Al-Ahzab 50

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

The Verse as Quoted

We have already known what We prescribed for them concerning their spouses

Brief Reading

In Shahrur’s view, the verse comes to establish a legislative specificity concerning the Prophet in marriage and giving, not to generalize its ruling to believers.

Axes

  • Legislative
  • Political and social
  • giving: 2
  • concubinage: 2
  • special allowance: 2
  • specificity: 2
  • prophetic specificity: 2

Its Position in the Network of Concepts

It is linked to the network of prophetic specificity and to a revision of the traditional reading that connected it to concubinage.

The Verse’s Role in the Argument

  • Support: 2
  • Critique of the tradition: 1
  • Foundation: 1
  • Context: 1

Summary of Its Presence in the Atlas

  • Prophetic specificity in marriage
  • Linked to giving and concubinage
  • Its presence in distinguishing the general from the specific

Uses

  • Islam and Faith, p. 49: He uses it to affirm that the prescription here concerns a legislative giving in matters of spouses and rights, not merely abstract obligation.
    • Concept: giving
    • Function of the verse here: Support
    • Textual evidence: «{… We have already known what We prescribed for them concerning their spouses…} (Al-Ahzab 50).»
  • The State and Society, p. 267: He mentions the traditional interpretation that links the verse to concubinage and slave women, then places it within the reading that he revises.
    • Concept: concubinage
    • Function of the verse here: Critique of the tradition
    • Textual evidence: «According to al-Tabari: … i.e., He made concubinage permissible for you … and they were among the slave women.»
    • The corresponding traditional reading: concubinage and slave women
  • The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna, p. 116: He cites it as evidence that there is a special teaching for the Prophet in marriage that differs from the general legislation for believers.
    • Concept: special allowance
    • Function of the verse here: Foundation
    • Textual evidence: «His saying تعالى: {O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful for you your wives…} (Al-Ahzab 50).»
  • Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 141: He includes it in his discussion of rulings that pertain to the Prophet personally in his private life, not as a general legislation for the community.
    • Concept: specificity
    • Function of the verse here: Context
    • Textual evidence: «{ … exclusively for you, not for the believers … } (Al-Ahzab 50)»
  • Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 231: He cites it to prove that the Prophet had special rulings regarding women, tied to the context of society and its customs, not to a general ruling for all believers.
    • Concept: prophetic specificity
    • Function of the verse here: Support
    • Textual evidence: «- Slave women for the Prophet: { O Prophet, indeed We have made lawful for you your wives … } (Al-Ahzab 50)»

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

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Muhammad Shahrur Atlas