why Islamic empires historically practiced warfare and conquest rather than the tolerance suggested by Meccan verses.
For those investigating Islam, abrogation reveals that the religion's final, authoritative message—as Muhammad gained power—was one of violent conquest, not peaceful coexistence.
Related articles: The Sword Verse | What is Jihad? | Fighting Christians and Jews