This is a lexical entry that gathers the technical meaning of this term in Shahrur’s work across his various books, connecting its multiple uses.
This entry belongs to Shahrur’s glossary. For a thematic reading, one may refer to Shahrur’s major topics and shared concepts.
Meaning in Shahrur
Reciprocity is the divine purpose behind people being made into peoples and tribes; it is that diversity should lead to mutual knowledge and coexistence, not to closure or conflict. In this context, it is used primarily to strengthen human social life through understanding and joint action rather than exclusion and hostility.
Distinctions
- It differs from mere assembly; not every gathering is reciprocity unless it is founded on mutual knowledge and coexistence
- It differs from multiple belonging; reciprocity describes the unifying relation between groups, whereas belonging describes the plurality of references within the person or the group.
- It differs from pardon or tolerance; reciprocity comes before them, because it calls for building connection and knowledge before addressing disagreement.
Occurrences in his books
- Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism: reciprocity is presented as the divine purpose behind making people into peoples and tribes. In the structure of the argument, this concept balances human diversity with the possibility of coexistence, rather than turning difference into a reason for hostility
What is adjacent to it and what distinguishes it
- Human social life in the Qur’an is based on reciprocity and action, not on exclusion and hostility
- Reciprocity is the divine purpose of making people into peoples and tribes
- Reciprocity and multiple belonging create a community without contradiction
- Drying up the sources of terrorism requires returning religion to the Qur’an, freedom, and mercy, and stripping traditional violence of legitimacy