Tawbah 114

This axis gathers 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

Indeed, Abraham was tender-hearted, forbearing.

Brief reading

At Shahrur’s, the verse is read to show the distinction between doctrinal disavowal and the persistence of forbearance and compassion in human relations.

Axes

• Faith-based
• Human and ethical
• Narrative and historical

Associated concepts

• disavowal: 2
• opposites: 2
• dutifulness to parents: 2
• innocence/disavowal: 2

Its place in the network of concepts

It is connected to the network of loyalty and disavowal and to the balanced image of Abraham’s character.

The verse’s role in the argument

• Distinguishing: 2
• Foundational: 1
• Supporting: 1

Instances of use

• Islam and Human Beings: used to argue for the legitimacy of disavowal once enmity is established, while forbearance and compassion remain.
  • Concept: disavowal
  • The verse’s function here: Foundational
  • Textual witness: ”{ وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ … فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ … } (al-Tawbah 114).”
• The Book and the Qur’an, p. 278: used to highlight the alternation between two opposing qualities within Abraham’s character.
  • Concept: opposites
  • The verse’s function here: Distinguishing
  • Textual witness: “{وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ … إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهُ حَلِيمٌ} (al-Tawbah 114) Note the alternation in God’s saying: Indeed, Abraham was tender-hearted, forbearing — Indeed, Abraham was forbearing, tender-hearted.”
• Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 172: used to explain the intertwining of family loyalty with doctrinal disavowal, and that the seeking of forgiveness was on account of a promise, not an approval of polytheism.
  • Concept: dutifulness to parents
  • The verse’s function here: Supporting
  • Textual witness: “{وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ…} (al-Tawbah 114).”
• Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 187: makes it evidence that disavowal is constrained by mercy and forbearance, not by aggression or hatred.
  • Concept: innocence/disavowal
  • The verse’s function here: Distinguishing
  • Textual witness: ”{… فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ …} (al-Tawbah 114).”

Related books

• Islam and Human Beings
• The Book and the Qur’an
• Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism

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