This 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
Whoever commits a fault or a sin, then casts it upon an innocent person, has borne a slander and a manifest sin.
Reader’s answer
Question
How does Shahrur employ Qur’an 4:112 to distinguish between khati’a (fault) and dhanb (wrongdoing)?
Shahrur employs the verse as evidence that khati’a is not merely an incidental wrongdoing, but a wrongdoing or evil deed upon which its perpetrator persists, without repenting or reforming; in its example, the verse highlights the additional act of accusing an innocent person and the resulting slander and manifest sin.
Shahrur defines khati’a as a wrongdoing or evil deed when the act is coupled with persistence and the abandonment of repentance and reform. He cites Qur’an 4:112 directly among the verses that he considers to support this meaning of khati’a, as it mentions committing a fault or sin and then casting it upon an innocent person.
Citation and location
Islam and Faith — p. 107.
Limits of the reading
- The citation establishes that Shahrur connects the verse to his definition of khati’a, but he does not provide here a detailed analysis of the verse’s wording or context.
- The citation does not establish that “obfuscation” is a term Shahrur uses in explaining the verse; what is established is the accusation of an innocent person and what the Qur’anic text calls slander and manifest sin.
Continue from here
Brief reading
The verse is used to distinguish khati’a from ordinary wrongdoing by portraying it as an intentional act coupled with persistence and the obfuscation of an innocent person.
Axes
- Human and ethical
- Legislative
- Linguistic and semantic
Related concepts
- Khati’a (fault): 3
- Sin and khati’a: 2
- Slander: 1
Its place in the conceptual network
It is connected to the concept of sin and khati’a in distinguishing among types of moral action.
The verse’s role in the argument
- Support: 2
- Foundation: 1
Instances of use
- Islam and the Human Being: He uses it to reinforce the distinction between wrongdoing/evil deed and khati’a, which is coupled with persistence and social condemnation.
- Concept: Khati’a
- Function of the verse here: Foundation
- Textual citation: “{ Whoever commits a fault or a sin, then casts it upon an innocent person, has borne a slander and a manifest sin } (al-Nisa 112).”
- Islam and the Human Being: He adduces it to show that khati’a is an intentional wrongdoing coupled with persistence and slander.
- Concept: Khati’a
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: “We find this meaning of khati’a in His, exalted be He, saying: { Whoever commits a fault or a sin … } (al-Nisa 112).”
- Islam and Faith, p. 107: He cites it to affirm that khati’a is an intentional wrongdoing followed by the obfuscation of an innocent person.
- Concept: Sin and khati’a
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: “{ Whoever commits a fault or a sin, then casts it upon an innocent person… } (al-Nisa 112).”
Related books
This page is presented within the general atlas construction methodology.