How can one be certain that what is meant by the verse, "Whatever a verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it" (2:106), refers to the Quranic verses and not cosmic signs or miracles? And has it been authentically reported from the Prophet, peace be upon him, what supports abrogation (naskh)? How can the abrogating from the abrogated be identified? And how many verses have been abrogated?

Abrogation (Naskh) is the removal of a ruling from a legal text (dalīl sharʿī) or the text itself, by a proof from the Qur’an or Sunnah. It is established in both the Qur’an and the Sunnah. The intended meaning of abrogation in the verse: (Whatever verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten) [2:106] refers to the abrogation of Qur’anic verses, not cosmic signs or miracles. This is what scholars have agreed upon, and it is confirmed by other verses that speak about the alteration of verses. Cosmic signs and miracles are not subject to abrogation; rather, abrogation occurs in commands, prohibitions, and matters of lawful and unlawful. The denial of abrogation is known only from the Jews. The occurrence of abrogation in the Qur’an and Sunnah has been established by explicit hadiths, such as Aisha’s hadith about the abrogation of ten sucklings by five, and the hadith about the Prophet (peace be upon him) prohibiting visiting graves then later commanding it. Abrogated verses are identified by explicit proof, the consensus of the Ummah, a clear statement from a Companion, or knowledge of historical context. The number of abrogated verses is a matter of ijtihad and scholarly disagreement.