Nasakh and Quran

As discussed in previous articles, one of Satan’s most effective tricks was convincing the Muslim masses that some of the verses of the Quran have been abrogated. This utterly wrong understanding stems from twisting the meaning of the word ayah ( آيَة ) in Sura 2 verse 106, thus causing Muslims to feel justified in discarding some verses of the Quran in favor of other verses or, more often than not, in favor of the Hadith literature over the Quran.

[2:106] When we abrogate (naskh) any miracle (ayah), or cause it to be forgotten, we bring one better, or one equal to it. Do you not recognize the fact that GOD is Omnipotent?

مَا نَنْسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ نُنْسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

As discussed in the previous articles, the singular form of the word ayah ( آيَة ) used in the Quran is always in reference to a sign, miracle, or revelation, e.g., the entire Quran, and never in reference to a single verse.

Even the plural form of ayat ( آيَات ) used in the Quran is never used to refer to a subset of verses of the Quran but is always in reference to all the verses of the Quran when used in that context. For example:

[41:3] A scripture whose verses provide the complete details, in an Arabic Quran, for people who know.

 كِتَابٌ فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ

When the Quran wants to refer to a subset of verses, it uses the word sura ( سُورَة ).

[2:23] If you have any doubt regarding what we revealed to our servant, then produce one sura like these, and call upon your own witnesses against GOD, if you are truthful.

 وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِنْ مِثْلِهِ وَادْعُوا شُهَدَاءَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

Today while reading the Quran, I came across verse 22:52, which is the only other verse in the Quran that uses the word “nasakh” in the context of abrogation.

[22:52] We did not send before you any messenger, nor a prophet, without having the devil interfere in his wishes. GOD then nullifies ( فَيَنْسَخُ ) what the devil has done. GOD perfects His revelations. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.*

 وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ وَلَا نَبِيٍّ إِلَّا إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰ أَلْقَى الشَّيْطَانُ فِي أُمْنِيَّتِهِ فَيَنْسَخُ اللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

1	wamā	وَمَا	And not
2	arsalnā	أَرْسَلْنَا	we sent
3	min	مِنْ	from
4	qablika	قَبْلِكَ	before you
5	min	مِنْ	any
6	rasūlin	رَسُولٍ	messenger
7	walā	وَلَا	and not
8	nabiyyin	نَبِيٍّ	a prophet
9	illā	إِلَّا	except
10	idhā	إِذَا	when
11	tamannā	تَمَنَّىٰ	he wished,
12	alqā	أَلْقَى	[he] threw (interfered)
13	l-shayṭānu	الشَّيْطَانُ	the devil
14	fī	فِي	in
15	um’niyyatihi	أُمْنِيَّتِهِ	his wishes.
16	fayansakhu	فَيَنْسَخُ	But [He] abolishes / nullifies
17	l-lahu	اللَّهُ	God
18	mā	مَا	what
19	yul’qī	يُلْقِي	[he] throws (interferes)
20	l-shayṭānu	الشَّيْطَانُ	the devil,
21	thumma	ثُمَّ	then
22	yuḥ’kimu	يُحْكِمُ	[He] will establishes / perfects
23	l-lahu	اللَّهُ	God
24	āyātihi	آيَاتِهِ	His verses / revelations.
25	wal-lahu	وَاللَّهُ	And God (is)
26	ʿalīmun	عَلِيمٌ	Omniscient,
27	ḥakīmun	حَكِيمٌ	Wise.

The verse is profound because it is stating that Satan is the one who interferes with the messenger’s wishes, yet God abrogates what the devil attempts to interject, and He does this by establishing and perfecting His ayat ( آيَاتِهِ ). As we will see in the following verses, those who believe that God abrogated some verses of the Quran are falling into the devil’s scheme by ultimately rejecting some of God’s revelations.

When we read the next verse, it informs us that this satanic scheme was permitted to expose those who harbor doubts in their hearts.

[22:53] He thus sets up the devil’s scheme as a test for those who harbor doubts in their hearts, and those whose hearts are hardened. The wicked must remain with the opposition.

 لِيَجْعَلَ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ فِتْنَةً لِلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ وَالْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَفِي شِقَاقٍ بَعِيدٍ

Then it reinforces that the Quran is the truth. For something to be true, it must always be true. If it is true today and false tomorrow, then it was never the truth to begin with. Individuals who are stating that some of God’s verses in the Quran have been abrogated are proclaiming that some of the verses of the Quran are no longer true.

[22:54] Those who are blessed with knowledge will recognize the truth from your Lord, then believe in it, and their hearts will readily accept it. Most assuredly, GOD guides the believers in the right path.

 وَلِيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّكَ فَيُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ فَتُخْبِتَ لَهُ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ

Then it warns us of the inevitable fate of people who buy into the devil’s schemes, that their punishment will be Hell.

[22:55] As for those who disbelieve, they will continue to harbor doubts until the Hour comes to them suddenly, or until the retribution of a terrible day comes to them.

 وَلَا يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي مِرْيَةٍ مِنْهُ حَتَّىٰ تَأْتِيَهُمُ السَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَقِيمٍ

[22:56] All sovereignty on that day belongs to GOD, and He will judge among them. As for those who believe and lead a righteous life, they have deserved the gardens of bliss.

(٥٦) الْمُلْكُ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلَّهِ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ

Finally, it confirms that the reason they met such a horrendous fate was because they “rejected” the revelations ( ayat ) of God.

[22:57] While those who disbelieved and rejected our revelations have incurred a shameful retribution.

(٥٧) وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا فَأُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُهِينٌ

1	wa-alladhīna	وَالَّذِينَ	And those who
2	kafarū	كَفَرُوا	[they] disbelieved
3	wakadhabū	وَكَذَّبُوا	and they denied / rejected
4	biāyātinā	بِآيَاتِنَا	in our verses / revelations,
5	fa-ulāika	فَأُولَٰئِكَ	then those
6	lahum	لَهُمْ	for them (is)
7	ʿadhābun	عَذَابٌ	a retribution
8	muhīnun	مُهِينٌ	humiliating / shameful.

Not only does this verses, as well as 22:52, show that ayat ( آيَات ) in the plural form is always in reference to all the verses of the Quran, but it also demolishes the argument that some of the verses of God have been abrogated. When something is abrogated, it means that it should be repealed and done away with.

People who propagate this concept of abrogated verses are spreading a lie that some of God’s verses should therefore be denied in favor of other verses. When they do this, they are literally rejecting the verses of God by claiming they no longer apply and do not need to be upheld, and this verse is informing us that people who do such a thing will suffer a humiliating retribution for falling into the devil’s scheme.