This axis brings together 1 instance of the use of this verse in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.
The verse text as cited
Indeed, God has forbidden them both to the disbelievers.
Reader’s answer
Question
Where does Shahrur place Al-A’raf 50 in his argument, and how does he use it to distinguish between Paradise and Hell?
Shahrur cites the verse within his description of the Paradise of the pious in the Hereafter, making it evidence in his discussion of the appearance of Paradise alongside Hell in “another universe.” In this context, the implication of prohibition in the verse concerns the water and provision requested by the disbelievers from the inhabitants of Paradise, rather than establishing an independent general statement about every form of bliss.
Shahrur cites Al-A’raf 50 in the context of describing the eternal Paradise of the pious, linking it to his conception that Paradise and Hell appear together in another universe, while denying the existence of reciprocal relations between them. Shahrur understands the verse to mean that the water and provision requested by the inhabitants of Hell have been forbidden to the disbelievers.
Citation and location
The Book and the Qur’an — p. 208.
Limits of the reading
- This citation does not establish that the verse states, in general terms, that all bliss in Paradise is unavailable to disbelievers; what is mentioned in the citation is water and that with which God has provided the inhabitants of Paradise.
- The citation does not provide a detailed terminological distinction between the terms Paradise and Hell, nor does it explicitly state a relationship of synonymy or non-synonymy between them.
- The claim of “separation” requires qualification: Shahrur mentions Paradise and Hell in another universe and denies reciprocal relations, but he cites a verse that includes the calling of the inhabitants of Hell to the inhabitants of Paradise.
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Brief reading
He cites it to affirm the separation between Paradise and Hell and that bliss is not available to disbelievers.
Axes
- Faith-related
- Linguistic and semantic
Related concepts
- Prohibition of bliss: 2
- Paradise: 1
- Hell: 1
Its place in the conceptual network
It helps define the meaning of bliss in the Hereafter within the bounds of recompense.
The verse’s role in the argument
- Context: 1
Instances of use
- The Book and the Qur’an, p. 208: He cites it to affirm the separation between Paradise and Hell in the Hereafter and that bliss therein is not available to disbelievers.
- Concept: Prohibition of bliss
- Function of the verse here: Context
- Textual citation: “{And the inhabitants of Hell will call to the inhabitants of Paradise … They will say: Indeed, God has forbidden them both to the disbelievers} (Al-A’raf 50).”
Related books
This page is presented within the general atlas-building methodology.