This locus brings together 1 instance of the use of this verse in the books of Muhammad Shahrur, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.
Text of the verse as cited
Our Lord, raise up among them a messenger from among themselves, who will recite to them Your verses, teach them the Book and wisdom, and purify them
Reader’s answer
Question
How does Muhammad Shahrur employ the words of God, “and teach them the Book and wisdom,” in Al-Baqarah 129 when discussing wisdom?
Shahrur employs the verse as the first occurrence in his enumeration of the instances of the term “wisdom” in the Revelation. From this occurrence, he proceeds to note that wisdom is not confined, in his presentation, to prophets and messengers; he cites Luqman as an example of one who was granted wisdom without establishing that he was a prophet or messenger. However, the accompanying evidence does not explicitly state at this point that wisdom is not synonymous with the Sunna; therefore, this conclusion should not be attributed to the verse here unless an explicit passage from his writings is added.
Shahrur considers Al-Baqarah 129 the first occurrence of the word “wisdom” in an enumeration that he says reaches twenty occurrences in the Wise Revelation. In his presentation, Shahrur links the general granting of wisdom to messengers with the possibility of granting wisdom to someone other than a messenger, citing Luqman as evidence.
Evidence and location
The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna — p. 49.
Limits of the reading
- The evidence establishes the inclusion of the verse in the enumeration of occurrences of wisdom, but does not provide a detailed explanation of the significance of the phrase “the Book and wisdom” within the context of Al-Baqarah 129.
- The excerpt ends while presenting the Arabic meanings of wisdom; thus, Shahrur’s definition of it must not be completed with anything not apparent in the supplied text.
- No relationship between wisdom and the Sunna, whether by negation or affirmation, may be inferred merely from the occurrence of the term or from the book’s title; an explicit text addressing the relationship is required.
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Brief reading
The verse occurs within an enumeration of the loci of wisdom in order to affirm the breadth of its Qur’anic meaning and its not being confined to the Sunna.
Axes
- Faith-related
- Linguistic and semantic
Related concepts
- Wisdom: 2
Its place in the network of concepts
It is connected to broadening the concept of wisdom within the text.
Role of the verse in the argument
- Support: 1
Instances of use
- The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna, p. 49: He cites it in his enumeration of the loci of wisdom in the Revelation to show that wisdom is Qur’anic, broad in meaning, and not synonymous with the Sunna.
- Concept: wisdom
- Function of the verse here: support
- Textual evidence: “The first is in His saying, exalted is He: {Our Lord, raise up among them a messenger … and teach them the Book and wisdom …} Al-Baqarah 129.”
Related books
- The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna
This page is presented within the general methodology for constructing the atlas.