يَمْحُوا۟ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيُثْبِتُ ۖ وَعِندَهُۥٓ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ 39
Translations
Allāh eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.
Transliteration
Yahmul-lahu mā yashāu wa yuthbit, wa 'indahu umm al-kitāb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's divine authority to efface or abrogate verses (naskh) and to establish or confirm others, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over revelation. The phrase 'Umm al-Kitāb' (the Mother of the Book) refers to the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh al-Mahfuz) in which all knowledge and decrees are recorded eternally. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this affirms that abrogation is part of Allah's divine wisdom in guiding mankind, and that behind all temporal changes in divine law exists an unchanging, eternal divine knowledge.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Medinan surah Ar-Ra'd and addresses the broader theme of Allah's signs and sovereignty. It provides context for understanding the permissibility of naskh (abrogation of earlier verses), which was a matter of discussion among the early Muslim community as the Quran was revealed progressively over 23 years. The surah emphasizes Allah's complete knowledge and control over all affairs.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to hadith reports about the abrogation of verses. See also related Quranic discussions in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:106 which explicitly mentions abrogation. While no single hadith directly quotes this ayah, the principle is supported by various reports regarding naskh in collections like Sahih Bukhari.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that changes in divine law are not contradictions but expressions of Allah's infinite wisdom and mercy, guiding humanity according to their evolving circumstances. For believers today, it reinforces trust in Allah's perfect knowledge and the purposefulness behind all divine commandments, encouraging acceptance of religious guidance with complete faith.
Related Ayahs
وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرٌ ۖ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ
And those who disbelieved say, "Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?" You are only a warner, and for every people is a guide.
وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًا ۚ قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ
And those who have disbelieved say, "You are not a messenger." Say, [O Muḥammad], "Sufficient is Allāh as Witness between me and you, and [the witness of] whoever has knowledge of the Scripture."
أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحْتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا ۚ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ ٱبْتِغَآءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَـٰعٍ زَبَدٌ مِّثْلُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَٱلْبَـٰطِلَ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَآءً ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ
He sends down from the sky, rain, and valleys flow according to their capacity, and the torrent carries a rising foam. And from that [ore] which they heat in the fire, desiring adornments and utensils, is a foam like it. Thus Allāh presents [the example of] truth and falsehood. As for the foam, it vanishes, [being] cast off; but as for that which benefits the people, it remains on the earth. Thus does Allāh present examples.
لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُۥ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ
For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.