27/75. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3554 — Abrogation and the Limits of Divorce
Abrogation Of The Permission To Take Back One's Wife After The Three Divorces
Abrogation in the Quran and the Rule of Divorce Twice
Sunan an-Nasai : 3554
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3554
حَدَّثَنَا زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ يَحْيَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ وَاقِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي قَالَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ النَّحْوِيُّ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ { مَا نَنْسَخْ مِنْ آيَةٍ أَوْ نُنْسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْهَا أَوْ مِثْلِهَا } وَقَالَ { وَإِذَا بَدَّلْنَا آيَةً مَكَانَ آيَةٍ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُنَزِّلُ } الآيَةَ وَقَالَ { يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ } فَأَوَّلُ مَا نُسِخَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ الْقِبْلَةُ وَقَالَ { وَالْمُطَلَّقَاتُ يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنْفُسِهِنَّ ثَلاَثَةَ قُرُوءٍ وَلاَ يَحِلُّ لَهُنَّ أَنْ يَكْتُمْنَ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ فِي أَرْحَامِهِنَّ } إِلَى قَوْلِهِ { إِنْ أَرَادُوا إِصْلاَحًا } وَذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ الرَّجُلَ كَانَ إِذَا طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ فَهُوَ أَحَقُّ بِرَجْعَتِهَا وَإِنْ طَلَّقَهَا ثَلاَثًا فَنَسَخَ ذَلِكَ وَقَالَ { الطَّلاَقُ مَرَّتَانِ فَإِمْسَاكٌ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ تَسْرِيحٌ بِإِحْسَانٍ } .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Regarding Allah's saying: "Whatever a Verse do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We bring a better one or similar to it." and"And when We change a Verse in place of another -and Allah knows best what He sends down" (Al-Nahl 16:101)and "Allah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills). And with Him is the Mother of the Book." The first thing that was abrogated in the Qur'an was the Qiblah. And He said: "And divorced women shall wait (as regards their marriage) for three menstrual periods, and it is not lawful for them to conceal what Allah has created in their wombs, if they believe in Allah and the Last Day." "And their husbands have better right to take them back in that period, if they wish for reconciliation." -that is because when a man divorced his wife, he had more right to take her back, even if he had divorced her three times. Then (Allah) abrogated that and said: "The divorce is twice, after that, either you retain her on reasonable terms or release her with kindness."
[1] Al-Baqarah 2:106.[1] Ar-Ra’d 13:39.[2] Al-Baqarah 2:228.[3] Al-Baqarah 2:229. It should be noted that the same chain and text preceded (3529), although there are some differences in the wording.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3554In-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 168English translation : Vol. 4, Book 27, Hadith 3584
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3554
This Hadith presents Ibn Abbas's explanation of abrogation in the Quran. He cites verses stating that Allah may abrogate, replace, erase, or confirm what He wills. He says the first matter abrogated in the Quran was the Qiblah. He then explains an earlier divorce practice: a husband could take his wife back during her waiting period even after divorcing her three times. According to the report, that was replaced by the verse stating that divorce is twice, followed either by keeping the wife on reasonable terms or releasing her with kindness. The core message is that a later revealed rule set a limit on repeated return. The Hadith joins the general idea of abrogation with a direct example from divorce law.
What we learn from this hadith
- The report identifies the Qiblah as the first matter abrogated in the Quran.
- An earlier unrestricted right of return after repeated divorce was replaced.
- The later rule states that divorce is twice, followed by fair retention or kind release.
