This axis brings together 5 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
{.. those who enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and preserve the limits of God; and give glad tidings to the believers}
Reader’s Answer
Question
Where does Shahrur cite the verse, and what does the evidence establish concerning the meaning of “what is right” and the verse’s function in his argument?
Shahrur cites al-Tawbah 112 at the opening of a section on the principle of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, on page 538 of “The Book and the Qur’an.” He begins with “what is right,” treating it as a linguistic entry connected to the root “ʿ-r-f” and to definition in language. The evidence does not establish a systematic social interpretation of the verse, nor does it clarify the meaning of “what is wrong” or its relation to preserving the limits.
Shahrur opens a section entitled “The Principle of Enjoining What Is Right and Forbidding What Is Wrong” with al-Tawbah 112. In this passage, Shahrur addresses “what is right” beginning with its linguistic root, “ʿ-r-f,” and connects it to the terms for definition and annexation in language.
Evidence and Location
The Book and the Qur’an — p. 538.
Limits of the Reading
- The location of the attached evidence is p. 538, not p. 471 as stated in the usage description.
- The evidence does not define “what is wrong” or establish a complete technical distinction between what is right and what is wrong.
- The evidence does not establish that the verse grounds a connection between faith and organized social action.
- The evidence does not establish an interpretive function for the phrase “those who preserve the limits of God” beyond its occurrence in the text of the verse.
Continue From Here
Brief Reading
The verse establishes a connection between faith and organized social action, bringing together enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and preserving the limits.
Axes
- Legislative
- Political and social
- Faith-related
Related Concepts
- Enjoining what is right: 2
- Faith: 2
- Preserving the limits: 2
- Customs: 1
- Guardianship: 1
Its Place in the Network of Concepts
It connects the devotional dimension to the social structure of commitment.
Role of the Verse in the Argument
- Support: 4
- Foundation: 1
Instances of Use
- The Book and the Qur’an, p. 471: He takes it as a linguistic and technical point of entry for defining what is right and what is wrong and linking them to the social order and limits.
- Concept: Enjoining what is right
- Function of the verse here: Foundation
- Textual evidence: “Fourth section: The principle of enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong — {.. those who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong…}”
- The Book and the Qur’an, p. 538: He reserves glad tidings for believers who preserve God’s limits and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong.
- Concept: Faith
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: “He follows His saying {… those who enjoin what is right, forbid what is wrong, and preserve the limits of God…} with His saying {and give glad tidings to the believers}”
- Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, pp. 159–160: He employs it to show that the verse brings together worship, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and preserving God’s limits in a single set of qualities.
- Concept: Preserving the limits
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: “And His saying—Exalted is He—: {the repentant, the worshippers… those who enjoin what is right…}”
- The State and Society, p. 236: He makes the verse evidence for considering customs a source of legislation, so long as they are consistent with God’s limits.
- Concept: Customs
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: “They are also among the sources of legislation, provided they do not contravene God’s limits; {those who enjoin what is right …} (al-Tawbah 112)”
- Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, pp. 159–160: He uses it to show that enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong are part of a believing social system, not an instrument of individual coercion.
- Concept: Guardianship
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: “We pause at His saying—Exalted is He—: {the believing men and believing women are guardians of one another…}”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general atlas construction methodology.