The wisdom of Allah, Exalted is He, entailed that some ayaat of the Quran may be abrogated. In Islamic terminology, Naskh (i.e., abrogation) in the Quran means to cancel and abrogate some fixed Laws of Islam rulings in the Quran and replace them with new rulings and orders revealed in ayaat afterward. Scholars held different opinions regarding the abrogation of some ayaat based on their knowledge of the dates of revelation (of the abrogated and abrogating ayaat), and the understanding of each scholar (of the relevant ayaat) as well. In this hadeeth, the well-ayahd scholar Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him), who was known as “Turjumaan Al-Quraan” (i.e., the ayahd interpreter of the Quran), related that some people claim that the order in that ayah was abrogated, referring to the ayah that reads (what means): {And when [other] relatives and orphans and the needy are present at the [time of] division, then provide for them [something] out of the estate and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.} [Quran 4:8]. They claimed that this ayah was abrogated by the ayaat about the division of the inheritance, and accordingly none but the specified heirs are entitled to any share of the deceased’s estate, i.e., the heirs mentioned in the relevant ayaat. However, Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with them) believed that the ayah was not abrogated, and that its indication does not contradict that of the ayaat about the division of the inheritance (that were revealed afterward). He (may Allah be pleased with him) believed that it was not abrogated, but people have stopped acting on it! He (may Allah be pleased with him) explained that it means that if the one dividing the estate is an heir, he or she is enjoined to give (of what he or she inherits) to these beneficiaries (i.e., the relatives, the orphans and the needy, etc.) specified in the ayah. If he or she is not an heir, e.g., an orphan’s legal guardian, he or she is enjoined to refrain from giving them and should considerately apologize to those who are present at that time of the division, as enjoined by Allah, Exalted is He. He Says (what means): {…and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.} [Quran 4:8]. .