65/2.7. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4481 — Qur'an Recitation and Abrogation
His Statement: "Whatever a Verse (revelation) do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better one or similar to it..." (V.2:106)
Hadith About Quran Abrogation and Ubayy ibn Ka'b
Sahih Bukhari : 4481
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4481
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ عُمَرُ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَقْرَؤُنَا أُبَىٌّ، وَأَقْضَانَا عَلِيٌّ، وَإِنَّا لَنَدَعُ مِنْ قَوْلِ أُبَىٍّ، وَذَاكَ أَنَّ أُبَيًّا يَقُولُ لاَ أَدَعُ شَيْئًا سَمِعْتُهُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَدْ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {مَا نَنْسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ نَنْسَأْهَا}
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
`Umar said, "Our best Qur'an reciter is Ubai and our best judge is `Ali; and in spite of this, we leave some of the statements of Ubai because Ubai says, 'I do not leave anything that I have heard from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) while Allah:"Whatever verse (Revelations) do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten but We bring a better one or similar to it." (2.106)
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4481In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 8USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 8
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4481
This hadith about Quran abrogation is short, but it teaches careful balance. Umar praises two Companions by naming Ubayy as a leading Qur'an reciter and Ali as a leading judge. At the same time, Umar explains that not every statement of Ubayy was followed in the same way, because Ubayy held firmly to what he heard from the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Umar then cites the verse that Allah may abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten and bring one better or similar. The main lesson is not to lower the rank of great people. Rather, the hadith shows that knowledge, recitation, and legal judgment must stay tied to revelation as Allah gives it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Respect for scholars and skilled reciters is shown clearly in Umar's words.
- Holding to what one heard needs to be understood with Allah's revealed guidance.
- The text points to abrogation as a Qur'anic principle.
- Different strengths among Companions can be recognized without rejecting any of them.
