This thematic entry brings together 1 instance of this verse’s use in the works of Muhammad Shahrur, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.
Text of the Verse as Cited
Humanity was one community, then God sent the prophets…
Reader’s Answer
Question
How does Shahrur employ Al-Baqarah 213 in his discussion of the innate disposition, and what does the verse establish in his argument?
Shahrur links Al-Baqarah 213 to the innate disposition by regarding pluralism as one of its outcomes; he locates the beginning of this pluralism in the transition from people being one community to the sending of the prophets and the Book to judge concerning what they differed over.
Shahrur regards pluralism as one of the outcomes of the innate disposition and links its beginning to the passage that describes people as one community, followed by the sending of the prophets and the revelation of the Book to judge their differences.
Evidence and Location
Guide to the Contemporary Reading of the Wise Revelation — p. 44.
Limits of the Reading
- The evidence does not explicitly describe pluralism as religious and social; therefore, it does not establish this specification.
- The evidence does not offer a detailed interpretation of the verse’s terms, nor does it establish an independent terminological distinction between types of pluralism.
- The relation presented is Shahrur’s use of the verse within his argument about the innate disposition, not a judgment that the verse alone defines the innate disposition.
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Brief Reading
He cites the verse to link the innate disposition to the emergence of religious and social pluralism among people.
Thematic Axes
- Faith-related
- Political and social
Related Concepts
- Pluralism: 2
- Innate disposition: 1
- Difference: 1
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It belongs to the network interpreting human difference as part of social patterns.
Role of the Verse in the Argument
- Support: 1
Instances of Use
- Guide to the Contemporary Reading of the Wise Revelation, p. 44: He cites it to link the innate disposition to the emergence of religious and social pluralism among people.
- Concept: Pluralism
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: “Among its outcomes is the pluralism that began with His saying: { Humanity was one community, then God sent the prophets… } (Al-Baqarah 213).”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general methodology for building the atlas.