A Primer on Abrogation: al-Zarkashi

In his landmark manual of the Qur’anic sciences, sheikh Badr al-Deen al-Zarkashi mentioned the following important discussion in his chapter on naasikh and mansookh – abrogated and abrogating – verses:

قسم بعضهم النسخ من وجه آخر إلى ثلاثة أضرب

Some scholars have taken another approach to categorizing abrogation, resulting in three categories:

الأول : نسخ المأمور به قبل امتثاله ، وهذا الضرب هو النسخ على الحقيقة ، كأمر الخليل بذبح ولده ، وكقوله تعالى : إذا ناجيتم الرسول فقدموا بين يدي نجواكم صدقة ( المجادلة : 12 ) ثم نسخه سبحانه بقوله : أأشفقتم ( المجادلة : 13 ) الآية . ـ

One: Abrogation of a command before it could be carried out, which is indeed abrogation. An example of this would be the command for Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, or Allah’s statement:

إِذَا نَاجَيْتُمُ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ نَجْوَاكُمْ صَدَقَةً

When you [wish to] privately consult the Messenger, present before your consultation a charity. [58:12]

which Allah then abrogated by saying:

أَأَشْفَقْتُمْ

Have you feared … [58:13]

until the end of the ayah.

الثاني : ويسمى نسخا تجوزا ، وهو ما أوجبه الله على من قبلنا كحتم القصاص ولذلك قال عقب تشريع الدية : ذلك تخفيف من ربكم ورحمة ( البقرة : 178 ) وكذلك ما أمرنا الله به أمرا إجماليا ثم نسخ ، كنسخه التوجه إلى بيت الله المقدس بالكعبة ، فإن ذلك كان واجبا علينا من قضية أمره باتباع الأنبياء قبله ، وكنسخ صوم يوم عاشوراء برمضان . ـ

Two – which can only be loosely called “abrogation” – is what Allah had mandated on those before us, such as the decree of legal retribution. It was in this vein that immediately after the legislation of blood-money Allah said:

ذَٰلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ

This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. [2:178]

And likewise what Allah commanded in general terms and then abrogated, such as His abrogation of facing towards Allah’s Sacred House in Jerusalem by facing instead towards the Ka’bah, for that had been something binding on us under His commandment to follow the previous prophets. Another example of this is the abrogation of fasting the Day of ‘Aashooraa’ by fasting Ramadan.

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Assorted Qur’an Benefits #17

What follows is a collection of various benefits originally posted on our Facebook page during November and December of 2016:

♦ The People of the Hellfire Will Wish for Death

In surah al-Haqqah, Allah describes the situation of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgement, including that they would say:

 وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِشِمَالِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُوتَ كِتَابِيَهْ * وَلَمْ أَدْرِ مَا حِسَابِيَهْ * يَا لَيْتَهَا كَانَتِ الْقَاضِيَةَ

But as for the one who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, “Oh I wish I had not been given my record * And had not known what my account is * Oh, I wish that my death had been the end of it all.” (69:25-27)

The famous taabi’ee Qatadah explained this last ayah by saying:

 وقال قتادة : تمنى الموت ، ولم يكن شيء في الدنيا أكره إليه منه . ـ

He will wish for death, while in this worldly life there is nothing which he dislikes more than death.

[Tafsir ibn Kathir 8/216. Also found in Tafsir al-Tabari 28/588 and Tafsir al-Baghawi 8/213]

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♦ The Importance of Safety and Security

Towards the end of surah Ibrahim, Allah informs us of a long supplication that Ibrahim made concerning his family members whom he had left in Mecca. Ibrahim began his supplication by saying:

رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَـٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ

My Lord, make this city secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols (14:35)

Sheikh Muhammad al-Shawkaani commented on this by writing:

وقدم طلب الأمن على سائر المطالب المذكورة بعده ، لأنه إذا انتفى الأمن لم يفرغ الإنسان لشيء آخر من أمور الدين والدنيا

Ibrahim placed requesting safety and security before all the other requests that followed it because if safety and security are lost then people won’t be able to do anything else, neither religious matters nor worldly affairs.

[Fath al-Qadeer pg. 751]

‘Ibad al-Rahman – Conclusion: ‘Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr

Sheikh ‘Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr, one of the contemporary scholars of al-Madinah, wrote a small booklet on the qualities of the ‘Ibad al-Rahman – servants of the Most Merciful – mentioned in the end of Surah al-Furqan. We have translated this booklet in a series of posts. He concluded the booklet with the following:

خاتمة

Conclusion

ثم ختم الله هذا السياق المبارك بذكر جزاء من اتصف بالصفات السابقة، وعظيم ثوابه، فقال عز وجل : [أُولَـٰئِكَ يُجْزَوْنَ الْغُرْفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَامًا ﴿٧٥﴾ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ حَسُنَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا] فكان الجزاء من جنس العمل؛ فلما كانت أوصافهم رفيعةً عاليةً كافأهم رب العالمين بالغرْفة العالية جزاءً لهم. ـ

Allah then concludes this blessed passage by mentioning the recompense of those who are characterized by these aforementioned qualities and the greatness of His reward for them. He says:

أُولَـٰئِكَ يُجْزَوْنَ الْغُرْفَةَ بِمَا صَبَرُوا وَيُلَقَّوْنَ فِيهَا تَحِيَّةً وَسَلَامًا * خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ حَسُنَتْ مُسْتَقَرًّا وَمُقَامًا

Those will be awarded with a dwelling for what they patiently endured, and they will be received therein with greetings and words of peace. * Abiding therein; excellent it is as an abode, and as a place to dwell. [25:75-76]

For the rewards of deeds are of the same nature as the deeds themselves. So since their qualities are so lofty and elevated then the Lord of all creation will compensate them with this elevated dwelling place as a reward.

The Jews Say the Christians Have Nothing to Stand on …: Tafsir ibn Kathir

al-Haafidh Ismaa’eel ibn Kathir wrote the following in his tafsir of surah al-Baqarah:

وقوله تعالى : ( وقالت اليهود ليست النصارى على شيء وقالت النصارى ليست اليهود على شيء وهم يتلون الكتاب ) يبين به تعالى تناقضهم وتباغضهم وتعاديهم وتعاندهم . كما قال محمد بن إسحاق : حدثني محمد بن أبي محمد ، عن عكرمة أو سعيد بن جبير ، عن ابن عباس ، قال : لما قدم أهل نجران من النصارى على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، أتتهم أحبار يهود ، فتنازعوا عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فقال رافع بن حريملة ما أنتم على شيء ، وكفر بعيسى وبالإنجيل . وقال رجل من أهل نجران من النصارى لليهود : ما أنتم على شيء . وجحد نبوة موسى وكفر بالتوراة . فأنزل الله في ذلك من قولهما ( وقالت اليهود ليست النصارى على شيء وقالت النصارى ليست اليهود على شيء وهم يتلون الكتاب ) قال : إن كلا يتلو في كتابه تصديق من كفر به ، أي : يكفر اليهود بعيسى وعندهم التوراة ، فيها ما أخذ الله عليهم على لسان موسى بالتصديق بعيسى ، وفي الإنجيل ما جاء به عيسى بتصديق موسى ، وما جاء من التوراة من عند الله ، وكل يكفر بما في يد صاحبه . ـ

Allah’s statement:

وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ النَّصَارَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَىٰ لَيْسَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ قَالَ الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِمْ ۚ فَاللَّـهُ يَحْكُمُ بَيْنَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فِيمَا كَانُوا فِيهِ يَخْتَلِفُونَ

The Jews say “The Christians have nothing to stand on,” and the Christians say, “The Jews have nothing to stand on,” although they both recite the Scripture. Likewise is what those who do not know said. So Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ. [2:113]

Allah is clearly putting their contradictions, their mutual enmity and hatred, and their opposition to one another on display. This is just as Muhammad ibn Ishaaq said: that Muhammad ibn Abi Muhammad told me on the authority of ‘Ikrimah or Sa’eed ibn Jubayr, that ibn ‘Abbas said:

When the Christians of Najran came to see Allah’s Messenger, the Jewish Rabbis [of al-Madinah] came to them and the two groups argued in front of Allah’s Messenger. Raafi’ ibn Huraymilah said, “You all have nothing to stand on!” and he expressed his disbelief in ‘Eesaa and the Injeel. A man from the Christians of Najran said to the Jews, “You all have nothing to stand on!” and rejected the Prophethood of Moosaa and expressed his disbelief in the Tawrah. So then Allah revealed the following about these statements of theirs:

وَقَالَتِ الْيَهُودُ لَيْسَتِ النَّصَارَىٰ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَقَالَتِ النَّصَارَىٰ لَيْسَتِ الْيَهُودُ عَلَىٰ شَيْءٍ وَهُمْ يَتْلُونَ الْكِتَابَ

The Jews say “The Christians have nothing to stand on,” and the Christians say, “The Jews have nothing to stand on,” although they both recite the Scripture.

Ibn ‘Abbaas went on to say:

‘Ibad al-Rahman Part 8 – Attention to Supplication: ‘Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr

Sheikh ‘Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr, one of the contemporary scholars of al-Madinah, wrote a small booklet on the qualities of the ‘Ibad al-Rahman – servants of the Most Merciful – mentioned in the end of Surah al-Furqan. We have translated this booklet in a series of posts. This is the eighth and final quality mentioned before the conclusion:

الصفة الثامنة : عنايتهم بالدعاء والتَّضرع لله

The Eighth Characteristic: Their Attention to Supplication and Humility Towards Allah

قال عز وجل : [وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا] ـ

Allah said:

وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

And those who say, “Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.” [25:74]

فمنْ صفات عباد الرحمن الكمل: عنايتهم بالدعاء، فهم مفتقرون إلى الله ملْتجئون إليه، مقْبلون عليه، وجميع حاجاتهم ومصالحهم الدينية والدنيوية يرجونها منه وحده لا شريك له. ـ

One of the characteristics of the complete ‘Ibad al-Rahman – slaves of the Most Merciful – is their attention to supplication, for they are completely in need of Allah and seek refuge in Him and turn to Him. For every single need and benefit – whether in this life or the next – they place their hopes in Him alone, making no partner with Him.

ثم هم في دعائهم يحرصون على جوامع الدعاء وأنفعه، فقولهم: [وَالَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا] هذا الدعاء من أجمع الدعاء وأنفعه، ففيه أولًا دعاء المرء بأنْ تقر عينه، ويسعد قلبه بصلاح أهله وأولاده؛ في تعبدهم، وأخلاقهم، وتعاملاتهم، وعيْشهم، وبرِّهم بوالديهم، وغير ذلك. ـ

But more than that, when it comes to their supplications they stick to those supplications which are comprehensive in meaning and especially beneficial. For example, their statement:

Some Background on the Field of ‘Uloom al-Qur’an: Sheikh ‘Abd al-Kareem al-Khudayr

In the introduction to his explanation of Manthoomah al-Zamzami – an introduction to the Qur’anic sciences in poem form -, sheikh ‘Abd al-Kareem al-Khudayr included the following remarks which include important background information regarding the field of ‘Uloom al-Qur’an:

التأليف في علوم القرآن يندر أن تجد متنا يناسب شرحه في دورة مثلا كما يوجد في العلوم الأخرى، العلوم الأخرى ألف فيها للمبتدئين، كتب كثيرة للمبتدئين؛ في الفقه، في العقائد، في الحديث، في كذا..، كتب كثيرة تناسب المبتدئين، كتب ألفت للمتوسطين، كتب ألفت للمنتهين. ـ

When it comes to the field of the Qur’anic sciences it is rare to find a primer suitable to be explained in a conference setting like the primers that you can find for other fields. In other sciences there are works that have been written for the beginning level, many books suitable for beginners. This is the case in fiqh, in ‘aqeedah, in hadeeth, and so on. There are plenty of books suitable for beginners, books written for intermediate students, and books written for advanced students.

تعال يا أخي إلى علوم القرآن، ما الذي يناسب المبتدئين من هذه العلوم؟ نجد في الدورات عناية بمقدمة شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية مقدمة التفسير ، شيخ الإسلام رحمه الله إمام من أئمة المسلمين، يكفي أن هذا الكتاب لشيخ الإسلام، لكن هل هو على طريقة المتون التي تعنى بالحدود والأمثلة والتعاريف وضبط الفن وضبط أنواع الفن كالعلوم الأخرى؟ يعني: هل نجد متنا في علوم القرآن مثل ما نجد النخبة مثلا ، أو الكتب التي ألفت للتدرج في تلقي العقيدة الصحيحة؟ ما نجد، يعني على سبيل الاستقلال للعلماء الذين يؤلفون على الجادة لطلاب العلم ما تجد إلا ما ندر. ـ

Let’s look, my brother, at the Qur’anic sciences – what would be a suitable work in this field for the beginning student? We find conferences generally giving attention to the Muqaddimah al-Tafsir of Sheikh al-Islam ibn Taymiyah, the sheikh of Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) and one of the leading figures of the Muslims. It is enough to know that this book was written by this Sheikh al-Islam, but is this work written in the typical mold of a primer that focuses on delimiting the subject, providing examples, giving definitions, precisely defining the field and the various sub-fields within it as we find in the primers of other sciences? In other words, do we find source texts for the Qur’anic sciences like al-Nukhbah al-Fikr, for example or like the books written to help the student gradually progress in acquiring the correct ‘aqeedah? We do not find these, meaning not as their own independent works written by the scholars as part of a progression of knowledge for students of knowledge. Except for the rare exception, we do not find such works.

‘Ibad al-Rahman Part 7 – Reverence of Allah’s Speech: ‘Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr

Sheikh ‘Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr, one of the contemporary scholars of al-Madinah, wrote a small booklet on the qualities of the ‘Ibad al-Rahman – servants of the Most Merciful – mentioned in the end of Surah al-Furqan. We have translated this booklet in a series of posts. This is the seventh quality mentioned:

الصفة السابعة : تعظيمهم لكلام الله وعملهم بما فيه

The Seventh Characteristic: Their Reverence of Allah’s Speech and Acting in Accordance With It

قال عز وجل : [وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا] ـ

Allah said:

وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا

And those who, when reminded of the verses of their Lord, do not fall upon them deaf and blind. [25:73]

كلام الله شأنه عظيم، ومكانته جليلة في نفوس عباد الرحمن، فلا يقابلونه بالصدود والإعْراض، بل يعظِّمونه ويجلونه، ويحسنون اسْتماعه والانْتفاع به. ـ

Allah’s speech has tremendous standing and holds an important place in the hearts of the ‘Ibad al-Rahman – the slaves of the Most Merciful. They do not respond to it with rejection or evasion. On the contrary, they revere and venerate it, making sure to listen to it carefully in order to benefit from it.

وقوله : [ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا] أي: إذا استمعوا لكلام الربِّ لم يكونوا كالأصمِّ الذي لا يسْمع فينتفع بالموعظة، وكالأعمى الذي لا يبصر، بل هم يحْسنون الاسْتماع، و ينتفعون بالمواعظ، ويعْملون بأحكامه وهداياته. ـ

Allah’s statement:

The Qur’an is Free of Contradictions: Tafsir ibn Kathir

Allah says in surah al-Nisaa’:

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّـهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا

Do they not then consider the Quran carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found many contradictions therein. [4:82]

al-Haafidh Ismaa’eel ibn Kathir began his tafsir of this ayah by writing:

يقول تعالى آمرا عباده بتدبر القرآن ، وناهيا لهم عن الإعراض عنه ، وعن تفهم معانيه المحكمة وألفاظه البليغة ، ومخبرا لهم أنه لا اختلاف فيه ولا اضطراب ، ولا تضاد ولا تعارض ; لأنه تنزيل من حكيم حميد ، فهو حق من حق ; ولهذا قال تعالى : ( أفلا يتدبرون القرآن [ أم على قلوب أقفالها ] ) [ محمد : 24 ] ثم قال : ( ولو كان من عند غير الله ) أي : لو كان مفتعلا مختلقا ، كما يقوله من يقوله من جهلة المشركين والمنافقين في بواطنهم ( لوجدوا فيه اختلافا كثيرا ) أي : اضطرابا وتضادا كثيرا . أي : وهذا سالم من الاختلاف ، فهو من عند الله . ـ

Allah is commanding His slaves to contemplate the Qur’an and forbidding them from turning away from it or from turning away from understanding its clear meanings and eloquent wordings. He is also informing them that it does not contain any contradictions or disagreements within it; it neither opposes nor contradictions itself. That is because it is a revelation from the Wise and Praise-worthy One, so it is truth from the True One. That is why Allah said:

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا

Do they not then think deeply in the Quran, or are their hearts locked up? [47:24]

So He said:

‘Ibad al-Rahman Part 6 – Avoiding Bad Company: ‘Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr

Sheikh ‘Abd al-Razzaq al-Badr, one of the contemporary scholars of al-Madinah, wrote a small booklet on the qualities of the ‘Ibad al-Rahman – servants of the Most Merciful – mentioned in the end of Surah al-Furqan. We have translated this booklet in a series of posts. This is the sixth quality mentioned:

الصفة السادسة : بعدهم عن مجالس الباطل والمنكرات

The Sixth Characteristic: Distancing Themselves from Gatherings of Falsehood and Evil-Doing

قال عز وجل : [وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِرَامًا ] ـ

Allah said:

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِاللَّغْوِ مَرُّوا كِرَامًا

And they are those who do not witness al-zoor, and if they pass by some ill talk, they pass by it with dignity [25:72]

ومنْ أخلاق عباد الرحمن، وجميل صفاتهم أنهم ينزِّهون أنفسهم عن حضور المجالس التي يعم فيها المنكر، ويغْمرها الباطل واللغو المحرم، فقوله عز وجل : [وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ] أي : لا يحْضرون الزور والباطل، ولا يغْشون مجالسه ، ولا يشاركون أهْله . ـ

One aspect of the manners and beautiful qualities of the ‘Ibad al-Rahman – the slaves of the Most Merciful – is that they hold themselves above participating in gatherings in which wrongdoing is common and which are overrun with falsehood and foul speech. For Allah said:

وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ

And they are those who do not witness al-zoor …

meaning: they are not present for al-zoor and falsehood, they do not attend gatherings which contain such things, and do not join in with the people who practice them.

فيدخل في الآية السابقة: ـ

There are several things which fall under this ayah:

Assorted Qur’an Benefits #16

What follows is a collection of various benefits originally posted on our Facebook page during the months of September and October of 2016:

♦ Sharing in Punishment

Allah informs us about the punishment of the disbelievers in surah al-Zukhruf when He says:

 وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ الْيَوْمَ إِذ ظَّلَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ فِي الْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ

And it will not benefit you on that day when you have done wrong that you are sharing in the punishment [43:39]

Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen commented on this by writing:

وهذا يدل على أن اشتراك الناس في العذاب يخفف عليهم ، لكن في يوم القيامة لا ينفع هؤلاء اشتراكهم في العذاب

This indicates that sharing in punishment usually makes the punishment seem lighter for the people experiencing it, however on the Day of Resurrection this shared experience of punishment of theirs will not benefit them.

[Sharh Usool fee al-Tafsir pg. 343]

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♦ Those Whom Allah Will Allow to Speak

In surah al-Naba’a, Allah describes the Day of Judgement by saying:

 يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الرُّوحُ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ صَفًّا ۖ لَّا يَتَكَلَّمُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُ الرَّحْمَـٰنُ وَقَالَ صَوَابًا

The Day that Ar-Ruh and the angels will stand forth in rows, none shall speak except him whom the al-Rahman has allowed, and who spoke what is right. [78:38]

Sheikh Muhammad al-Shawkaani commented on this ayah in his tafsir by writing: