What Do You Think?

[jerrys1960]

What is Nasikh?

copied from:
http://www.sunnipath.com/library/books/B0040P0021.aspx


Al-Nasikh and al-Mansukh


The Arabic words 'nasikh' and 'mansukh' are both derived from the same root word 'nasakha' which carries meanings such as 'to abolish, to replace, to withdraw, to abrogate'.

The word nasikh (an active participle) means 'the abrogating', while mansukh (passive) means 'the abrogated'. In technical language these terms refer to certain parts of the Qur'anic revelation, which have been 'abrogated' by others. Naturally the abrogated passage is the one called 'mansukh' while the abrogating one is called 'nasikh'.

The Qur'an on Naskh

The principle of naskh (abrogation) is referred to in the Qur'an itself and is not a later historical development:

'None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause it to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: knowest thou that God has power over all things?' (2: 106).


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Surah Baqara 2:106:
"None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: Knowest thou not that God Hath power over all things?"

Surah Nahl 16:101:
"When We substitute one revelation for another,- and God knows best what He reveals (in stages),- they say, "Thou art but a forger": but most of them understand not."


remember in islam there is no changing or abrogating of verses they just substitute them for something better.

what is the difference?

[jerrys1960]

here is a post from a facebook user that gives a similar explanation of
nasikh and mansukh plus an example of one of the explanations as to why it was done.


copied from:
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150139203834105


The word nasikh (an active participle) means 'the abrogating', while mansukh (passive) means 'the abrogated'. In technical language these terms refer to certain parts of the Qur'anic revelation, which have been 'abrogated' by others. Naturally the abrogated passage is the one called 'mansukh' while the abrogating one is called 'nasikh'.



The Qur'an on Naskh







The principle of naskh (abrogation) is referred to in the Qur'an itself and is not a later historical development:



'None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause it to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar: knowest thou that God has power over all things?' (2: 106).

مَا نَنْسَخْ مِنْ آَيَةٍ أَوْ نُنْسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ



[Some however say that this refers to the revelations before the Qur’an, which have now been substituted by the Qur’an itself. See Mawdudi. The Meaning of the Qur’an, Lahore, 1967, Vol. I, p.102. note 109.]



How it came about ?



When the message of Islam was presented to the Arabs as something new, and different from their way of life, it was introduced in stages. The Qur'an brought important changes gradually, to allow the people to adjust to the new prescriptions.



Example: There are three verses in the Qur'an concerning <i>the drinking of wine</i>. Wine drinking was very widespread in pre-Islamic times and, although a social evil, highly esteemed. The three verses which finally led to the prohibition of intoxicating substances were revealed in stages (4: 43, 2: 219; 5: 90).



First :
"O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say"


Then :
"They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin , and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit."


Finally :
" O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper"



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However this very example/explanation should make a person wonder if the "better" passages advocating violence against non-muslims was set up in stages to gradually indoctrinate people, then as well as now, away from the peaceful tolerant lifestyle into becoming the violent and deceptive cult that we see all to often see around us.

The old adage almost seems to apply - if you put a frog in hot water it will jump out immediately. However if you put the frog in cool water and raise the temperature slowly enough it will sit there until it is cooked.