What does « To abrogate / To copy » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To abrogate / To copy (نسخ) in the Quran, with 4 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

نسخ

To abrogate / To copy

Root: ن - س - خ

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 4 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of To abrogate / To copy

An-Naskh refers to abrogation and copying.

The Almighty says: 'We do not abrogate a verse' (Al-Baqarah 106).

Nasakha means to abrogate or copy.

An-nāsikh is the abrogating.

Al-mansūkh is the abrogated.

To abrogate / To copy in the Quran (4)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

Al-A'raf 1

Al-Hajj 1

Al-Jathiya 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 106 Medinan

﴿مَا نَنسَخْ مِنْ ءَايَةٍ أَوْ نُنسِهَا نَأْتِ بِخَيْرٍ مِّنْهَآ أَوْ مِثْلِهَآ أَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ﴾

We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?

Surah Al-A'raf : 154 Meccan

﴿وَلَمَّا سَكَتَ عَن مُّوسَى ٱلْغَضَبُ أَخَذَ ٱلْأَلْوَاحَ وَفِى نُسْخَتِهَا هُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِرَبِّهِمْ يَرْهَبُونَ﴾

And when the anger subsided in Moses, he took up the tablets; and in their inscription was guidance and mercy for those who are fearful of their Lord.

Surah Al-Hajj : 52 Medinan

﴿وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ وَلَا نَبِىٍّ إِلَّآ إِذَا تَمَنَّىٰٓ أَلْقَى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ فِىٓ أُمْنِيَّتِهِۦ فَيَنسَخُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يُلْقِى ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ ثُمَّ يُحْكِمُ ٱللَّهُ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ﴾

And We did not send before you any messenger or prophet except that when he spoke [or recited], Satan threw into it [some misunderstanding]. But Allah abolishes that which Satan throws in; then Allah makes precise His verses. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.

Surah Al-Jathiya : 29 Meccan

﴿هَٰذَا كِتَٰبُنَا يَنطِقُ عَلَيْكُم بِٱلْحَقِّ إِنَّا كُنَّا نَسْتَنسِخُ مَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ﴾

This, Our record, speaks about you in truth. Indeed, We were having transcribed whatever you used to do."