This axis gathers 3 instances of this verse’s use in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.
The verse text as cited
God erases whatever He wills and affirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book
Brief reading
It is used to build the idea that change takes place within the Mother of the Book through erasure and affirmation, making abrogation part of the movement between revelations.
Axes
- Methodological
- Faith-based
- Narrative and historical
Related concepts
- Abrogation: 2
- Mother of the Book: 2
- Erasure and affirmation: 2
Its place in the network of concepts
It forms a central point in understanding constancy and change within the divine reference.
The verse’s role in the argument
- Support: 2
- Foundation: 1
Usage instances
- The Book and the Qur’an, p. 142: He builds on it to argue that change takes place within the Mother of the Book itself through erasure and affirmation, that is, through abrogation between revelations.
- Concept: abrogation
- Function of the verse here: Foundation
- Textual evidence: «{يَمْحُوا اللَّهَ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ} (الرعد ٣٩).»
- The Book and the Qur’an, p. 322: He uses it to reinforce the idea of the existence of a register or divine reference with God that is not connected to paradise, paralleling the station of the martyrs with their Lord.
- Concept: Mother of the Book
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: «And this is illustrated by His saying: {يَمْحُوا اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ} (الرعد ٣٩)»
- The Book and the Qur’an, p. 373: He cites it as evidence that the Mother of the Book is fixed with God, while what is beneath it is subject to erasure, affirmation, and development.
- Concept: erasure and affirmation
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: «Nor does it bear the attribute of eternality, and in it the sending down and the تنزيل are inseparable, and there is no making in it {يَمْحُوا اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ} (الرعد ٣٩).»
Related books
This page is presented within the general method of building the atlas.