What is the meaning of this ayat?
We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?
Re: Surah Baqarah ayat 106
[106-107] We bring a better verse or at least the like of it for whatever we abrogate or cause it to be forgotten.[SUP]109[/SUP]](2. Surah Al Baqarah (The Cow) - Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an)Do you not know that Allah has full power over everything? Do you not know that the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah alone and that you have neither any protector nor helper beside Him?
this is what maulana Abul Ala Maududi wrote in his book “tafheem-ul-Qur’aan”
[109]](2. Surah Al Baqarah (The Cow) - Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an)This is the answer to an objection which the Jews raised to create doubts in the minds of the Muslims. They argued like this: The Qur’an says that the former Scriptures had been sent down by Allah and that it also has been sent down by Him. If it is so, why does the Qur’an then give such commands as differ from those contained in the former Books’? How can the same Allah give different commands at different times? Besides, they said, “The Qur’an asserts that the Jews and the Christians have forgotten a part of the teachings sent down to them. How is it possible that the teachings of Allah could be obliterated from memory?” They did not raise these objections for the sake of arriving at the truth but for the sake of creating mischief. Allah answers their objections thus: “I am the Sovereign and My powers are unlimited. I can repeal any order of Mine or allow it to be forgotten, but I substitute for it something that serves the same purpose better or at least equally well.”
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Re: Surah Baqarah ayat 106
The point is that why would he change the commandments with the passage of time?
Re: Surah Baqarah ayat 106
wallaho 'aalam bissawaab.
Re: Surah Baqarah ayat 106
could have some reference to making the Christians and Jews forget their scriptures so as to bring in Islam.
Re: Surah Baqarah ayat 106
Peace Ali_Syed,
A. Yusuf Ali commented that the word which he have translated by the word “revelations” is “verse (Ayat)”. Further said "it is not only used for verses of the Qur’an but in a general sense for God’s revelations, and for other Signs of God in history or nature, or miracles.
It has even been used for human signs and tokens of wonder, as for example, monuments, or landmarks built by the ancient people of A’ad. What is the meaning here? If we take it in a general sense, it means that God’s Message from age to age is always the same, but that its form may differ according to the needs and exigencies of the time. That form was different as given to Hazrat Mosa a.s., then Hazrat Isa a.s., and then to Muhammad 
Some commentators apply it also to the verse (ayat) of the Quran. There is nothing derogatory in this if we believe in progressive revelation. Like in Chapter 3 verse 7, we are told distinctly about the Quran, that some of its verses are basic or fundamental, and others are allegorical, and it is mischievous to treat the allegorical verses and follow them (literally).
On the other hand, it is absurd to treat such a verse as in Chapter 2 verse 115 as if it were abrogated by verse 144 of same Chapter 2 about the Qibla. We turn to the Qibla but we do not believe that God is only in one place. He is everywhere.
There may be express abrogation, or there may be “causing or permitting to forget”. How many good and wise institution gradually become obsolete by efflux of time? Then there is the gradual process of disuse or forgetting in evolution. This does not mean that eternal principles change. It is only a sign of God’s infinite power that His creation should take so many forms and shapes not only in the material world but in the world of man’s thought and expression."
In Tafsir of Ibn-e-Kathir, it is written that the “Nasakh” only occurs with commandments, prohibitions, permissions, and so forth.
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Ibn Abi Talha said that Ibn Abbas said that, Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh means, “Whatever an Ayah We abrogate.”
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Also, Ibn Jurayj said that Mujahid said that, Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh means, “Whatever an Ayah We erase.”
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Also, Ibn Abi Najih said that Mujahid said that, Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh means, “We keep the words, but change the meaning”.
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Ali bin Abi Talha said that Ibn Abbas said that, Whatever a verse (revelation) do Nansakh or Nunisha, means, “Whatever Ayah We repeal or uphold without change.”
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Also Mujahid said that the companions of Ibn Masud (who red this world Nansaha) said that it means, “We uphold its wording and change its ruling”.
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Further, Ubayd bin Umayr, Mujahid and Ata said, ‘Nansaha’ means, “We delay it (i.e., do not abrogate it).”
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Further, Atiyah Al-Awfi said that the Ayah means, “We delay repealing it.”
The word ‘Nasakh’ literally means, ‘to copy a book’. The meaning of Nasakh in the case of commandments is removing the commandment and replacing it by another. And whether the Nasakh involves the wording, the ruling or both, it is still called ‘Nasakh’.
For instance,
- Almighty Allah allowed Adam a.s., to marry his daughters to his sons and then later forbade this practice.
- Almighty Allah also allowed Nuh a.s., to eat from all kinds of animals after they left the ark, then prohibited eating some types of foods.
- Further, marrying two sisters to one man was allowed for Israel and his children, but Almighty Allah prohibited this practice later in the Torah.
- Almighty Allah commanded Abraham a.s., to slaughter his son, then repealed that command before it was implemented.
- Also, Almighty Allah commanded the children of Israel to kill those who worshipped the calf and then repealed that command, so that the children of Israel were not all exterminated.