Orientalist's approach to abrogation in the Qur an

Abrogation is one of the most vital issues in the Qur’anic history and therefore, various Islamic scholars and Orientalists have propounded their views on this subject. Montgomery Watt, Rodnson and David powers are amongst prominent orientalists who have propounded their views concerning abrogation, a critical review of which is proposed in the present article. “Manuscript abrogation and moderation in the Quran”, “abrogation; a means for lightening the juristic laws from the Prophet” by Montgomery Watt, “abrogation: a contradiction in the Qur’an” by David Powers, “abrogation; a result of different tastes” and “abrogation; requirement of the community of two anti-entity” by Rodnson are the views that have been critically examined in this paper.