وَإِذَا بَدَّلْنَآ ءَايَةً مَّكَانَ ءَايَةٍ ۙ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُنَزِّلُ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُفْتَرٍۭ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 101
Translations
And when We substitute a verse in place of a verse - and Allāh is most knowing of what He sends down - they say, "You, [O Muḥammad], are but an inventor [of lies]." But most of them do not know.
Transliteration
Wa-idha baddalnā āyatan makāna āyatin wa-Allāhu a'lamu bimā yunazzilu qālū innamā anta muftarin bal aktharu-hum lā ya'lamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Meccan polytheists' accusations that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was fabricating the Quran when verses were abrogated (mansakh) and replaced with others. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that Allah's replacement of verses with others is part of His divine wisdom and legislative authority, yet the disbelievers attributed this to the Prophet's invention out of ignorance and malice. The ayah concludes that most of them lack understanding of how divine revelation operates and the purposes behind abrogation (naskh).
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl, revealed in Mecca during the early-to-middle Meccan period. The broader context addresses objections raised by disbelievers against the Quranic message, particularly regarding the phenomenon of abrogation—the replacement of earlier verses with new ones as divine law progressed. This was a common point of attack by the Quraysh who used it to question the authenticity of the Quranic revelation.
Related Hadiths
Hadith from Sahih Bukhari (3028) where Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) discussed instances of abrogation, demonstrating the companions' understanding of this divine practice. Additionally, various reports explain specific instances of abrogation (mansukh and nasikh) throughout the Quran.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that changes in divine law reflect Allah's infinite wisdom and the evolving needs of the Muslim community, not inconsistency or human fabrication. For modern readers, it encourages trust in divine guidance and intellectual humility when encountering concepts we may not fully comprehend, while reminding us that rejection of truth often stems from ignorance rather than rational objection.