The Concept of Abrogation in the Qur’an: A Hermeneutical Analysis of the Linguistic and Terminological Problem

Abstract

The concept of abrogation is among the most debated issues in Qur’anic studies and the principles of Islamic jurisprudence, due to its close connection with understanding the Qur’anic text and directing its rulings. The central problematic lies in the disparity between the linguistic meaning of abrogation and its terminological use in exegetical and juridical traditions, where it evolved into a mechanism for interpreting what appears as variation or contradiction in the meanings of foundational texts. This disparity has generated ongoing debate regarding the precision and validity of the concept in interpreting the Qur’anic text, especially with the emergence of modern approaches that re-examine the notion in light of hermeneutical readings and the historical contexts of discourse. This study aims to uncover the linguistic and terminological dimensions of the concept of abrogation and to clarify its impact on interpretive methodologies, which allows for rethinking its limits and contemporary implications, and how the use of these definitions and applications of abrogation may serve as a means to resolve interpretive problems in foundational texts.