This axis 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
Then, when they had both submitted and he laid him down upon his forehead
Reader’s Answer
Question
Where is the verse located, how does Shahrur distinguish the meaning of “tallahu,” and what function does it serve in his presentation?
The verse is Al-Saffat 103. Shahrur interprets “tallahu lil-jabin” to mean that he lowered him onto his forehead to the ground, and he cites it as an example of how the word “tall” has, in his view, two opposite meanings: elevation and lowering.
Shahrur maintains that “tall” has two opposite meanings, elevation and lowering, and takes the Almighty’s saying, “Then, when they had both submitted and he laid him down upon his forehead,” as an example of the meaning of lowering; that is, he lowered him onto his forehead to the ground in order to slaughter him.
Evidence and Location
The Book and the Qur’an — p. 276.
Limits of the Reading
- The evidence establishes Shahrur’s interpretation of the word “tallahu” and its function as an example of opposition in the meaning of a word.
- The evidence does not establish that this example serves a broader function in constructing Shahrur’s argument beyond this lexical presentation.
- This locus is not based on verbal similarity with other verses, nor does it establish a general ruling on synonymy or its absence.
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Brief Reading
The verse is interpreted as a verb denoting lowering, not merely placing, in order to highlight the opposition within the root.
Axes
- Linguistic and semantic
- Methodological
Related Concepts
- Tall: 2
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It serves the semantic distinction between contrasting meanings within the linguistic root.
The Verse’s Role in the Argument
- Example: 1
Usage Loci
- The Book and the Qur’an, p. 276: He interprets it as a verb denoting lowering, not merely placing, in order to highlight the opposition within the root.
- Concept: tall
- Function of the verse here: example
- Textual evidence: “With the meaning of lowering, it occurs in the Almighty’s saying {Then, when they had both submitted and he laid him down upon his forehead} (Al-Saffat 103), that is, he lowered him onto his forehead to the ground in order to slaughter him.”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general atlas-building methodology.