This thematic entry brings together 1 instance 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
وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِنْ سُنْدُسٍ
Reader’s Answer
Question
Where does Shahrur cite Al-Kahf 31, how does he use it to distinguish between the literal and metaphorical signification of the root “l-b-s,” and what function does it serve in his argument?
Shahrur cites it in Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence (p. 272) among examples of the literal signification of the root “l-b-s”; he treats it as evidence for the meaning of clothing and material covering, in contrast to the signification of confusion and ambiguity when the usage is metaphorical.
Shahrur presents Al-Kahf 31 as an example of the root “l-b-s” being used literally, where it denotes clothing and garments. The verse’s function in the argument is to support the distinction Shahrur draws between the root’s literal signification, connected with covering and clothing, and its metaphorical signification, which he associates with confusion and ambiguity.
Citation and Location
Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence — p. 272.
Limits of the Reading
- The citation establishes this distinction only in Shahrur’s presentation of the root “l-b-s”; it does not establish a general rule for every occurrence of “clothing” in the Qur’an.
- The citation does not state a relation of synonymy or non-synonymy with other terms.
- Describing the verse as concerning the garments of the people of Paradise characterizes the context of the example; the evidential function established by the citation is to show the root’s literal signification.
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Brief Reading
The verse serves as an example of the use of clothing in its literal sense when the discussion concerns garments in Paradise.
Themes
- Linguistic and semantic
- Human and ethical
Related Concepts
- Clothing: 2
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It is connected to distinguishing literal usage from other forms of signification.
The Verse’s Role in the Argument
- Example: 1
Occurrences of Use
- Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 272: He cites it as an example of the use of clothing in its literal sense when the context concerns garments in Paradise.
- Concept: clothing
- Function of the verse here: example
- Textual citation: “{ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِنْ سُنْدُسٍ } (Al-Kahf 31)”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general atlas construction methodology.