Al-Baqara 260

This hub gathers 3 locations where this verse is used in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.

The verse as quoted

My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead

The verse is presented as an example of moving toward certainty through direct witnessing, and of how a question may be a path to reassurance.

It is linked to Abraham’s mode of inquiry and to the idea of ijtihad within the domain of prophethood.

State and Society, p. 184: He makes it the clearest example of moving from doubt to certainty through witnessing and questioning in the Abrahamic method.
- Concept: Method of certainty
- Function of the verse here: Example
- Textual evidence: «Perhaps the most prominent manifestation of this method came in His saying: {My Lord, show me how You give life to the dead} (Al-Baqara 260)»
State and Society, p. 184: The dialogue underscores that questioning and inquiry are required in order to reach certain reassurance; they are not considered a flaw in faith.
- Concept: Reassurance of the heart
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: «Rather, He asked him calmly: {Did you not believe?} (Al-Baqara 260) … {Yes, but that my heart may be reassured}»
Towards New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 93: He cites it as an example of prophetic reproach in the sphere of ijtihad, to affirm that prophethood is not absolute infallibility in everything.
- Concept: Prophethood and ijtihad
- Function of the verse here: Example
- Textual evidence: «As in His saying – Exalted is He – to Abraham: {Have you not believed} (Al-Baqara 260)»

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