Transliteration:( Wa izaa baddalnaaa Aayatam makaana Aayatinw wal laahu a'lamu bimaa yunazzilu qaalooo innamaa anta muftar; bal aksaruhum laa ya'lamoon )
101. And when We substitute one verse with another, and Allah knows best what He reveals [229], they say, 'You are merely inventing it [230].' But most of them do not know [231].
[228] From this we understand that there has been abrogation in Qur’anic verses, both in recitation and in legal rulings. Raising objections to abrogation without grasping its divine wisdom is the habit of the disbelievers. If no verse was ever abrogated, then why are the Taurah and Injeel no longer followed in full? Abrogation does not reflect a lack in Allah Almighty’s knowledge—it is a mercy adapted to human circumstances.
[229] This means Allah Almighty is fully aware of the wisdom behind each revelation and the needs of His servants. The timing of each command is based on divine knowledge—just as a doctor adjusts medicine based on the patient's condition, Allah reveals or replaces verses accordingly.
[230] Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that when strict commands were revealed, the believers observed them despite hardship. Later, when lighter rulings were revealed, the disbelievers accused the Prophet ﷺ of making things up, mocking the changes. They said, “If this was from Allah, why weren’t the lighter laws revealed first?” This verse was revealed to refute such ignorant claims.
[231] Most of the disbelievers objected due to ignorance, unaware of the divine wisdom behind abrogation. Others, even when aware, did so out of arrogance and stubbornness. For a deeper explanation, refer to Tafseer Naeemi, Para Three.
101. And when We change a verse in place of another – and Allah knows best what He reveals – they (the disbelievers) say: “You (O Muhammad) are but a forger.” Rather, most of them know not. 102. Say (O Muhammad); “Ruh-ul-Qudus has brought it (the Qur’an) down from your Lord with truth.” for the conviction of those who believe, and as a guide and good news for the Muslims.
Allah tells us of the weak minds of the idolators, and their lack of faith and conviction. He explains that it is impossible for them to have faith when He has decreed that they are doomed. When they saw that some rulings had been changed by being abrogated, they said to the Messenger of Allah :
(You are but a forger) meaning one who tells lies. But Allah is the Lord Who does whatever He wills, and rules as He wants.
(And when We change a verse (of the Qur’an) in place of another) Mujahid said: this means, “We remove one and put another in its place.” Qatadah said: this is like the Ayah:
(Whatever verse We change ﴿abrogate﴾ or omit ﴿the abrogated﴾…)” (2:106). Allah said, in response to them:
(Say: “Ruh-ul-Qudus has brought it…”) meaning, Jibril,
(from your Lord with truth, ) meaning, with truthfulness and justice
(for the conviction of those who believe,) so that they will believe what was revealed earlier and what was revealed later, and humble themselves towards Allah.
(and as a guide and good news for the Muslims.) meaning He has made it a guide and good news to the Muslims who believe in Allah and His Messengers.
(16:101) Whenever We replace one verse by another verse – and Allah knows what He should reveal – they are wont to say: “You are nothing but a fabricator[102] (who has invented the Qur’an).” The fact is that most of them are ignorant of the Truth.
102. This may also mean: To send down one commandment to elaborate upon the other, for the commandments were sent down piecemeal in the Quran. For instance, the commandments about prohibition and fornication were sent down gradually one after the other during several years. But We hesitate to accept this interpretation because An-Nahl is a Makki Surah and to the best of our information there is no instance to show that commandments were sent down piecemeal at Makkah. Therefore, we prefer the other interpretation. The Quran has added details of one theme and explained the same with different kinds of illustrations at different places. Likewise it has related a story in different words at different places and presented its different aspects and details at other places. It has put forward one argument at one place to prove a theme and another at another place to prove the same theme. It has related one theme concisely at one place and in detail at the other. That is what the disbelievers of Makkah put forward as proof that Muhammad (peace be upon him) forged the Quran himself. They argued like this: Had the Quran been the Word of Allah, it would have related one thing in full at one place, for Allah’s knowledge is not defective that He should have to think out gradually the details of a theme and to give different versions to explain the same thing. In contrast to this, the knowledge of a human being is defective. A man has to think out gradually as has been done in the case of the Quran which is a clear proof that you have forged it yourself.
For a faster and smoother experience,
install our mobile app now.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics