Al-Isra 36

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This axis brings together 5 locations where this verse is used in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.

The verse text as cited

And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge

Brief reading

The verse comes to establish the principle of responsible knowledge, based on hearing, sight, and the heart, not on speaking without knowledge.

Axes

  • Methodological
  • Linguistic and semantic
  • Knowledge: 2
  • Curiosity: 2
  • Sources of knowledge: 2
  • Testimony and knowledge: 2
  • The heart: 2

Its place in the network of concepts

It is linked to the construction of his view of the sources of knowledge and the etiquette of speech and testimony.

The verse’s role in the argument

  • Support: 2
  • Foundation: 2
  • Context: 1

Summary of its presence in the atlas

  • Responsible knowledge
  • Sources of knowledge and speech
  • Its presence in testimony and truthfulness

Uses

  • Islam and Faith, p. 23: He uses it to forbid speaking without knowledge and to connect it to the value of epistemic truthfulness.
    • Concept: knowledge
    • Function of the verse here: support
    • Textual evidence: «- {And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge…} (Al-Isra 36).»
  • The Messengerly Sunna and the Prophetic Sunna, p. 48: He employs it to expand the meaning of wisdom to include etiquette of conduct and distancing oneself from what does not concern one.
    • Concept: curiosity
    • Function of the verse here: context
    • Textual evidence: «and by abandoning curiosity and interference in what does not concern one (Al-Isra 36)»
  • The Book and the Qur’an, p. 228: He makes it the starting point for linking human knowledge to hearing, sight, and then the heart, as responsible means of perception.
    • Concept: sources of knowledge
    • Function of the verse here: foundation
    • Textual evidence: «{And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—all of those will be held accountable for it} (Al-Isra 36).»
  • The Guide to the Contemporary Reading of the Wise Revelation, p. 60: He uses it to link the heart to direct sensory perception responsible for primary knowledge.
    • Concept: the heart
    • Function of the verse here: support
    • Textual evidence: «the heart … because of His saying تعالى: { And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge … } (Al-Isra 36).»

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

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Muhammad Shahrur Atlas