and give it precedence over the Quran are of the same kind as the Jews and Christians. Those who deny the messengers and give their own opinions precedence over what Allah has revealed are in a worse condition, weaker in reason and faith, and more deeply steeped in unbelief than the People of the Book who regard a book other than the Quran as binding upon them. For the latter are like someone who cites a text that has been abrogated or provides only weak evidence, yet believes it to be a statement of the Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace; or someone who counters his statement with another statement of his that he believes contradicts it. This has always occurred among people.

This is unlike someone who counters the Messenger’s words with what he knows are not his words, but those of someone else. Such a person has not believed in the Messenger or in what he brought. Hence, none of the early generations is known to have countered a verse or hadith except with what he believed to be the meaning of another verse or hadith, whether he was correct or mistaken in doing so.

The one who is correct counters an abrogated text with the text that abrogates it. Thus, the Companions and the scholars after them would say concerning Allah’s words:

“And for those who are able to fast, a ransom: feeding a needy person. But whoever voluntarily does more good, it is better for him.”
[al-Baqarah 184]

This indicated that a resident able to fast had the choice between fasting and paying the ransom. It was abrogated by Allah’s words:

“So whoever among you witnesses the month