or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it. Then He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills”—to the end of the verse.

Although some of the early Muslims said that this verse was abrogated—as al-Bukhārī narrated in his Sahīh from Marwān al-Asfar, from one of the Prophet’s Companions, namely Ibn ‘Umar—the term “abrogation” had a broader meaning in the usage of the early Muslims than it does among later scholars. They used it for any setting aside of a text’s implications, including restricting a general statement, qualifying an unrestricted one, and other such cases, as is well known from their usage. Others denied that the verse was abrogated, for lack of evidence. Some maintained that it was a statement of fact, and that statements of fact cannot be abrogated. Others replied that it was a statement concerning a religious ruling, like a statement conveying a command or prohibition.

Those who hold that it was abrogated identify the abrogating text as the subsequent verse, namely His words:

“Allah does not burden any soul beyond its capacity.”

This is as Muslim narrated in his Sahīh in a hadith from Anas concerning this verse. What they were exempted from would thus be what the hadiths explain: things within their power which they contemplate or discuss inwardly, so long as they neither speak of them nor act upon them. They were also exempted from liability for mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are compelled to do. As Ibn Mājah and others narrated with a sound chain of transmission:

“Allah has pardoned my community for mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are compelled to do.”

The truth of the matter is that His words, glorified be He:

“Whether you reveal what is within yourselves or conceal it”

do not indicate that they will be punished for it; rather, they indicate that they will be called to account for it, and it does not