This axis brings together 2 instances of the use of this verse in the books of Muhammad Shahrur, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.
Text of the Verse as Cited
Say, “I do not say to you that I possess God’s treasuries, nor do I know the unseen …”
Reader’s Answer
Question
How does Muhammad Shahrur employ Qur’an 6:50 in defining what the Prophet possesses in terms of messengerhood?
Shahrur employs the verse, together with other verses that he groups with it, to establish that the Prophet, in his capacity as messenger, does not issue independent legislation on his own authority, but rather follows what is revealed to him from the Revelation. As for the denial of knowledge of the unseen, it is part of the verse’s wording; however, the accompanying evidence that directly connects the verse to Shahrur’s argument focuses on following revelation and denying the introduction of anything not found in the Book.
Shahrur cites Qur’an 6:50 among a group of verses to argue that the Messenger “only follows what is revealed to him from the Revelation.” On the basis of this argument, Shahrur objects to attributing to the Messenger practices or legislation that have no basis in God’s Book and concerning which there is no divine ruling of command or prohibition.
Evidence and Location
The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna — p. 48.
Limits of the Reading
- The verse itself includes a denial of knowledge of the unseen, but the more precise evidence here does not explain this aspect independently; rather, it uses Qur’an 6:50 to support the principle of following revelation.
- On the basis of the available evidence, no further details concerning the Prophet’s knowledge of the unseen or all the implications of exceptions for messengers are attributed to this passage.
- This is an account of Shahrur’s use of the verse in his argument concerning the source of legislation; it is not a judgment on the validity of this use or a resolution of the exegetical and juristic disagreement surrounding it.
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Brief Reading
The verse is used to deny knowledge of the unseen to the Prophet ﷺ and to limit his position to following revelation.
Axes
- Faith
- Methodological
Related Concepts
- Denial of knowledge of the unseen: 2
- Following: 2
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It is connected to the concept of following and to defining the Messenger’s position within the limits of reception.
The Verse’s Role in the Argument
- Support: 2
Instances of Use
- Islam and Humanity, p. 40: He employs it to deny knowledge of the unseen to the Prophet ﷺ and to affirm that he follows revelation alone.
- Concept: Denial of knowledge of the unseen
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: “{ Say, ‘I do not say to you that I possess God’s treasuries, nor do I know the unseen …’ } (Al-An’am 50)”
- The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna, p. 48: He cites it among a group of verses to establish that the Messenger does not bring anything on his own authority, but only follows what is revealed to him.
- Concept: Following
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: “And that he only follows what is revealed to him from the Revelation (see Al-An’am 50, Al-A’raf 203, Yunus 15, Al-Ahqaf 9)”
Related Books
- Islam and Humanity
- The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna
This page is presented within the general atlas construction methodology.