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
And the one from Egypt who bought him said to his wife, “Make his stay honorable; perhaps he will benefit us, or we may take him as a son…”
Reader’s Answer
Question
Where does Shahrur place Joseph 21 in his presentation, what distinction does he employ, and what function does the verse serve in his argument?
Shahrur cites Joseph 21 when explaining a case of wrongdoing followed by expiation and forgiveness, and he makes the account of Joseph and the governor’s wife a Qur’anic framework for presenting this case. Here, the verse functions to open the account by highlighting the governor’s purchase of Joseph and his housing him in his home, before the citation moves to the incident involving the governor’s wife.
Shahrur says that the case of one person wronging another, then making expiation for it and being forgiven by the injured party, thereby removing the sin from the wrongdoer, is explained by the Wise Revelation in the account of Joseph and the governor’s wife; he cites Joseph 21 at the beginning of that account.
Citation and Location
Islam and Faith — p. 227.
Limits of the Reading
- The citation does not state that Joseph 21 itself provides an independent definition of sin, evil deed, or compensation.
- The citation does not establish a detailed terminological distinction between “sin” and “evil deed.”
- The discussion of the governor’s wife comes after the verse in the citation as a continuation of Joseph’s account, not as part of the wording of Joseph 21.
- This passage alone does not establish that the verse is a direct example of “compensation” under that term.
Continue From Here
Brief Reading
Shahrur cites it as an example of sin, evil deed, and compensation within the story of the governor’s beneficence toward Joseph, followed by his wife’s wrongdoing against him.
Axes
- Human and ethical
- Narrative and historical
Related Concepts
- Beneficence: 2
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It forms part of an ethical reading of the story of Joseph and its relationships.
Role of the Verse in the Argument
- Example: 1
Instances of Use
- Islam and Faith, pp. 227–228: He cites it as an applied example of sin, evil deed, and compensation, in the story of the governor’s beneficence toward Joseph, followed by his wife’s wrongdoing against him.
- Concept: Beneficence
- Function of the verse here: Example
- Textual citation: “This case was explained by the Wise Revelation in the account of Joseph and the governor’s wife… in His saying, Exalted be He: {And the one from Egypt who bought him said…} (Joseph 21).”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general methodology for building the atlas.