This axis brings together 3 places 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
IT WAS NOT FOR THE POLYTHEISTS TO MAINTAIN THE MOSQUES OF GOD WHILE BEARING WITNESS AGAINST THEMSELVES TO DISBELIEF; THOSE ARE THE ONES WHOSE DEEDS HAVE BECOME VOID, AND IN THE FIRE THEY WILL ABIDE
Brief reading
The verse is used to distinguish declared disbelief from mere conviction, and to clarify the meaning of bearing witness against oneself from within one’s knowledge of it.
Axes
- Faith-based
- Linguistic and semantic
- Human and ethical
Related concepts
- disbelief: 2
- declared disbelief: 2
- bearing witness against oneself: 2
Its place in the network of concepts
It links the verbal surface of the ruling with its indication of the inward stance.
The verse’s role in the argument
- Support: 2
- Distinction: 1
Places of use
- Islam and the Human Being: He uses it to distinguish the polytheist who openly declares his disbelief and thus becomes a disbeliever, from mere polytheistic conviction.
- Concept: disbelief
- Function of the verse here: Distinction
- Textual citation: «{ IT WAS NOT FOR THE POLYTHEISTS TO MAINTAIN THE MOSQUES OF GOD, BEARING WITNESS AGAINST THEMSELVES WITH DISBELIEF … } (Tawbah 17)»
- Islam and the Human Being: He interprets it to mean that whoever displays polytheism in word and stance is described as a disbeliever in addition to being a polytheist.
- Concept: declared disbelief
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: «He became — in addition to his polytheism — a disbeliever, as stated in His saying تعالى: { IT WAS NOT FOR THE POLYTHEISTS TO MAINTAIN THE MOSQUES OF GOD … } (Tawbah 17)»
- Islam and Faith, p. 146: He cites it to show that the witness may describe himself to others from within his knowledge of himself, not through direct present observation of his own self.
- Concept: bearing witness against oneself
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: «And He, the Exalted, says: {IT WAS NOT FOR THE POLYTHEISTS TO MAINTAIN THE MOSQUES OF GOD, BEARING WITNESS AGAINST THEMSELVES WITH DISBELIEF…} (Tawbah 17).»
Related books
This page is presented within the general methodology of building the atlas.