ABROGATION
Ar: naskh.
According to some Muslim commentators, more than 260 verses of the Quran
have been abrogated. Others concede only 5 verses while others deny there
is any abrogation. Thus, there is no general agreement as to what all the
abrogated verses are. This can become a point of confusion as sometimes,
these abrogated verses deals with matters of life and death. For example,
most scholars believe that the stoning verse for adultery for married persons,
which was once in the Qur'an, has been abrogated from recitation, but remains
in effect in the Sharia.
The issue of abrogation is a very serious problem for the Qur'an and its
claims for two reasons:
1. If the Qur'an is the actual Word of God, then it is eternal and, is
thus incapable of change. The abrogation problem suggests that the Qur'an
was created, and cannot be the uncreated Word of God.
2. If the Qur'an is the Word of God, it should be perfect and no verse
can be superior to another.
Detailed information and discussion on the topic of "Abrogation"
can be found in these articles.
Every instance of abrogation is a problem for the doctrine of an
unchanging God and should equally trouble thinking Muslims. For
non-Muslims, however, the changing commands regarding the use of
violence against non-believers are certainly the most relevant:
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