The abrogation of Qur'anic verses presents a problem for Muslims today. As we all know, people can make mistakes and correct them, but this is not the case with God. God has infinite wisdom and would not contradict Himself. The Qur’an itself admonishes against abrogation in suras 6:34 (and 10:65) which state, "...There is none that can alter the words (and decrees) of Allah." An even more damaging pronouncement is made in Sura 4:82 which reads, "Do they not consider the Qur'an? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much discrepancies."

Muslim authorities try to explain the internal contradictions in the Qur'an by stating that certain passages of the Qur'an are annulled (Mansukh) by verses revealed chronologically later, known as Nasikh verses. Yet, there is by no means any certainty as to which disagreeing verses are mansukh and which are nasikh, since the order in which the Qur'an was compiled was not done chronologically but according to the length of the suras.

We know that the text at our disposal was found and collated piecemeal, leaving us little hope of delineating which suras were the more authentic. Furthermore, Muslim tradition admits that many of the suras were not even given to Muhammad in one piece. According to tradition, some portions were added to other suras under the direction of Muhammad, with further additions to the former suras. Therefore, within a given Sura there may be found ayas which were early, and others which were quite late. How then can one know which were the more authoritative?

The law of abrogation is taught by the Qur'an in Sura 2:106,108, stating: "We substitute one revelation for another..." This is echoed in Sura 17:86, which reads, "If it were Our Will, We could take away that which We have sent thee by inspiration." In Sura 16:101 the law of abrogation is clearly defined as one verse being substituted by a better verse. Verse 101 reads, "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?"

The number of abrogated verses has always been a point of discussion. Jalalu'd-Din estimated the number of abrogation's at between 5 to 500. Others say it stands closer to 225. From these discrepancies one can see that the science of abrogation is an inexact science indeed, as no-one really knows how many of the verses are to be abrogated. Underlying this claim of abrogation, however, is another concern: How can a divine revelation be improved upon? Would it not have been perfect from the start?

Yusuf Ali in his defense of abrogation claims that there is a need for ‘progressive revelation’ within scripture, saying: "its form may differ according to the needs and exigencies of the time."

Christians believe in progressive revelation as well, as God impacts on people within their culture which changes from one generation to the next. For instance, we know that God revealed through Moses His will for a particular people, in a particular time, and in a particular place. Much of God's will still remained shadowed then, but was finally revealed in Christ 1,400 years later. That is what we mean by progressive revelation.

The problem with progressive revelation in suras 2:106, 17:86 and 16:101 is that they do not refer to revelations given prior to Muhammad, but refer uniquely to the Qur'anic verses themselves. Yet, can we claim progressive revelation within a space of only 22 years (this was the time in which the Qur'an was ‘revealed’)? The period found in the previous scriptures spans 1,400 years! People and cultures change in that amount of time. Thus the revelations would reflect those changes. To demand the same for a revelation of a mere 22 years suggests that God is not all-knowing. The only other option can be that the recorder made corrections, and then came up with a revelation to authenticate those corrections. To better understand the problem it might be helpful to look at some of these abrogation's.

Some examples of these abrogation's are:

1) If the words of Allah cannot be changed (Sura 6:34,115; 10:6), then how does Allah "substitute one revelation for another" (Sura 2:106, 16:101)?

2) Law of abrogation (Sura 2:106, 16:101) contradicts sweeping changes: in the Qibla (Sura 2:115,177,124-151), pilgrimage rites (Sura 2:158), dietary laws (Sura 2:168-174) law of talio (Sura 2:178-179), in bequests (Sura 2:180-182), the fast (Sura 2:182-187), and the pilgrimage again (Sura 2:196-203).

3)* Does Allah's day equal to 1,000 human years (22:47, 32:5) or 50,000 human years (70:4)?

4) Where is Allah and his throne? Is he nearer than the jugular vein (50:16), or is he also on the throne (57:4) which is upon the water (11:7), while at the same time so far away, that it takes between 1,000 and 50,000 years to reach him (32:5, 70:4)?

5)* Could Allah have a son? Sura 39:4 says he could if he wished it, yet (Sura 6:101) denies it.

6)* Was the earth created in 6 days (7:54; 25:59) or 8 days (41:9-12)?

7) Muhammad will not forget the revelations which Allah gives him (Sura 87:6-7), is then changed to withdrawing that which Allah's wills to withdraw (i.e. revelations) (17:86).

8)* Does the angel Gabriel bring the revelation from Allah to Muhammad (2:97), or is it the Holy Spirit (16:102)?

9)* If the Qur'an is in pure Arabic (12:2; 13:37; 16:103; 41:41,44) then why are there numerous foreign words in it (Egyptian, Acadian, Assyrian, Aramaic, Persian, Syriac, Hebrew, Greek, & Ethiopian)?

10) If the Qur'an is in "clear Arabic speech." (16:103) and "men of understanding do grasp it" (3:7), then why can "none knows its interpretation, save only Allah" (3:7)?

11) The infinite loop problem : Suras (26:192,195,196; 41:43-44) say the Arabic Qur’an is found in the earlier revelations (Torah and Injil), but they are written in Hebrew and Greek, and we know they don’t contain all that is found in the Qur’an (41:43). Hence these earlier writings have to be contained in yet other earlier writings and we are in an infinite loop, which is absurd.

12)* Does the newer revelation confirm the old (2:97) or substitute it [16:101]?

13)* If the Bible is considered authoritative (4:136; 5:47-52,68; 10:95; 21:7; 29:46), then why is so much of it contradicted by the Qur’an (5:73-75,116; 19:7; 28:9, etc...)?

14) Allah commits himself as law to act mercifully, which implies cause and effect (6:12), yet later in the same Sura it is he who decides everything (6:35 & 39).

15)* In (30:2; 16:49-50) everything is devoutly obedient to Allah, yet what about the proud disobedience of Satan (7:11, 15:28-31, 17:61, 20:116, 38:71-74, 18:50)?

16) Is the evil in our life from Satan (4:117-120), from Allah (4:78), or from Ourselves (4:79)?

17)How merciful is Allah's mercy? He has prescribed mercy for himself (6:12), yet he does not guide some, even though he could (6:35, 14:4).

18) In (5:82),Christians are the nearest to the Muslims "in love", yet in (5:51 & 57) are not Muslims told to refrain from having Christians as friends?

19) Was Muhammad the first to bow down to Allah (i.e. the first Muslim) (6:14,163; 39:12)? What about Abraham & his sons (2:132), all the earlier prophets (28:52-53), or Jesus' disciples (3:52)?

20) Only Allah is to be worshiped (4:116 and 18:110), yet are not the Angels commanded by Allah to bow down to Adam (15:29-30; and 20:116)?

21)* Allah stipulates that those who break an oath do so on forfeit of their soul (48:10; 6:91-92), yet permits Muhammad to break an oath (66:1-2).

22)* Sometimes Allah allows the greatest of all sins, shirk to be forgiven (4:153, 25:68-71), while at other times it is absolutely unforgivable (4:48, 116).

23) For Allah the unpardonable sin is the sin of Shirk (4:48, 116), yet Abraham committed this by initially believing the moon, sun, stars were his Lord (6:76-78).

24)* Are all prophets equal (3:84;2:285;2:136), or are some elevated above the others (2;253)? [see Ali's note:289]

25) Are the night prayers to be done half the night or less (73:2-4), or whatever was easy to do (73:20)?

26) How many wings do angels have: 2, 3, or 4 pairs (35:1), and why does Gabriel have 600 wings (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 455)?

27) If the inheritance laws provides an equal share for women and men (2:180 & 4:7), then why is it doubled for men in (4:11)?

28)* Is the punishment for adulteresses life imprisonment (4:15) or 100 strokes by flogging (24:2)?

29)* Why is it that Homosexuals are let off if they repent (4:16), though the same allowance is not given for heterosexuals (24:2; 4:15).

30) Why is the punishment for adultery for women and men equal in Sura 24 but different in Sura 4?

31) Is retaliation for a crime such as murder confined to people of equal rank (i.e. slave for slave) (2:178), or is it to be carried out by the heir (17:33)? [note: Ali adds Qisas and forgiving to the Arabic]

32) Can a rich man buy himself out of the fast by feeding an indigent (2:184), or is there really no compensation (2:185)?

33) If it is forbidden to adopt sons (33:4-5], then how can it be permissible to marry the wives of adopted sons (33:37)?

34) Can slander of chaste women be forgiven? Yes (24:4-5), No (24:23).

35) It just doesn't add up: Sura 4:11-12, 176 speaking on the inheritance law, specifies that when a man dies, and leaves behind [for instance] three daughters, two parents and a wife, the 3 daughters will receive 2/3 of the inheritance, 1/3 will go to the parents together [according to verse 4:11] and 1/8 for the wife [4:12] which adds up to more than the available estate. A second example: If a man leaves only his mother, his wife and two sisters, then the mother receives 1/3 ( 4:11), 1/4 for the wife [4:12] and 2/3 for the two sisters [4:176], which then adds up to 15/12 of the available property.

36) The Sword verses: Muslims are called to "fight and slay the pagan (idolaters) wherever you find them" (9:5); and "strike off their heads in battle" (47:5); and "make war on the unbeliever in Allah, until they pay tribute" (9:29); and "Fight then...until the religion be all of it Allah's" (8:39); and "a grievous penalty against those who reject faith" (9:3), while at the same time "There is no compulsion in religion" (Sura 2:256).

37) Did Noah's son drown (11:42-43), or were Noah and his family saved from the flood (21:76; 37:75-77)?

38) Was Noah driven out because the people thought him possessed (54:9), or did he remain, so that they could pass him by and ridicule him (11:38)?

39)* Did Abraham confront his people and smash their idols (21:51-59), or did he simply shut up and leave the area once he confronted them (19:41-49, 6:74-83)?

40) When Lot confronted the evil in his people did they ask to drive the clean men out (7:82 & 27:56), or ask for Allah’s wrath on them if he was telling the truth (29:28-29)?

41)* Were there 9 plagues, or signs (17:101), or only 5 (7:133)? [note Ali's note: 1091 adds the rod & leprous hands, (107-108), & droughts & short crops ayah 130]

42) If we are not permitted to repent in the face of death (4:18), then how was Pharaoh permitted to do so (10:90-92)?

43)* Did the Israelites repent about making and worshiping the golden calf before Moses returned from the mountain (7:148-150), or until Moses came back (20:91)?

44)* Does Aaron share in their guilt? No (20:85-90), yes (20:92, 7:151).

45)* Were there several angels (3:42-45) announcing the birth of Jesus to Mary, or only one (19:17-21; 3:47)?

46) Will there be many gardens in paradise (18:31, 22:23, 35:33, 78:32), or just one (39:73, 41:30, 57:21, 79:41)?

47) Will there be three distinct groups of people at the Last Judgment (56:7), or only two (90:18-19, 99:6-8)?

50)* On Judgment Day will the unjust people be given their record behind their back (84:10), or in their left hand (69:25)? [note: righteous are given it in their right hand]

51)* If Jesus is raised to Allah, (4:158), and stationed near to him (3:45), but worshiped by millions of Christians, will he not burn in hell, since "Verily ye (Unbelievers) and the (false) gods that ye worship besides Allah are (but) fuel for Hell!" (21:98)?

52) Who takes the souls at death: the Angel of Death (32:11), the angels (plural) (47:27), or is it Allah (39:42)?

53)* Did Jesus not die (4:157) or did he not only die, but rise again (19:33)? [note: refer to Sura 19:15, which repeats the same words for Yahya]

54) Are Jinns and men created only to serve God (51:56), or are many of them made for Hell (7:179)?

55) If Lust is so thoroughly condemned as being sinful (4:135; 19:59; 28:50; 30:29; 47:15; 79:40-41) why is polygamy, divorce, and concubinage in this life permitted (4:24-25), as well as the primary, and unlimited reward in heaven (55:46-78; 56:11-39)? Surely if lust is wrong on earth and hateful to a Holy God, it cannot be pleasing to him in paradise.

56) On that same note, if wine is forbidden while on earth (2:219; 5:91), why then are there rivers of wine which await the faithful in paradise (47:15; 76:5; 83:25)?

57)* Again, if wine is of Satan's handiwork. (5:90; 2:219); yet there are rivers of wine in paradise (47:15; 83:25), then how does Satan's handiwork get into Paradise?

Some of these may not be serious contradictions, were it not for the claim that the Qur'an was revealed by a process known as "nazil" which means "sent down" from heaven without the touch of human hand. This implies that the original "un-created" preserved tablets in heaven, from which the Qur'an proceeds (sura 85:22), also contains these abrogation's. What’s more, the Qur’an itself claims to have no fault, "And indeed it is a Book of exalted power. No falsehood can approach it from before or behind it: it is sent down by One full of wisdom, worthy of all praise" (Sura 41:41-42). With so many contradictions, pointing out the faults therein, how can one then claim such a book to be Allah's eternal word?

Equally disturbing is what this implies concerning the character of God. For, if Allah in the Qur'an manifests himself as the arbitrary God who acts as he pleases without any ties even to his own sayings, he adds a thought totally foreign to the former revelation which Muhammad claimed to confirm. Indeed, these abrogation's degrade the integrity of the former revelations which were universally applicable to all peoples, for all time. The Qur'anic abrogation's on the other hand fit the requirements of one specific man and his people, for one specific place, and one specific time.

Jay Smith