Āl ʿImrān 96–97

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This axis brings together 3 instances of the use of these verses in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking them to the concepts and arguments that appear around them.

Text of the verses as cited

Indeed, the first House established for humankind was that at Bakkah, blessed and a guidance for the worlds. In it are clear signs: the Station of Abraham; and whoever enters it is safe. And pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by all people who are able to find a way to it. Whoever disbelieves—indeed, God is independent of the worlds.

Reader’s answer

Question

How does Muhammad Shahrur read Āl ʿImrān 96–97 in their indication concerning the House and pilgrimage?

Shahrur reads the two verses as describing the Sacred House as the first house to which people have made pilgrimage since ancient times, and as established “for humankind” and “a guidance for the worlds.” From this, he extends the significance of the House and pilgrimage to all people, rather than to believers or Muslims alone, and identifies “Bakkah” as an ancient name for Mecca. He also connects the blessing of the House, in his reading, to the firm establishment of the idea of monotheism there and its spread from it.

Shahrur says that the Sacred House is “the first house to which people have made pilgrimage since ancient times.” He understands the phrases “established for humankind” and “a guidance for the worlds” to mean that the House and pilgrimage are directed to all the inhabitants of the earth, rather than to believers or Muslims alone; he bases this on the statement, “Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to God by all people.” Shahrur explicitly states that “Bakkah” is an ancient name for Mecca. He interprets the description of the House as “blessed” in terms of rootedness, stability, and the growth of its effect, and as “the firm establishment of the idea of monotheism there and its spread from it.”

Evidence and location

The State and Society — p. 137.

Limits of the reading

  • This presents Shahrur’s reading as it appears in the cited evidence; it does not set forth an agreed-upon interpretation of the verses.
  • The evidence establishes Shahrur’s connection between the generality of the terms “people” and “the worlds” and the universal address of pilgrimage, but it does not by itself demonstrate in detail all possible historical or legal conclusions of this connection.
  • The interpretation of “people” as rational beings who “inherited the breath of the spirit from their father Adam,” and the interpretation of “blessed” as the spread of monotheism, are additional interpretive claims advanced by Shahrur in the text.
  • The other evidence from the book “The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna” was not used because it cites the verses without a connected explanation establishing an additional claim about this reading.

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Brief reading

The two verses establish the idea of the Sacred House in Mecca as an ancient house open to all people, and establish an original connection between pilgrimage and it.

Axes

  • Legal
  • Political and social
  • Narrative and historical
  • The Sacred House: 2
  • Mother of Cities: 2
  • Pilgrimage: 2
  • The Ancient House: 1
  • All people: 1

Its place in the network of concepts

They are connected to identifying the centrality of the House and extending its significance to universality and obligation.

Role of the verses in the argument

  • Foundational: 2
  • Supporting: 1

Atlas pages referring to these verses

These links collect the pages that rely on the verses or make them part of the argument within the atlas.

Instances of use

  • The State and Society, p. 137: He uses them to connect the sanctity of the House with its universality for all people, treating them as evidence that what is intended is the ancient House of Mecca.
    • Concept: the Sacred House
    • Function of the verses here: supporting
    • Textual evidence: “He then describes it as the first House established for humankind… then identifies its location as Bakkah… then describes it as a guidance for the worlds.”
  • The State and Society, p. 138: He interprets them to mean that the House is the first house to which people made pilgrimage, that its location is Bakkah, and that its description as a guidance for the worlds and the obligation of pilgrimage upon all people accords with its historical and religious universality.
    • Concept: Mother of Cities
    • Function of the verses here: foundational
    • Textual evidence: “{Indeed, the first House established for humankind… and a guidance for the worlds… and whoever enters it is safe…} (Āl ʿImrān 96, 97)”
  • The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna, p. 99: He makes them foundational for defining pilgrimage and linking it to the Ancient House, safety within it, and the obligation to journey to it for those who are able.
    • Concept: pilgrimage
    • Function of the verses here: foundational
    • Textual evidence: “﴿Indeed, the first House established for humankind … and whoever enters it is safe…﴾ Āl ʿImrān 96–97.”

This page is presented within the general methodology for constructing the atlas.

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