Title: Abrogation in the Qur’an Question: How can one find out which ayahs of the Qur'an have been abrogated? Usman Khokhar Pakistan Answer: The concept of abrogation in the Qur'an is, generally, misunderstood. It is, generally, held that it is very difficult to determine which of the Qur'anic verses are abrogated, as a Qur'anic verse may be abrogated by another verse of the Qur'an or even by a saying ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh). In my opinion, the issue of abrogation is not as confusing as it is generally held to be. Some of the important points relating to abrogation are explained below: Firstly, the concept of abrogation applies only to verses relating to the implementation of laws, directives which are directly related to the level of general commitment of the collectivity or to the general training of the individuals or the society; Secondly, no Qur'anic verse can be considered to have been abrogated by anything other than the Qur'an itself; Thirdly, both the abrogated and the abrogating verses are, generally, placed very close to each other in the Qur'an and are logically determinable. Keeping these points in perspective, let us take a look at one of the examples abrogation in the Qur'an. Al-Anfaal 8: 65 says: Prophet, rouse these believers to fight [the rejecters and remember that] if there are ten steadfast [believers,] they shall overpower a hundred [rejecters] and if there are a hundred [steadfast believers,] they shall overpower a thousand of those, who have rejected.... This verse, promises God's help for the believers over the rejecters of the Prophet (pbuh). As a corollary of the promise entailed in this verse, it was the responsibility of the companions of the Prophet (pbuh) to fight the rejecters, even under circumstances where their power ratio was one-to-ten, as compared to their enemies. However, subsequently, when a vast area of the Arabian Peninsula accepted Islam and a number of comparatively weak people joined its ranks, the foregoing verse and the responsibility entailed in it was abrogated. In the Qur'an, the abrogating verse is placed immediately after the referred verse. Al-Anfaal 8: 66 reads: Now, God has reduced [the responsibility] upon you. As He is aware that [now] there are weak among you. Therefore, [now] if there are a hundred steadfast among you, they shall overpower two hundred [rejecters] and if there are a thousand [steadfast] among you, they shall overpower two thousand, with the permission of God. Indeed, God is with the steadfast. These verses are representative of the concept of abrogation in the Qur'an. I hope this helps. Regards, Moiz Amjad September 11, 2001