This verse recurs in five places in Shahrur’s work, and it appears in his discussion of Thamud, corruption on earth, and what is connected to that in terms of carving rocks and working on them. It therefore comes within his reading of the Qur’anic historical narrative and images of material progress.
The verse text as cited
So remember the blessings of God, and do not act wickedly in the land, spreading corruption.
Brief reading
The text appears in his work as an example of a society that possessed an apparent material capacity in carving and splitting rocks, yet was also associated with a form of corruption on earth. From here, the verse is read within the relationship between Qur’anic history and the movement of societies.
Axes
- Narrative and historical
- Political and social
Related concepts
- Corruption: 3
- Carving: 2
- Splitting rocks: 2
- Succession after ʿAd: 2
Its place in the conceptual network
The verse is linked to corruption on earth, Thamud, carving in rock, and the narrative of Qur’anic history. It is important because it combines an image of material capacity with the fate of society in the historical reading.
The verse’s role in the argument
- Support: 2
- Example: 2
- Foundation: 1
Summary of its presence in the atlas
- Appears in the context of corruption on earth.
- Is linked to Thamud and carving in rock.
- Enters into the narrative of Qur’anic history.
Places of use
- Islam and Faith, p. 77: He places it within a recurring Qur’anic principle that forbids corruption on earth and counts it among the major social sins.
- Concept: Corruption
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: «{… وَلا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ} (al-Aʿrāf 74).»
- Islam and Faith, p. 77: He places it within an early Qur’anic principle for resisting corruption on earth.
- Concept: Corruption
- Function of the verse here: Foundation
- Textual citation: «- {… فَاذْكُرُوا آلاَءَ اللَّهِ وَلا تَعْثَوْا فِي الْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ} (al-Aʿrāf 74).»
- State and Society, p. 183: He makes it evidence for a new technical stage among Thamud, namely the emergence of carving and the making of statues and carved houses.
- Concept: Carving
- Function of the verse here: Example
- Textual citation: «إذ نجد التنزيل الحكيم يشير إلى ظهور النحت لأول مرة في قوله – تعالى –: {وَتَنْحِتُونَ الْجِبَالَ بِيوتًا} (الأعراف 74)»
- State and Society, p. 183: He uses it to reinforce his depiction of Thamud’s advancement in carving tools and splitting rocks, rather than merely a passing description of them.
- Concept: Splitting rocks
- Function of the verse here: Example
- Textual citation: «كما يشير إلى ظهور تقطيع الصخور وخرقها وشقها لأول مرة في قوله – تعالى –: {وَتَمُودَ الَّذِينَ جَابُوا الصَّخْرَ بِالْوَادِ} (الفجر 9)»
- Qur’anic Narrative Vol. 2, p. 59: He cites it to infer that Thamud came after ʿAd and that they settled in the land and built in plains and mountains.
- Concept: Succession after ʿAd
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: «بدليل قوله تعالى على لسان نبيّه صالح (ع) {وَاذْكُرُوا إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ مِنْ بَعْدِ عَادٍ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ…} (الأعراف ٧٤).»
Related books
This page is presented within the general method of building the atlas.