Al-Ahzab 40

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This axis gathers 5 instances of the use of this verse in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.

Verse text as cited

MUHAMMAD IS NOT THE FATHER OF ANY OF YOUR MEN, BUT [HE IS] THE MESSENGER OF GOD AND THE SEAL OF THE PROPHETS

Brief reading

For Shahrur, the verse is made the basis for dividing the stations of Muhammad, peace be upon him, and for distinguishing between messengership and prophethood, and what follows from each.

Axes

  • Narrative and historical
  • Political and social
  • Methodological
  • Messengership and prophethood: 2
  • The stations of Muhammad: 2
  • Finality of messengership: 2
  • Paternity and guardianship: 2
  • Seal of prophethood: 2

Its place in the network of concepts

It is connected to the finality of messengership and to criticism of its political use in the question of guardianship.

The role of the verse in the argument

  • Establishment: 3
  • Critique of the tradition: 1
  • Support: 1

Summary of its presence in the atlas

  • The three stations of Muhammad, peace be upon him
  • The finality of messengership and prophethood
  • Its presence in criticism of the instrumentalization of guardianship

Instances of use

  • Islam and Humanity: He uses it to divide the stations of Muhammad, peace be upon him, into man, prophet, and messenger, in order to distinguish between prophethood and messengership and the role of each station.
    • Concept: Messengership and prophethood
    • Role of the verse here: Establishment
    • Textual evidence: «{ MUHAMMAD IS NOT THE FATHER OF ANY OF YOUR MEN … BUT [HE IS] THE MESSENGER OF GOD AND THE SEAL OF THE PROPHETS } (Al-Ahzab 40)»
  • State and Society, p. 305: He builds on it to distinguish between Muhammad the man, Muhammad the prophet, and Muhammad the messenger in order to determine what must and must not be followed from his actions.
    • Concept: The stations of Muhammad
    • Role of the verse here: Establishment
    • Textual evidence: «… is embodied in three aspects, which he clearly defined by His – تعالى – saying: {MUHAMMAD IS NOT THE FATHER OF ANY OF YOUR MEN … AND THE SEAL OF THE PROPHETS …} (Al-Ahzab 40). The verse says that there are three stations for Muhammad (p)»
  • Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 15: He relies on it to establish that the Muhammadan message is final and addressed to all times and places, not to the seventh century alone.
    • Concept: Finality of messengership
    • Role of the verse here: Establishment
    • Textual evidence: «{ MUHAMMAD IS NOT THE FATHER OF ANY OF YOUR MEN… AND THE SEAL OF THE PROPHETS } (Al-Ahzab 40).»
  • Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 53: He cites it to answer the Abbasid argument denying the transmission of guardianship to the daughter’s descendants, then shows that this is a political use, not a necessary textual implication.
    • Concept: Paternity and guardianship
    • Role of the verse here: Critique of the tradition
    • Textual evidence: «For God – تعالى – says in His Book: { MUHAMMAD IS NOT THE FATHER OF ANY OF YOUR MEN } (Al-Ahzab 40). But you are the sons of his daughter, and indeed it is a close kinship, yet it does not confer inheritance»
    • Corresponding traditional reading: She does not inherit guardianship, nor is imamate permissible for her
  • Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 138: He cites it to establish the sealing of prophethood and to construct Muhammad’s transition to the station of messengership and then his legislative role.
    • Concept: Seal of prophethood
    • Role of the verse here: Support
    • Textual evidence: «And Muhammad (p): { MUHAMMAD IS NOT THE FATHER OF ANY OF YOUR MEN … }»

This page is presented within the general methodology of building the atlas.

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Muhammad Shahrur Atlas