This axis 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.
The Verse Text as Cited
He has prescribed mercy for Himself
Reader’s Answer
Question
How does Muhammad Shahrur employ the Almighty’s saying, “He has prescribed mercy for Himself,” in explaining the relationship between mercy and punishment?
Shahrur employs the verse to indicate that mercy is the primary divine choice, and that “prescribed” does not mean an obligation imposed upon God, but rather a decision and declaration by Him. He pairs this with the existence of punishment, yet describes mercy as vast and punishment as limited.
Shahrur interprets “He has prescribed mercy for Himself” as meaning decision and declaration, within the semantic range of the word “prescribed.” Shahrur holds that God chose mercy and placed it before punishment, while also affirming the existence of punishment. Shahrur describes mercy as vast and punishment as limited, and links the attainment of the mercy mentioned in the testimony from Al-A’raf to qualities specified by the Qur’anic text.
Source and Location
Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism — p. 19.
Limits of the Reading
- The evidence presents Shahrur’s reading and does not provide independent proof of its validity or a comparison with other exegetical interpretations.
- The phrase “chose mercy” is Shahrur’s formulation in the evidence; it should not be turned into a denial of punishment, since he explicitly affirms its existence in the same passage.
- The connection to verses 45 of Maryam and 156 of Al-A’raf appears in the same quotation, not as a relationship arising merely from verbal similarity.
Continue From Here
Brief Reading
Shahrur places it in the context of affirming that mercy is a divine principle placed before punishment.
Axes
- Faith-based
- Humanistic and ethical
Related Concepts
- Mercy: 2
- Choosing mercy over punishment: 1
Its Place in the Network of Concepts
It is connected to a concept that makes mercy a divine decision foundational to understanding the discourse.
The Verse’s Role in the Argument
- Support: 1
Instances of Use
- Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 19: He makes it evidence that God chose mercy over punishment, and that writing here is a divine decision rather than an external obligation.
- Concept: mercy
- Function of the verse here: support
- Textual evidence: “{Say: ‘To whom belongs what is in the heavens and the earth? … He has prescribed mercy for Himself …’} (Al-An’am 12)”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general methodology for building the atlas.