Yet there are some who maintain, “The verses that command disputation and debate with the unbelievers have been abrogated by the Sword Verse,” because they assume that the legislated order to fight contradicts the legislated order to debate. This is a mistake, for abrogation applies only when the later ruling flatly contradicts the earlier one—just as the command to face the Sacred Mosque in prayer contradicted the previous command to face Bayt al-Maqdis in al-Shām; or the command obliging a resident to fast Ramadan contradicted the earlier option of choosing between fasting and feeding one needy person for each day; or His prohibition on exceeding the shares He fixed for heirs contradicted the earlier injunction to make a bequest for parents and close relatives; or His words to them, “Withhold your hands from fighting,” contradicted His subsequent words, “Fight them,” as the Exalted said:

“Have you not seen those who were told, ‘Restrain your hands, establish the prayer, and give zakah’? Then, when fighting was prescribed for them, a group of them feared people as they ought to fear Allah—or even more so.” [an-Nisāʾ 4:77]

Thus His command to fight abrogated His earlier order that they refrain from fighting. By contrast, His words:

“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good admonition, and argue with them in the best manner” [an-Naḥl 16:125],

and His words:

“Do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in the best manner—unless it be those among them who act unjustly” [al-ʿAnkabūt 29:46]