offenders possessing ihsān, or apply generally to both categories, one of the two verses must abrogate the other: either the first is abrogated by the second, or the second by the first. Whichever abrogates the other is then itself abrogated either by His words, exalted is He:
“The woman and the man who commit unlawful sexual intercourse—flog each of them with one hundred lashes.” [al-Nūr: 2]
This is according to those who consider the two verses to concern offenders possessing ihsān. Alternatively, it is abrogated by the verse prescribing flogging together with the ruling of stoning revealed by Allah, according to those who consider the two verses to apply generally to both categories.
It has been said that the second verse abrogates the first. Ismāʿīl al-Qādī, however, held that the first in the order of recitation abrogates the second. In the earliest days of Islam, the two offenders were yuhnasān, confined, and testified against; this ruling was then abrogated by His words:
“Confine them to their houses until death takes them or Allah makes a way for them.” [al-Nisā’: 15]
This interpretation is unlikely, since an abrogating text must come after the text it abrogates. The order of recitation indicates that the second verse came after the first, because the pronoun in His words in the second verse:
“The two among you who commit it” [al-Nisā’: 16]
refers back to the sexual immorality mentioned in the first verse. A pronoun cannot refer back to something not yet mentioned. Nevertheless, this interpretation is supported by the report that, when the verse prescribing flogging was revealed—His words:
“The woman and the man who commit unlawful sexual intercourse—flog each of them with one hundred lashes” [al-Nūr: 2]—
the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
“Take this from me: Allah has now made a way for them. For a virgin with a virgin: one hundred lashes and banishment for a year. For a non-virgin with a non-virgin: one hundred lashes and stoning.”
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Thus, stoning came from Allah, Mighty and Majestic, in one of two ways:
Either through a text revealed to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, namely: “The old man and the old woman—stone them both without fail.” This was recited as revelation, but it was not Quran. Had it been Quran, it would necessarily have been either unabrogated or abrogated. It cannot have been unabrogated, for then it would have been preserved between the two covers, and its omission could not have occurred, since Allah Most High has preserved the Quran. He says:
“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Reminder, and indeed, We will preserve it.” [al-Hijr: 9]