Al-Isra' 39

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This locus brings together 3 instances of the use of this verse in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.

The Verse as Cited

That is part of the wisdom your Lord has revealed to you

Reader’s Answer

The Question

Where does the verse occur in the context Shahrur invokes, what does he establish through it concerning wisdom, and what function does it serve in his objection?

Shahrur invokes Al-Isra’ 39 as the conclusion to a set of commands and prohibitions in Al-Isra’ 23–37. He presents this conclusion as attributing that set to what God revealed as wisdom. Its function in the attached passage is to object to al-Shafi‘i’s linking of the Messenger’s Sunna, where there is no Book, with wisdom—not to establish a complete separation between wisdom and every other domain.

Shahrur presents Al-Isra’ 39 as the conclusion to a context of commands and prohibitions found in Al-Isra’ 23–37, and notes that this context concludes by being part of what was revealed to the Messenger as wisdom. Shahrur employs this context to criticize al-Shafi‘i’s assertion linking the Messenger’s Sunna, where there is no Book, with wisdom.

Citation and Location

The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna — p. 48.

Limits of the Reading

  • The attached citation does not explicitly provide a comprehensive definition of wisdom.
  • The citation does not establish that wisdom consists exclusively of “values.”
  • The citation alone does not establish that wisdom is separate from all other domains, nor does it explain here a complete distinction between the messengerly Sunna and the prophetic Sunna.
  • This passage alone cannot be used to attribute a categorical denial that wisdom is an independent prophetic Sunna; the attached text is limited to criticizing al-Shafi‘i’s assertion and invoking the context of the verses.

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Brief Reading

The verse is made a dividing line between wisdom as revealed values and other domains that do not overlap with it.

Axes

  • Methodological
  • Linguistic and semantic
  • Wisdom: 4

Its Place in the Conceptual Network

It helps distinguish wisdom from detailed interpretation and from the remaining levels of discourse.

The Verse’s Role in the Argument

  • Foundational: 1
  • Supportive: 1
  • Distinguishing: 1

Instances of Use

  • The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna, p. 48: He makes it the governing verse, which for him means that the preceding commands and prohibitions are part of the wisdom revealed to the Messenger, not an independent prophetic Sunna.
    • Concept: wisdom
    • Function of the verse here: foundational
    • Textual citation: “He concludes all this with His saying, exalted is He: {That is part of the wisdom your Lord has revealed to you…} Al-Isra’ 39”
    • Corresponding traditional reading: that it indicates a messengerly or prophetic Sunna.
  • The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna, p. 104: He refers to it to establish that wisdom in the Revelation consists of moral values and supreme ideals.
    • Concept: wisdom
    • Function of the verse here: supportive
    • Textual citation: “except by considering verse 39 of Al-Isra’.”
  • The Book and the Qur’an, p. 217: He uses it to distinguish between moral injunctions and wisdom, on the one hand, and God’s verses and words, on the other.
    • Concept: wisdom
    • Function of the verse here: distinguishing
    • Textual citation: “We find that He followed these verses with His saying: {That is part of the wisdom your Lord has revealed to you..} (Al-Isra’ 39).”

This page is presented within the general atlas construction methodology.

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Muhammad Shahrur Atlas