This locus brings together 2 instances of the use of this verse in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.
Text of the verse as cited
Whoever undertakes the Hajj therein
Reader’s answer
Question
How does Shahrur employ the Almighty’s saying, “Whoever undertakes the Hajj therein,” to understand the meaning of obligation and Hajj?
Shahrur uses the verse to distinguish between two matters: Hajj, in his view, is a divine request addressed to whoever is able to make the journey, whereas “I undertook the Hajj” expresses the capable person’s own commitment to perform it once capability has been established. The attached citation does not establish that he identifies the months of Hajj by name or explains the phrase “well-known months” in detail.
Shahrur reads “whoever undertakes the Hajj therein” as describing the capable person’s commitment to Hajj, in contrast to God’s request for Hajj from the capable person.
Citation and location
Islam and Faith — p. 49.
Limits of the reading
- The citation presents Shahrur’s reading and is not by itself sufficient to settle the exegetical or juristic disagreement over the meaning of “undertook.”
- On the basis of this citation, no claim that Shahrur specifies or details the months of Hajj should be attributed to him.
- The connection to the verse on capability in Al Imran 97 appears in Shahrur’s own text as the basis for this distinction.
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Brief reading
Shahrur uses it to distinguish between God’s request for Hajj and the pilgrim’s commitment to it, and to define the months of Hajj as well-known months.
Axes
- Legislative
- Linguistic and semantic
Related concepts
- Hajj: 2
- Well-known months: 2
Its place in the network of concepts
It belongs to the network for regulating the timing of worship and formulating commitment to it.
Role of the verse in the argument
- Distinction: 1
- Foundation: 1
Contexts of use
- Islam and Faith, p. 49: He distinguishes between God’s request for Hajj and the pilgrim’s statement, “I undertook the Hajj,” meaning that he committed himself to it of his own accord after capability.
- Concept: Hajj
- Function of the verse here: Distinction
- Textual citation: “{… Whoever undertakes the Hajj therein, then there shall be no sexual relations, no wrongdoing, and no disputation during Hajj …} (Al-Baqarah 197).”
- Islam and Faith, p. 84: He derives from it that Hajj has well-known months, which he connects to the sacred months known among the Arabs.
- Concept: Well-known months
- Function of the verse here: Foundation
- Textual citation: “- {Hajj is in well-known months …} (Al-Baqarah 197),”
Related books
This page is presented within the general atlas-building methodology.