The original version of Quran 4:95 was quickly replaced:
Narrated Al-Bara:
There was revealed: 'Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and those who strive and fight in the Cause of Allah.' (4.95) [Note: this is the initial version of Quran 4:95]
The Prophet said, "Call Zaid for me and let him bring the board, the inkpot and the scapula bone (or the scapula bone and the ink pot)."' Then he said, "Write: 'Not equal are those Believers who sit..", and at that time 'Amr bin Um Maktum, the blind man was sitting behind the Prophet . He said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is your order For me (as regards the above Verse) as I am a blind man?" SO, INSTEAD OF THE ABOVE VERSE, the following Verse was revealed:
"Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame etc.) and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah." (4.95). -- Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 61, Number 512
OUR DEBATE QUESTION:
We shall seek an answer as to why the initial verse of Quran 4:95 was so quickly abrogated. Our Debate Question is: "Which is more likely, 1) that the perfect, all-knowing god of the universe was initially unaware of blind and disabled people, or 2) that the imperfect Muhammad had forgotten about such people when he was first making up this verse?"
Narrated Al-Bara:
There was revealed: 'Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and those who strive and fight in the Cause of Allah.' (4.95) [Note: this is the initial version of Quran 4:95]
The Prophet said, "Call Zaid for me and let him bring the board, the inkpot and the scapula bone (or the scapula bone and the ink pot)."' Then he said, "Write: 'Not equal are those Believers who sit..", and at that time 'Amr bin Um Maktum, the blind man was sitting behind the Prophet . He said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is your order For me (as regards the above Verse) as I am a blind man?" SO, INSTEAD OF THE ABOVE VERSE, the following Verse was revealed:
"Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) except those who are disabled (by injury or are blind or lame etc.) and those who strive and fight in the cause of Allah." (4.95). -- Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 61, Number 512
OUR DEBATE QUESTION:
We shall seek an answer as to why the initial verse of Quran 4:95 was so quickly abrogated. Our Debate Question is: "Which is more likely, 1) that the perfect, all-knowing god of the universe was initially unaware of blind and disabled people, or 2) that the imperfect Muhammad had forgotten about such people when he was first making up this verse?"
RSS Feed
Good discussion of abrogation;
2nd fine discussion of abrogation