This thematic axis brings together 3 instances 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
Woe to those who give short measure * who, when they take a measure from people, take it in full * but when they measure or weigh for them, give less.
Reader’s Answer
Question
How does Muhammad Shahrur employ the verses of Al-Mutaffifin (1–3) in his presentation of measuring and weighing?
Shahrur employs the verses of Al-Mutaffifin as a threat against those who violate the injunction to give full measure and weight with equity; he links this injunction to adherence to specifications, weights, and volumes. Thus, in this context, the verses are not the basis of his classification; rather, they serve to intensify the punishment for fraudulent measurement and for violating this moral law.
Shahrur considers the command to give full measure and weight with equity “moral law no. (6).” He explains this law as aiming at adherence to specifications, weights, and volumes. Shahrur places the verses of Al-Mutaffifin (1–3) after this law in order to state that they contain a threat against those who fail to give full measure and weight.
Evidence and location
Islam and Faith — p. 40.
Limits of the reading
- The evidence does not describe the verses of Al-Mutaffifin as an independent “legislative criterion”; rather, it calls the underlying injunction a moral law and presents the verses as a warning to violators.
- The evidence does not establish a detailed account of Shahrur’s theory of “equity” or of all rules of transactions; the page should therefore not be burdened with such conclusions.
- Another piece of evidence on page 77 includes the verses of Al-Mutaffifin under the heading “measuring, weighing, and adherence to specifications,” but it adds no clearer explanation than that found on page 40.
Continue from here
Brief reading
For Shahrur, the verse serves to support the principle of giving full measure and weight as a moral and legislative standard connected to equity.
Themes
- Human and ethical
- Legislative
- Linguistic and semantic
Related concepts
- Fraudulent measurement: 3
- Balance: 2
- Equity: 1
Its place in the network of concepts
It is connected to the network of concepts of justice, balance, and fraudulent measurement in constructing a standard of conduct.
Role of the verse in the argument
- Support: 2
- Example: 1
Contexts of use
- Islam and Faith, p. 40: He adds it to reinforce the rule of giving full measure and weight as a binding moral standard.
- Concept: fraudulent measurement
- Function of the verse here: support
- Textual evidence: “{Woe to those who give short measure * …} (Al-Mutaffifin 1–3).”
- Islam and Faith, p. 77: He uses it to support the principle of giving full measure and weight as a foundational value revealed to the messengers and then completed as legislation.
- Concept: balance
- Function of the verse here: support
- Textual evidence: “{Woe to those who give short measure…} (Al-Mutaffifin 1–3).”
- Islam and Faith, p. 77: He employs it as a practical example of the corruption of measuring and weighing that contradicts equity.
- Concept: fraudulent measurement
- Function of the verse here: example
- Textual evidence: “- {Woe to those who give short measure * who, when they take a measure from people, take it in full * but when they measure or weigh for them, give less} (Al-Mutaffifin 1–3).”
Related books
This page is presented within the general methodology for constructing the atlas.