Quran Was Already Written Down
Syed Akhbar Ali
Hi folks. This is actually a follow up to my earlier post on the extra-Quranic as well as non-Quranic “Theory of Abrogation” or “Al Nasikh Wal Mansukh”. There is no evidence anywhere at all for this theory of abrogation.
I did receive three comments to the Blog which I did not let through. Two were false and had no basis while the third was as usual rude and just trying to score points without paying attention to proper methods of discussing things intelligently. I will however discuss the Quran verses referred as well as some other points that were raised.
One person said : “An-Naasikh and Al-Mansookh, are two terms among the terms of the principles of Islamic jurisprudence. Naskh means abrogating a religious ruling with a new and recent text.. bla bla“
Thanks but no thanks for such a long winded comment. We need proof brother. Please remember this word inside your religious mind : ‘PROOF‘. The Quran says “Haatu burhanukum inkuntum sadiqeen” – bring your proofs if you are truthful.
So please bring proofs for all your mumbo jumbo. You can resort to the usual habit of shouting, cursing, using bad language etc – but that is not an answer. At the end of the day – please bring your proof.
Another person quoted the Surah 2:106 to justify abrogation. It simply means that this person does not believe in the Quran. He wants to quote another verse from the Quran to say that the Quran is incomplete, it could be changed (by human beings and by goats).
So stop for a minute and imagine inviting the non-Muslims to Islam by saying, ‘Come to Islam, read the Quran, the Quran was revealed by Allah, the verses of the Quran were once abrogated by a goat.” Is this how you invite people to Islam? People will laugh at you.
The commenter quoted Surah 2:106 as follows : “Whatever communications We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring one better than it or like it. Do you not know that Allah has power over all things? 2:106.
First off all this translation is not fully correct. There is no communications in this verse. The arabic word there is ‘ayaat’. Ayaat does not mean communications. Ayaat means signs.
But even with an incorrect translation like this, there is a built in factor inside this translation which still nullifies the theory of abrogation. Look at the words ‘or like it’.
If the verse says “We bring one… like it” it means there is no abrogation. “Like it” means “the same thing”, “benda yang serupa dengannya”. This means going back to square one. Nothing new is being introduced. So mana ada abrogation?
Here is a better translation of Surah 2:106 : When we abrogate any sign (ayaat), or cause it to be forgotten, we produce a better sign (ayaat), or at least an equal one. Do you not recognize the fact that Allah is Omnipotent?
What are these signs or ayaat referred to in Surah 2:106? We can easily understand this by reading a few verses before 2:106 to see the context. Here are Surah 2:100 – 106
2:100 Is it not a fact that when they make a covenant and pledge to keep it, some of them always disregard it? In fact, most of them do not believe.
2:101 Now that a messenger from Allah has come to them,* and even though he proves and confirms their own scripture, some followers of the scripture (ootul kitaab) disregard Allah’s scripture behind their backs, as if they never had any scripture.
2:102 They pursued what the devils taught concerning Solomon’s kingdom. Solomon, however, was not a disbeliever, but the devils were disbelievers. They taught the people sorcery, and that which was sent down through Haroot and Maroot. These two did not divulge such knowledge without pointing out: “This is a test. You shall not abuse such knowledge.” But the people used it in such evil schemes as the breaking up of marriages. They can never harm anyone against the will of Allah. They thus learn what hurts them, not what benefits them, and they know full well that whoever practices witchcraft will have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed is what they sell their souls for, if they only knew.
2:103 If they believe and lead a righteous life, the reward from Allah is far better, if they only knew.
2:104 O you who believe, do not say, “Raa`ena”* (be our shepherd). Instead, you should say, “Unzurna” (watch over us), and listen. The disbelievers have incurred a painful retribution.
2:105 Neither the disbelievers among the followers of the scripture, nor the idol worshipers, wish to see any blessings come down to you from your Lord. However, Allah showers His blessings upon whomever He chooses. Allah possesses infinite grace.
2:106 When we abrogate any sign (ayaat), or cause it to be forgotten, we produce a better sign (ayaat), or an equal one. Do you not recognize the fact that Allah is Omnipotent?
The ayaat referred to in 2:106 refers the Quran that was alreday revealed. The previous verses 2:100-105 refer to the scriptures that had been revealed before the Quran. The phrase ‘ootul kitab‘ in 2:101 refers the earlier people who were given the kitab much earlier.
So when a new kitab or book like the Quran was revealed it brought the same ayaat (signs) or something better. There have been many kitabs or books revealed before the Quran. Among them are the Injeel (Evanglos), Tawraat (Torah), the book given to Moses and the book given to Abraham. All these books are mentioned in the Quran.
So a new book can be revealed which is full of ayaat or signs. But once a new book is revealed there is absolutely no changing the words or kalimah that are found inside the new book. This is the meaning of Surah 6:115 which I quoted earlier:
Surah 6:115 “The Word (kalimaatu) of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice. Nothing shall abrogate His Words (kalimaatihi). He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.”
Laa mubaddila li kalimaatihi – Nothing shall abrogate or change His Words. Predictably those religious people who have no faith in the Quran (and are therefore not Muslims – because that is exactly what they accuse others) have nothing to say about this verse. They remain absolutely silent about Surah 6:115. They actually reject Surah 6:115.
And they force themselves to misunderstand Surah 2:106 because they deliberately ignore these three words “or like it” that are found in Surah 2:106. Why would people who claim to be Muslims who believe the Quran want to do a thing like that?
There were other references to Surah 58:12-13 and such but they do not make sense so I dont want to dwell on those verses. The Proponents of Abrogation also dwell a lot on their theory that the Quran was not compiled into a book form until much later in history.
Among their beliefs is that the Quran – a book which they like to remind everyone was revealed by Allah – was first written down on pieces of parchment, pieces of leather, pieces of dry bones and left around here and there. They say that the Quran was finally compiled on paper and into one volume much later. This is their belief. This is what they say.
But what does the Quran say? Didnt these people bother to check what the Quran itself says about how it was written or recorded? Lets see what the Quran has to say about this.
