This axis 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.
The text of the verse as cited
And those towns—we destroyed them when they committed wrongdoing, and We appointed a time for their destruction.
Reader’s answer
Question
Where does Shahrur cite Al-Kahf 59, how does he distinguish the meaning of the town and wrongdoing, and what function does the verse serve in his argument?
Shahrur cites the verse in The State and Society (p. 109), in the context of linking the destruction of towns to wrongdoing and to an appointed time for destruction. He presents the town as a population grouping with a conscious, shared general conduct, and makes its description as wrongful contingent upon the predominance of this conduct within the group. Thus, the verse functions as Qur’anic support for this connection, rather than as an independent, detailed explanation of all its terms.
Shahrur cites Al-Kahf 59 in The State and Society when examining the relationship between the wrongdoing of towns and their destruction, and notes that an appointed time has been set for destruction. Shahrur defines the town as a population grouping, whether large or small, distinguished by a conscious, unified general conduct agreed upon by its members. He understands the description of a town as wrongful to indicate the predominance of the practice of wrongdoing in its general conduct as a collective conviction and will, rather than the occurrence of limited wrongdoing within it.
Citation and location
The State and Society — p. 109.
Limits of the reading
- The citation presents Al-Kahf 59 together with Al-Hajj 45, then begins the direct analysis with a phrase referring to the first verse; therefore, it does not establish an independent, detailed account of every element of Al-Kahf 59.
- The citation does not establish that the “appointed time” is a specified time in any detailed sense beyond its being a time appointed for destruction.
- The citation does not establish a general ruling for all uses of the term “town” outside this passage.
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Brief reading
For Shahrur, the verse supports the idea that destruction is linked to the wrongdoing of towns when its condition and appointed time are fulfilled.
Axes
- Political and social
Related concepts
- Divine appointment: 2
- Wrongdoing: 1
- Destruction of towns: 1
Its place in the network of concepts
It connects social wrongdoing with historical outcomes within determinate patterns.
The verse’s role in the argument
- Support: 1
Instances of use
- The State and Society, p. 109: It is cited as evidence that destruction is linked to the wrongdoing of towns after its condition and appointed time have been fulfilled.
- Concept: Divine appointment
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: “{And those towns—we destroyed them when they committed wrongdoing, and We appointed a time for their destruction} (Al-Kahf 59).”
Related books
This page is presented within the general atlas construction methodology.