This locus 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 say to those who were given the Book and to the unlettered
Reader’s Answer
Question
Where is this verse located, how does Shahrur distinguish in it between “those who were given the Book” and “the unlettered,” and what function does it serve in his argument?
The verse is from Al Imran (20). Shahrur reads it as a contrast between Jews and Christians, whom he calls “those who were given the Book,” and the rest of humanity, whom he calls “the unlettered.” Its function in this context is to support his definition of the unlettered as those unfamiliar with the books of the Jews and Christians, rather than as merely a general linguistic description.
Shahrur interprets “those who were given the Book” in Al Imran 20 as Jews and Christians, and “the unlettered” as the rest of humanity. He employs Al Imran 20 as evidence supporting his definition of the unlettered as those ignorant of the books of the Jews and Christians.
Citation and Location
The Book and the Qur’an — p. 124.
Limits of the Reading
- This entry establishes Shahrur’s reading of the verse and its function in his argument only as stated in the cited passage.
- The cited passage does not establish another meaning for “the unlettered” beyond the definition presented by Shahrur.
- This locus does not address the historical or exegetical validity of the division, nor does it establish a relation to other verses merely on the basis of verbal similarity.
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Brief Reading
Shahrur cites it as evidence that the unlettered are a category set against those who were given the Book—that is, outside Judaism and Christianity.
Axes
- Political and social
- Linguistic and semantic
Related Concepts
- The unlettered: 2
- People of the Book: 1
- Judaism: 1
- Christianity: 1
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It serves to delineate the terminological boundaries between religious groups.
The Verse’s Role in the Argument
- Support: 1
Instances of Use
- The Book and the Qur’an, p. 124: He cites it as evidence that the unlettered are a category set against those who were given the Book—that is, outside Judaism and Christianity.
- Concept: The unlettered
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: “As indicated by the phrase {And say to those who were given the Book and to the unlettered}”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general atlas construction methodology.