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
كَذَٰلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ فِىٓ أُمَّةٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهَآ أُمَمٌ لِّتَتْلُوَا۟ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۚ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّى لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ
Thus have We sent you to a community before which [other] communities have passed on so you might recite to them that which We revealed to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Merciful. Say, "He is my Lord; there is no deity except Him. Upon Him I rely, and to Him is my return."
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَـَٔابٍ
Those who have believed and done righteous deeds - a good state is theirs and a good return.
جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍ
Gardens of perpetual residence; they will enter them with whoever were righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying],
۞ مَّثَلُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى وُعِدَ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ ۖ أُكُلُهَا دَآئِمٌ وَظِلُّهَا ۚ تِلْكَ عُقْبَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوا۟ ۖ وَّعُقْبَى ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ٱلنَّارُ
The example [i.e., description] of Paradise, which the righteous have been promised, is [that] beneath it rivers flow. Its fruit is lasting, and its shade. That is the consequence for the righteous, and the consequence for the disbelievers is the Fire.