This locus brings together 2 instances of the use of this verse in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.
Text of the Verse as Cited
And We revealed to Moses’ mother: “Nurse him; then, if you fear for him, cast him into the river…”
Reader’s Answer
Question
Where does Shahrur place Al-Qasas 7 in his argument, what distinction does he employ, and what does the verse establish here?
Shahrur cites Al-Qasas 7 as the beginning of the account of Moses from his birth, within his line of argument concerning the meaning of Mary’s description as “sister of Aaron.” The explicit distinction is between genealogical siblinghood and a siblinghood of belief, conduct, and purpose. The evidence does not establish that the verse is used to prove that revelation occurs to non-prophets or to link Moses’ mother to Mary on the basis of pregnancy.
Shahrur distinguishes between siblinghood by lineage and a siblinghood connected with belief, conduct, and purpose, making this distinction an entry point to the question of Mary’s description as “sister of Aaron.” He invokes Al-Qasas 7 when returning to the account of Moses from his birth, as part of tracing the events of his story in order to investigate the significance of singling out Aaron in Mary’s description.
Evidence and Location
Islam and Faith — p. 213.
Limits of the Reading
- The evidence does not state that Moses’ mother and Mary are connected through pregnancy or “social pregnancy.”
- The evidence does not maintain that the revelation in Al-Qasas 7 is proof that revelation occurs to non-prophets.
- In the available excerpt, the evidence does not provide the final conclusion of the parallel that Shahrur posits between Mary and Aaron.
Continue From Here
Brief Reading
He uses it to link the story of Moses with the story of Mary, and to show that revelation may also occur to non-prophets.
Axes
- Narrative and historical
- Faith-based
Related Concepts
- Moses’ mother: 2
- Revelation: 2
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It opens a connection between the narrative and the expanded meaning of inspiration.
The Verse’s Role in the Argument
- Context: 1
- Support: 1
Instances of Use
- Islam and Faith, p. 213: He invokes it to link the story of Mary with that of Moses’ mother, making the similarity between pregnancy/social pregnancy the key to understanding the title “sister of Aaron.”
- Concept: Moses’ mother
- Function of the verse here: Context
- Textual evidence: “{And We revealed to Moses’ mother: ‘Nurse him…’} (Al-Qasas 7).”
- Qur’anic Narratives, vol. 2, p. 179: He cites it among examples of revelation not restricted to male prophets, in order to show that inspiration may also occur to someone other than a prophet.
- Concept: Revelation
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual evidence: “The Exalted said: {And We revealed to Moses’ mother: ‘Nurse him; then, if you fear for him, cast him into the river…’} (Al-Qasas 7).”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general methodology for building the atlas.