Reconstructing the Abrogated. Exegesis of Qur'ān 53:21-22

The purpose of this study is to analyze verses 21-22 of Sūrah 53 of the Qur’ān, ُجٌَّٕ ْا al-Najm (The Star). These two verses have been the object of many discussions, in the West as well as within the Muslim world. My aim is twofold: first, I introduce the historical background that eventually led to the alleged abrogated verses. The immigration(s) to Abyssinia and Muhammad’s emigration from Mecca to Medina are the starting point of my analysis. Second, and more importantly, the exegesis of Sūrah 53:21-22, covering historic and philological aspects, as well as theoretical issues, will demonstrate that the episode of the "wrong verses" actually never happened, or rather, it was indeed the result of later interpolations. The reconstruction of the abrogated verses is therefore an inseparable part of my exegesis, necessary to prove the discrepancies inherent to the alleged incident.