Abrogation (in Arabic Naskh) literally means obliteration. It has been defined as the suspension or replacement of one ruling by another. Abrogation operates only in law, not in beliefs, stories or supplications.

  Christian polemicists argue against abrogation because it means that God found that the first ruling has failed, so He replaced it with another. This is not the way Muslims understand it. We say that God knows that the first ruling is temporary for a certain stage, when this stage is over, its ruling is also over. But our limited capacity of reasoning may make it look like God changes His mind that is not true.

  If one ponders a little , he will discover that abrogation according to Islamic viewpoint is very logical and in perfect harmony with our understanding of nature. There are four different seasons per year to fit different crops and life cycles of various creatures. No one ever accused the Creator of nature of being hesitant or unstable. We see professional physician who changes the medical treatment, dietary and physical obligations of his patient according to the stage and severity of disease. No one accuse him of ignorance, failure or absurdity. Though, some people out there gleefully accuse Final Message of God of all deficiencies. Well, the purpose of this article is to expose abrogation in the Bible, consequently, their hypocrisy.

  I will, insha’Allah, follow the next items, wa Allah-ul-Must’an.
Does God make mistakes?
Abrogation within the same revelation.
Abrogation of an early revelation by a later one.
Conclusion.

  Christian polemicists argue that abrogation means that God is confused and makes mistakes, which cannot be a character of His. They frequently quote the next Biblical verse
"God is not a man, that he should lie ; neither the son of man that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 19:23)

  However, the Bible itself claims that God repents. Consider the following passages
“And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:6-7)

“Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.” (Psalms 106:44-45)

“It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.” (1 Samuel 15:11)

“Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:35)

  So, according to the Bible, God can do something, then repents that He has done it. Moreover, it records that God can also make void His word, David is reported to have said “Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.” (Psalms 89:39)

  Similar example is found in priesthood among people of Israel. God gave His covenant of everlasting priesthood to Eleazar and his seed (Numbers 25:12-13), then He made void this covenant.
“Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed………. And I will raise me up a faithful priest.” (1 Samuel 2:30, 35)

  In John Wesley's Bible notes, he says, "Far from me - To fulfil my promise, which I hereby retract."

  So, if the Christian argument against abrogation in Islam is based upon the notion that God makes no mistakes, this argument is refuted according to Christian Scripture itself that records God repenting and making void His words. This is a fatal objection and adequate to answer this false argument. But Islamic position is not like this; we -Muslims- believe that God can prescribe a certain ruling for certain stage or circumstances, then abrogate it with another when this stage or these circumstances are over.

  Under this item we are going to mention some cases of abrogation within the same revelation in the Bible. The examples are too many that’s why I’ll only refer to some of them, insha’Allah. Readers are encouraged to read the Bible themselves and find that abrogation is nothing alien to it.

  Well, our examples are …

  First: God commanded Abraham (peace be upon him) to slay his son Isaac (?), then He abrogated this command before being put into action (Genesis 22).

  Second: this passage from the Book of Ezekiel
“And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it.
Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin: from time to time shalt thou drink.
And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.
And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow's dung for man's dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.” (Ezekiel 4:10-15)

  This passage makes it clear than God first said “thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man”, then abrogated it before being put into action and said “I have given thee cow's dung for man's dung”.

  Third: “What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people.” (Leviticus 17:3-4)

“Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart………. etc..
When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.
Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.” (Deuteronomy 12:15-22)

  This ruling of Leviticus was abrogated with that of Deuteronomy according to Bible commentators. In John Wesley's Bible notes, he says, "If the place be too far - Being obliged to carry their sacrifices to the place of worship, they might think themselves obliged to carry their other cattle thither to be killed. They are therefore released from all such obligations, and left at liberty to kill them at home, whether they lived nearer that place, or farther from it; only the latter is here mentioned, as being the matter of the scruple."

  Fourth: this passage from the second Book of Kings
“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
And I will add unto thy days fifteen years.” (2 Kings 20:1-6)

  It is clear that God commanded Hezekiah and said “Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die”, then He abrogated His command before Isaiah reached the middle court and said “I will add unto thy days fifteen years.”

  Fifth: Jesus (peace be upon him) made it clear that he was sent to Israelites only.
“These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5-6)

“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24)

  Later, he abrogated this command and sent the disciples to all the world
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

  Sixth: Jesus (peace be upon him) attested the validity of the Law
“Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
Saying the scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do.” (Matthew 23:1-3)

  In Peoples New Testament, it comments on the above passage, "The law of Moses was still in force, for the Christian dispensation was not ushered in until Christ died, and hence was still to be obeyed."

  Then, Paul abrogated all the Law
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21)

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse…..
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God…….
And the law is not of faith………
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us……...” (Galatians 3:10-13)

  Seventh: disciples abrogated all rulings of the Torah except four
“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment………..
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” (Acts 15:24, 28-29)

  Then, Paul abrogated the first three rulings and maintained only abstaining from fornication.

  In this section examples are much more, but I’ll limit my efforts to those of clear impact or useful significance. Here we go …

  First: Adam married his sons to his daughters meaning that marriage between brothers and sisters was permitted. The Book of Genesis even provides us with an evidence that such marriage was permitted, at least, till the time of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him), the latter is reported to have said about Sarah “And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.” (Genesis 20:12)

  Later, marriage between a brother and a sister was prohibited in clear terms
“The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.” (Leviticus 18:9)

“And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.” (Leviticus 20:17)

“Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.” (Deuteronomy 27:22)

  So, the permission given to Adam was abrogated with a later revelation given to Moses (peace be upon him).

  Second: all animals were lawful food to Noah (peace be upon him) and his people
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.” (Genesis 9:3)

  Then many of them were made unlawful in the revelation delivered to Moses (peace be upon him)
“Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.
And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.” (Deuteronomy 14:7-8. See also Leviticus 11:4-8)

  So the prohibition given to Moses (peace be upon him) abrogated the permission given to Noah (peace be upon him).

  Third: Jacob is reported to have married two sisters: Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29:15-35). Such marriage was prohibited in the revelation given to Moses (peace be upon him)
“Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.” (Leviticus 18:18)

  Fourth: Moses’ father married his aunt
“And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses.” (Exodus 6:20. See also Numbers 26:59)

  This was prohibited in the revelation given to Moses (peace be upon him)
“Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.” (Leviticus 18-12)

“And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.” (Leviticus 20:19)

  If this marriage was not permitted before the revelation of Moses (peace be upon him), then Moses, Aaron and their sister Mariam would be  ‘bastards’ and not allowed to enter into the congregation of God till the tenth generation
“A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 23:2)

  Fifth: “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:31-32)

  It is clearly understood from this passage that the new covenant would abrogate the old covenant. Well, the above five examples oblige both Jews and Christians to accept the notion of abrogation. Christians have an additional share of examples.

  Sixth: according to Moses (peace be upon him), man can divorce his wife for any reason and she can marry another man (Deuteronomy 24:1-3). But according to Jesus (peace be upon him), divorce is allowed only due to adultery and the woman cannot marry again (Matthew 5:31-32). When Pharisees objected, Jesus (peace be upon him) said “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” (Matthew 19:8-9)

  One notices from the above passage that this ruling was abrogated twice; once during Moses’ time and another during Jesus’ time.

  Seventh: many animals were unlawful for food according to Moses’ revelation (Deuteronomy 14:7-8 and Leviticus 11:4-8). This prohibition was abrogated by Paul
“I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” (Romans 14:14)

“Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.” (Titus 1:15)

  The last passage is really interesting. Perhaps Israelites were defiled that’s why some things were unlawful to them! But since Christians are pure, things were made pure to them.

  Eighth: holy days and feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23:14, 21, 31, 41 were to be observed and “it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations”. But they were all abrogated by Jesus’ revelation despite the fact that they were supposed to be everlasting.

  Ninth: observing the Sabbath was an eternal sacred command in Moses’ revelation. No one could ever work during it and whosoever does any work was put to death.
“Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” (Exodus 31:13-17)

“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.” (Exodus 35:2-3)

“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.” (Numbers 15:32-36)

  See also Genesis 2:3, Exodus 20:8-11, 23:12, 34:20, Leviticus 19:3, 23:3, Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Jeremiah 17, Isaiah 56, 58, Nehemiah 9 and Ezekiel 20.
  Contemporaries and critics of Jesus (peace be upon him) objected to him because he did not observe the Sabbath (John 5:16 and 9:16). Then Paul came and abrogated it completely
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)

  However, the real contexts of these holidays in the Torah do not show they were shadows. God showed the reason for prohibition of unlawful meat that it is defiled and they should be holy for He is Holy (Leviticus 11:44-45). And the purpose of feast of unleavened bread “for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:17). And the purpose of feast of booths “That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 23:43). And the purpose of the Sabbath “because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made” (Genesis 2:3).

  Tenth: circumcision was an everlasting covenant in Abraham’s revelation
“And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations………… and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.” (Genesis 17:12-13)

  And it was maintained in Moses’ revelation
“And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” (Leviticus 12:3)

  Jesus himself was circumcised (Luke 2:21). The covenant of circumcision was not abrogated till the departure of Jesus (peace be upon him). It was first abrogated by the disciples (Acts 15:24:29). And then by Paul
“Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.” (Galatians 5:2-6)

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” (Galatians 6:15)

  Eleventh: all rulings of sacrifice, priesthood, Levites, ….etc.. were everlasting ones. They all got abrogated by the Church.

  Twelfth: disciples of Jesus abrogated all practical rulings of the Torah except four things
"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment………..
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." (Acts 15:24, 28-29)

  However, Paul found that observing even these four is not necessary and abrogated the first three with his verdict mentioned in our seventh example.

  Thirteenth: Paul abrogated the entire Law, i.e. Moses’ revelation.
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:21)

  All commentators agree that the Jewish Law was abrogated and no longer valid on basis of this verse.

  Fourteenth: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse……….
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God…….
And the law is not of faith………..
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us……….” (Galatians 3:10-13)

  No more need to the Law on basis of this passage. Paul even referred to the Law as a curse.

  Fifteenth: “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:23-25)

  It is made clear that there is no more need to the Law after faith in Christ.

  Sixteenth: “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” (Hebrews 7:12)

  In John Wesley's Bible notes, it is mentioned that "For" signifies that "One of these cannot be changed without the other." In Peoples New Testament, it was even clearer, as it reads, "Of course, if the priesthood was changed, the law of the old priesthood, the law of Moses, must go with it, and give place to a new law." So, if Muslims use this argument to prove abrogation of all previous laws, they are absolutely right.

  Seventeenth: “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.” (Hebrews 7:18)

  In John Wesley's Bible notes, he says, "a disannulling of the preceding commandment - An abrogation of the Mosaic law.  For the weakness and unprofitableness thereof  - For its insufficiency either to justiify or to sanctify." In Peoples New Testament, it says "The old law and the Aaronic priesthood are abrogated because of their imperfection. They could not make men perfect." No cleaerer reference!

  Eighteenth: “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.” (Hebrews 8:7)

“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” (Hebrews 8:13)

  This declares that the Law was abrogated because it was faulty and old.

  Nineteenth: “He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:9)

  From all above examples one can say that:

• According to the Bible, God makes mistakes and repents afterward. He also may make an everlasting covenant and make void this covenant later. I just make a point here, we -Muslims- seek refuge of God from this false notion.
• Abrogation did take place in both Old and New Testaments. There are many examples of abrogated verses in the Bible as Leviticus 17:3-4, Numbers 25:12-13, 2 Kings 20:1, Matthew 10:5-6, Matthew 15:24, et cetera.
• Abrogation of laws of an early revelation with a later one is not confined to Islam, but is applied on previous revelations as well.
• All rulings of the Torah, whether everlasting or not, were abrogated by Jesus’ revelation. Paul was pretty explicit in this regard.
• Paul showed the necessary association between change of priesthood and change of the Law.
• Paul stated that the old covenant is to vanish. Based upon this Biblical argument we -Muslims- can say that Jesus’ covenant was abrogated with Muhammad’s covenant.
• Paul used very inappropriate words against the Torah, although he believed it is God’s revelation.

And God knows best.