Abrogation in the Quran

Abrogation in the Quran

Critics of Islam often attack the concept of abrogation, they always claim that abrogation in the Quran proves it is not from God and proves it is an inconsistent book because why God would reveal a certain ruling and cancel it out or replace it later on in the same book. This arises due to the fact that they do not read Quran properly in full.

Even their Question is mentioned in Quran. 

25: 32. And those who disbelieve say, "Why was the Quran not revealed to him all at once?" Thus [it is] that We may strengthen thereby your heart. And We have spaced it distinctly.

Interesting their claim is already answered in Quran 1400 years ago

2:106. 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?

Why there is abrogation???
  This is answered by Allah that whenever we do this we do it by replacing it with something better or at least similar. God is all knowing and knows that it is impossible for man to completely change his ways suddenly. It takes man a gradual amount of time till he can adapt to a certain way, for instance can a person addicted to drugs leave drugs alone in one day after you warn him of its consequences? Off course not, but it will take a gradual amount of time till he can stop taking the drugs.

Example of Abrogation

Now sometime while prohibiting a thing it was prohibited in parts step by step over the period --
For example in case of Alcohol it wasn’t prohibited immediately. It was prohibited in 3 parts.

22:19. They ask you about wine  and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit."
(In first stage God told us that there is some good thing in this but the sin/harm is many times more….some leave this after getting these verses)

4: 43. O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying
(In second stage it was prohibited to pray while intoxicated….. some people recited the verses wrongly while praying so this verse was revealed…………… some after getting these verses left alcohol)

5:90 O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid  it that you may be successful.
(In third stage it is completely prohibited, now no excuse).

If anyone will take these verses and try to prove contradiction he is making fool others. It’s clear to that it is simply the prohibition in stages. As at that times Arab’s were in the lowest level of humanity one historian has clearly defined them as “The only thing which distinguishes them from animal was their shape/form”. They were drunkards, adulterers’, idolators etc.

So this is the practical approach used by Allah. Interesting same approach is used by current days rehabilitation centers they don’t stop the drug/alcohol addict immediately…but in steps.
 

Regards
Tariq