Al-An'am 152

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This verse recurs in Shahrur’s project because it brings together fulfillment, the safeguarding of an orphan’s property, and justice in speech and dealings. It is central for him because it presents ethics as part of the legislative structure, rather than as a separate exhortation.

Text of the verse as cited

… AND GIVE FULL MEASURE AND WEIGHT WITH JUSTICE…

Reader’s Answer

Question

How does Muhammad Shahrur employ Qur’an 6:152 in his discussion of measure, weight, and justice?

In the available citation, Shahrur employs the verse under the heading “measure and weight and compliance with specifications.” He reads the command “give full measure and weight with justice” as a principle of fulfillment in calibration and specifications, and places it in a series of verses on weighing and the prohibition of giving short measure. This citation alone does not establish that Shahrur treats the verse as a comprehensive text on righteous action or social justice, nor that he specifically derives from it the idea of justice in testimony toward relatives and others, although this wording does occur in the verse itself.

Shahrur places Qur’an 6:152 under the title “measure and weight and compliance with specifications,” and cites the phrase “give full measure and weight with justice.” The citation connects the verse with other verses concerning establishing weight with justice, the prohibition of diminishing the balance, and shortchanging in measure and weight; this clarifies that his use here is focused on fairness in transactions and calibration.

Citation and Location

Islam and Faith — p. 77.

Limits of the Reading

  • The direct citation does not establish the claim that, for Shahrur, the verse in its general formulation grounds “righteous action” or “social justice.”
  • The available citation does not establish a detailed interpretation of the phrase “and when you speak, be just, even if it concerns a relative”; therefore, no particular reading of speech or testimony involving relatives is attributed to him here.
  • The citations from “the Book and the Qur’an” and “A Guide to the Contemporary Reading of the Wise Revelation” cannot be used to support this page, because they do not address Qur’an 6:152 or its use in this context.

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Brief Reading

Shahrur uses the verse to affirm that justice begins with safeguarding both minor and major rights, and that giving full measure and weight and caring for an orphan’s property are integral to righteous action. He also presents it as evidence that justice in speech and testimony applies equally to relatives and others.

Axes

  • Humanistic and ethical
  • Legislative
  • Methodological
  • Fulfillment: 2
  • Orphan: 2
  • Orphan’s property: 2
  • Justice in transactions: 2
  • Testimony: 2
  • Justice: 1
  • Justice in speech: 1
  • Specifications: 1

Its Place in the Network of Concepts

The verse is connected to fulfillment, the orphan, the orphan’s property, justice in transactions, and testimony. It is central because it brings together ethical conduct and practical regulation.

The Verse’s Role in the Argument

  • Support: 4
  • Foundation: 3
  • Distinction: 1

Summary of Its Presence in the Atlas

  • It brings together fulfillment and the orphan’s property.
  • It is connected to justice in speech and dealings.
  • It is presented as part of the ethical legislative structure.

Contexts of Use

  • Islam and the Human Being: He cites it as evidence that fulfillment in dealings and covenants is among the foundations of righteous action and social justice.
    • Concept: Fulfillment
    • Function of the verse here: Support
    • Textual citation: “{ … AND GIVE FULL MEASURE AND WEIGHT WITH JUSTICE … } (Al-An’am 152)”
  • Islam and Faith, p. 77: He uses it to affirm that protecting an orphan’s property is among the shared commandments revealed in more than one message and then developed in the Muhammadan message.
    • Concept: Orphan
    • Function of the verse here: Support
    • Textual citation: “{AND DO NOT APPROACH THE PROPERTY OF THE ORPHAN…} (Al-An’am 152).”
  • Islam and Faith, p. 77: He makes it a foundational principle in kindness toward the orphan and safeguarding the orphan’s property before values expanded further at a later stage.
    • Concept: Orphan’s property
    • Function of the verse here: Foundation
    • Textual citation: “- {AND DO NOT APPROACH THE PROPERTY OF THE ORPHAN EXCEPT IN THE BEST MANNER…} (Al-An’am 152).”
  • Islam and Faith, p. 77: He makes it one of the primary foundations for regulating measure and weight within the system of values revealed to the prophets.
    • Concept: Justice in transactions
    • Function of the verse here: Foundation
    • Textual citation: “- {… AND GIVE FULL MEASURE AND WEIGHT WITH JUSTICE…} (Al-An’am 152).”
  • the Book and the Qur’an, p. 276: He uses it to establish justice as fairness in speech and judgment, even toward relatives.
    • Concept: Justice
    • Function of the verse here: Support
    • Textual citation: “And His saying, exalted be He: {… AND WHEN YOU SPEAK, BE JUST, EVEN IF IT CONCERNS A RELATIVE…} (Al-An’am 152).”
  • the Book and the Qur’an, p. 462: He treats it as the text of the eighth commandment and derives from it the obligation of truthfulness and justice in speech and testimony, even with relatives.
    • Concept: Justice in speech
    • Function of the verse here: Foundation
    • Textual citation: “The eighth commandment — {AND WHEN YOU SPEAK, BE JUST, EVEN IF IT CONCERNS A RELATIVE}”
  • A Guide to the Contemporary Reading of the Wise Revelation, p. 48: He distinguishes false speech in the pilgrimage from justice in judicial testimony in Qur’an 6:152.
    • Concept: Testimony
    • Function of the verse here: Distinction
    • Textual citation: “It differs from what occurs in His saying, exalted be He: { … AND WHEN YOU SPEAK, BE JUST, EVEN IF IT CONCERNS A RELATIVE… } (Al-An’am 152), for what is meant in this verse is the giving of testimony in court.”
  • Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 164: He makes it an economic and ethical standard monitored by the opposition, rather than a religious ritual pertaining to prayer and fasting.
    • Concept: Specifications
    • Function of the verse here: Support
    • Textual citation: “They have nothing to do with economic, political, or legislative decisions; rather, they must hold them accountable for the extent of their commitment to excellence in work and to production specifications: { AND GIVE FULL MEASURE AND WEIGHT }”

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

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