recognized by Muslims to the extent of one-third of the property.36
2. 2:240: “And those of you who die and leave wives behind, should make a bequest in favour of their wives of maintenance for a year without turning them out.” But we have the word of no less an authority than Mujāhid that this verse is not abrogated: “Allāh gave her (the widow) the whole of a year, seven months and twenty days being optional, under the bequest; if she desired she could stay according to the bequest (having maintenance and residence for a year), and if she desired she could leave the house (and remarry), as the Holy Qur’ān says: ‘Then if they leave of their own accord, there is no blame on you’” (Bu. 65: ii, 41). This verse, therefore, does not contradict v. 2:234. Moreover, there is proof that it was revealed after v. 2:234, and hence it cannot be said to have been abrogated by that verse.
3. 8:65: “If there are twenty patient ones of you, they shall overcome two hundred”, etc. This is said to have been abrogated by the verse that follows it: “Now Allāh has made light your burden and He knows that there is weakness in you. So if there be of you a hundred steadfast, they shall overcome two hundred.” That the question of abrogation does not arise here at all is apparent from the words of the second verse which clearly refers to the early times when the Muslims were weak, having neither munitions of war nor experience of warfare, and when old and young had to go out and fight; while the first verse refers to a later period when the Muslim armies were fully organized and equipped.
4. 33:52: “It is not allowed to thee to take women after this.” This is said to have been abrogated by a verse which was apparently revealed before it: “O Prophet! We have made lawful to thee thy wives” (33:50). The whole issue has been misunderstood. As stated before, a verse cannot be abrogated by one revealed before it. Apparently the following happened: When 4:3 was revealed, limiting the number of wives to four, should exceptional circumstances require, the Holy Prophet was told not to divorce the excess number, and this was effected by 33:50; but at the same time he was told not to take any woman in marriage after that, and this was done by 33:52.
36 This is discussed further in the chapter on Inheritance.