Al-Baqarah 62

6 min read

This verse recurs in Shahrur’s project because it supports his broad understanding of Islam as belief in God, the Last Day, and righteous action, rather than mere nominal affiliation with a religious community. It therefore figures in his discussion of salvation and the transcendence of sectarian boundaries.

Text of the Verse as Cited

Indeed, those who believe, and those who are Jews, Christians, and Sabians—whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does righteous deeds—shall have their reward with their Lord; no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.

Reader’s Answer

Question

How does Muhammad Shahrur employ Al-Baqarah 62 in his discussion of Islam and religious affiliation?

Shahrur employs the verse to establish that belief in God and the Last Day, together with righteous action, is what brings a person within the sphere of Islam in his view. He therefore does not treat a religious name alone as a decisive criterion for reward or for describing Islam in its general sense. In the available evidence, he states that whoever testifies to God’s oneness and the Last Day is “a Muslim, whether some people wish it or not.”

Shahrur reads Al-Baqarah 62 as bringing together belief in God, the Last Day, and righteous action, and connects these elements to the sphere of general Islam rather than to religious designation alone. He interprets righteous action here as that which benefits people and contributes to the wellbeing of societies, and assigns it a role in providing material and rational evidence that supports belief in God and the Last Day.

Evidence and Location

Islam and Faith — p. 168.

Limits of the Reading

  • The available evidence establishes Shahrur’s use of the verse in the book Islam and Faith, but does not by itself establish that the use described on this page is attributable to the book Islam and the Human Being.
  • The evidence does not explain in detail the status of each religious community mentioned in the verse, nor does it derive detailed legal or social rulings from it.
  • The verse or this passage alone is insufficient to establish that every religious difference is irrelevant to all of Shahrur’s other conceptions of faith and messengerhood.

Continue from Here

Brief Reading

Shahrur uses the verse to affirm that the criterion of acceptance is not religious designation alone, but faith and righteous action. Thus, the verse becomes evidence for an inclusive meaning that accommodates differences among religious communities.

Themes

  • Faith-related
  • Human and ethical
  • Methodological
  • Faith and righteous action: 3
  • The inclusive faith principle: 2
  • The comprehensiveness of Islam: 2
  • Religious communities: 2
  • Salvation through faith and action: 2
  • Belief in God and the Last Day: 2

Its Place in the Network of Concepts

The verse is connected to comprehensiveness, salvation, and righteous action. It is central because it supports a reading that goes beyond sectarian restriction and links religion to conduct and faith, rather than to verbal identity alone.

The Verse’s Role in the Argument

  • Foundational: 4
  • Supportive: 3

Summary of Its Presence in the Atlas

  • Islam here has a broad, inclusive meaning.
  • Salvation is linked to faith and righteous action.
  • It figures in transcending sectarian boundaries.

Atlas Pages That Refer to This Verse

These links gather the pages that rely on the verse or make it part of the argument within the atlas.

Contexts of Use

  • Islam and the Human Being: He builds on it a general definition of Islam as belief in God, the Last Day, and righteous action, regardless of differences among religious communities.
    • Concept: the inclusive faith principle
    • Function of the verse here: foundational
    • Textual evidence: “{ Indeed, those who believe, and those who are Jews, Christians, and Sabians … } (Al-Baqarah 62)”
  • Islam and the Human Being: He makes it evidence that Islam includes everyone who believes in God and the Last Day and does righteous deeds, whatever their religious community.
    • Concept: the comprehensiveness of Islam
    • Function of the verse here: foundational
    • Textual evidence: “{ Indeed, those who believe, and those who are Jews, Christians, and Sabians … } (Al-Baqarah 62)”
  • Islam and Faith, p. 9: He cites it as evidence that general Islam includes adherents of different religious communities when belief in God, the Last Day, and righteous action are combined.
    • Concept: religious communities
    • Function of the verse here: supportive
    • Textual evidence: “{Indeed, those who believe, and those who are Jews… whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does righteous deeds…} (Al-Baqarah 62).”
  • Islam and Faith, p. 87: He uses it to show the breadth of primordial Islam for those who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds.
    • Concept: salvation through faith and action
    • Function of the verse here: supportive
    • Textual evidence: “{Indeed, those who believe, and those who are Jews, Christians, and Sabians…} (Al-Baqarah 62).”
  • Islam and Faith, p. 168: He makes it evidence that belief in God, the Last Day, and righteous action bring their adherent within the sphere of Islam and support the credibility of the message.
    • Concept: belief in God and the Last Day
    • Function of the verse here: foundational
    • Textual evidence: “Read with me His exalted saying: {Indeed, those who believe, and those who are Jews, Christians, and Sabians …} (Al-Baqarah 62).”
  • Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 13: He cites it to define a Muslim as anyone who combines belief in God and the Last Day with righteous action, rather than sectarian affiliation.
    • Concept: faith and righteous action
    • Function of the verse here: supportive
    • Textual evidence: “Its pillars are belief in God and the Last Day, together with the conjunction of this faith with righteous action {Indeed, those who believe…} (Al-Baqarah 62)”
  • Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 189: He cites it as evidence that the Qur’anic criterion of salvation is belief in God, the Last Day, and righteous action, not hostility toward those who differ.
    • Concept: faith and righteous action
    • Function of the verse here: foundational
    • Textual evidence: “{Indeed, those who believe, and those who are Jews, Christians, and Sabians…} (Al-Baqarah 62).”

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

Graph View

Backlinks7

Muhammad Shahrur Atlas