An Evaluation of Abrogated Verses From the Perspectives of Acceptance and Rejection

Abstract

Within the works on Qur’ānic sciences, the sections of abrogation in the Qur’ān embody an explicit classification among the three categories: 'Abrogated Verses with Persistent Ruling,' 'Persistent Verses with Abrogated Ruling,' and 'Verses Abrogated both in Recitation and Ruling.' The verses that are abrogated both in recitation and ruling are not extant in Qur’ān’s corpus. The indication of the existence of such verses is based on isolated narrations (āḥād ḥadiths) on this matter. It must be noted that the existence of isolated narrations can’t be deemed as a valid indicator of abrogation in recitation of any Qur’anic verse in literal terms. Likewise, verses that are abrogated in recitation are not eligible for being classified as Qur’anic verse in literal terms as they lack the criteria of mass transmission. This situation has led some researchers to strive to prove that there are no verses that are abrogated in recitation. Another group asserts the presence of abrogated recitation verses based on authentic ḥadiths. In both cases, a problem arises that needs to be addressed. To claim that there are no abrogated recitation verses necessitates rejecting the authentic ḥadiths on this matter due to the argument that they are isolated (āḥād). On the other hand, asserting the existence of abrogated recitation verses also requires referring to a non-mass transmitted (mutawātir) and not present in verbatim of Qur’ān. The research has revealed that no study has been conducted to provide a solution to this problem. Hence, this study aims to address and resolve the aforementioned problem. As a conclusion of this study, it is understood that those who deny the existence of abrogated recitation verses are concerned that accepting them could potentially harm the conceptual integrity of the Qur’ān. As a result, they make efforts to reject the evidence presented by others. However, it has been observed that none of those who claim the existence of abrogated recitation verses assert that these verses are Qur’ānic verses in a conceptual sense. It is understood that what they mean by the recitation of abrogated verses includes the portion of the Book, from its revelation until it is compiled into the Musḥāf." It is understood that some verses from this Book have been abrogated in recitation, and the ones mentioned in the ḥadiths are these verses. The existence of these verses is established by authentic ḥadiths, and since they are not conceptual Qur’ānic verses, the condition of mass transmission (tawātur) is not required for their validity. Hence, it is observed that the verses that are titled “verses abrogated in recitation” are not Qur’anic verses in literal terms that bears authenticity through mass transmission. Instead, their authenticity is proved through authentic sunna, and they are abrogated through sunna as well. It is concluded that two distinct approaches remarkably stem from the difference in authors’ discourse depending on the conceptual/terminological application or the lexical meaning of the vocable “verse”. © 2023, Cumhuriyet University. All rights reserved.