there could be a Naskh in Allah's commandments, for He decides what He wills, just as He does what He wills" (Ibn Kathir). Alcohol see:Khamr#Scriptural basis The "classical" and oft cited example of how naskh was used in stages to guide a major change in the behavior of the faithful was the banning of alcohol, implemented in three verses. It has been described as an act of wisdom, needed because an abrupt total ban would have been too harsh and impractical. "Arab society in the beginning was not ready to abandon drinking alcohol. They needed to strengthen their faith in order to overcome their desire to drink." The first verse gently discouraged Muslims from drinking alcohol: The second prohibited Muslims from being drunk during one kind of activity—praying salat: And finally, once Muslim were "ready for it", alcohol (along with gambling) was totally prohibited: </ref> Ratio of enemy warriors to Muslims Two verses Imam Al-Shafi'i cites as "the clearest evidence" for naskh concern the number of enemies each Muslim warrior is expected to vanquish. (Unlike with those concerning alcohol, the abrogating verse is more lenient not more strict.) A verse calling for overcoming ten unbelievers ... is abrogated by one reducing the number of enemy Muslims are expected to fight to only two: Another example of this takhfīf (lightening) is lifting the burden of lengthy nocturnal prayers in that had been required by . The Sword verse(s) A verse(s) of major importance in Muslim-non-Muslim relations is the "Sword verse" (as, to a lesser extent, are similar verses such as ). Among "medieval exegetes and jurists" there was "a broad consensus that and abrogated "all the other statements" in the Quran "on the issue of waging war". In modern times, the sword verse has been used by extremist groups and individuals to justify their killing of non-Muslims civilians, according to Lohay Fatoohi (although some dispute this), and Mahfuh Halimi argues extremist advocates of violence maintain the verse of the sword Q.9:5 abrogates "more than a hundred" verses of the Quran advising or advocating "peace, coexistence, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness as the basis for relations between Muslims and non-Muslims." Critics have called this a case of passages called for killing abrogating ones calling for tolerance. and a classic example of determining the validity of a verse by determining when it was revealed. Verses counseling patience and forbearance that are said to be