He was asked about the meaning of His words:

“Whatever verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten,”

given that Allah, glorified is He, is not subject to forgetfulness.

He replied:

As for His words, “Whatever verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten,” there are two readings. The better-known reading is aw nunsihā (“or We cause it to be forgotten”), meaning, “We cause you to forget it.” That is: if We abrogate what We have sent down, or choose to send down what We wish to reveal, We bring you something better than it or its like.

The second reading is aw nansa’hā (“or We defer it”), with a hamzah, meaning, “We delay it.” No one has recited it as nansāhā (“We forget it”). Whoever thinks that nansa’hā means nansāhā is ignorant of Arabic and Quranic interpretation. Moses, peace be upon him, said:

“Knowledge of them is with my Lord, in a Record. My Lord neither errs nor forgets.”

“Forgetting” is attributed to the servant, as in His words:

“We will make you recite, and you will not forget, except what Allah wills.”

For this reason, some of the Companions recited it as aw tansāhā (“or you forget it”), meaning, “You forget it, O Muhammad.” This is clear and escapes only an ignorant person who does not distinguish between nansa’hā, with a hamzah, and nansāhā, without one. And Allah knows best.