What is the wisdom behind the difference in the types of abrogations in the Quran, and how can one respond to the doubts raised about it?
The Holy Quran clarified the wisdom behind abrogation (naskh) in the verse: "Whatever verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it." Abrogation involves transferring the ruling of one verse to another by changing or altering it, such as turning what was lawful into unlawful, or unlawful into lawful, or permissible into forbidden, or forbidden into permissible. It applies only to commands and prohibitions, prohibitions and permissions, and prevention and allowance, whereas news reports are not subject to abrogation. The wisdom behind abrogation is that the first abrogated ruling is tied to a wisdom or benefit that ends at a specific time, then the abrogating ruling comes with a different wisdom and benefit. There is no contradiction between the abrogating and abrogated verses, because contradiction would exist if both were commanded to be acted upon; however, the abrogated verse is no longer in effect. There is no contradiction between abrogation and the verse: "We will make you recite, and you will not forget," for it is followed by: "Except what Allah wills," meaning, except what Allah wills to abrogate, causing you to forget it. Nor is there a contradiction between abrogation and the verse: "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Dhikr (the Quran), and indeed, We will be its guardian," for the preservation here refers to preserving the Quran from the devils, preventing them from adding to it, subtracting from it, or altering it.
Scholars have explicitly stated the prohibition of looking into the books of the People of the Book, and their specious arguments are even more strictly forbidden.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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