Sayyid Mutada’s Viewpoint toward the Theory of Abrogation in Mo’tazilah

The theory of abrogation is one of the answers provided by the interpreters, fiqh scholars, and theologians to deal with the regulation changes and surface contradictions in the Qur’anic verses concerning the religious regulations. The religious scholars have tried to find reasons for these changes through the principles of theology, osul, and fiqh and they have sometimes let their own views moderate their justifications. The theory of abrogation is one of the issues in the Mo’tazilah and Ash’ariyah theology. Mo’tazilah is among the earliest Islamic denominations which has taken a rational approach in the interpretation of the Qur’an. The Mo’tazilites appealed to the interpretation whenever they confronted something in the Qur’an which did not adapt with their principles. They have used the Qur’anic verses concerning the abrogation in order to support their view about the contingency of the Qur’an. The study of Sayyid Murtada’s works and the fact that he was taught by a number of Mo’tazilah scholars reveals his tendency to the Basri version of the Mo’tazilah approach. Sayyid Murtada and Mo’tazilah have similar views in most of the cases of the theory of abrogation. Meanwhile, one of the differences between the Mo’tazilah and Imamiyah concerning the Qur’anic abrogation is the abrogation of the regulation or abrogation of both regulation and the relevant verses at the same time. Mo’tazilites, in contrast to the Shiites, believe that abrogation includes the regulation and the verses, as well. Furthermore, Imamiyah does not trust doubtful and non-widely transmitted traditions in regard with abrogation; however, Mo’tazilah has appealed to such traditions in some cases concerning the abrogation of both regulation and recitation.

Keywords: abrogation, Sayyid Murtada, Mo’tazilah, interpretation

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* Associate professor, Kashan University

** Ph.D. candidate in Qur’an and hadith studies, Kashan University