This axis brings together 4 instances 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
THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS WILL NEVER BE PLEASED WITH YOU UNTIL YOU FOLLOW THEIR MILLA
Brief reading
The verse is used to distinguish between religion and milla, and to explain the meaning of temporal succession in Qur’anic discourse.
Axes
- faith-related
- linguistic and semantic
- methodological
Related concepts
- milla: 4
- temporal sequence: 2
Its place in the conceptual network
It is linked to separating milla from the shared origin of Islam.
The verse’s role in the argument
- distinction: 2
- example: 1
- support: 1
Instances of use
- The Qur’an in Contemporary Thought, p. 10: He cites it as evidence that the Qur’an distinguishes between religion and milla, and that the difference with the People of the Book lies in milla, not in the shared origin of Islam.
- concept: milla
- function of the verse here: distinction
- textual evidence: “As He, Exalted, says: {THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS WILL NEVER BE PLEASED WITH YOU …} (al-Baqara 120), and He did not say ‘their religion’”
- The Qur’anic Narrative vol. 1, p. 129: He cites it to affirm that “after” denotes the later-following relation in relation to the knowledge that came earlier.
- concept: temporal sequence
- function of the verse here: example
- textual evidence: “{AND IF YOU FOLLOW THEIR DESIRES AFTER THAT WHICH HAS COME TO YOU OF KNOWLEDGE…} (al-Baqara: 120)”
- Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 170: He cites it as evidence that differences in rites do not require loyalty to non-believers in the domain of faith.
- concept: milla
- function of the verse here: support
- textual evidence: “{THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS WILL NEVER BE PLEASED WITH YOU UNTIL YOU FOLLOW THEIR MILLA} (al-Baqara 120).”
- Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 208: He uses it to distinguish between leaving faith and leaving Islam, and makes moving to Judaism or Christianity a departure from faith only if monotheism remains.
- concept: milla
- function of the verse here: distinction
- textual evidence: “And in His, Exalted, saying: {THE JEWS AND THE CHRISTIANS WILL NEVER BE PLEASED WITH YOU…} (al-Baqara 120), meaning that one who moves from following Muhammad (p)… to other millas… has departed from faith only”
Related books
This page is presented within the general method of building the atlas.