This axis gathers 1 instance 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
Indeed, We sent upon them a howling wind on a day of unremitting misfortune.
Reader’s Answer
Question
Where does the verse appear, what distinction does Shahrur construct from it, and what function does it serve in his argument?
The verse appears in Surat al-Qamar, verse 19. Shahrur employs it as evidence that the destruction of the people of Hud occurred by means of wind, distinguishing its effect in elevated areas from the effect of flooding in low-lying areas. He also interprets “day” as an occasion or circumstance, rather than a period of twenty-four hours.
Shahrur cites al-Qamar 19 as evidence that the destruction of the people of Hud came through the phenomenon of wind. He describes the howling wind as fierce, violent, cold, and resounding, continuous in its blowing and intensity. Shahrur draws a distinction between wind and flood: the effect of wind is more severe in elevated areas, whereas the effect of flooding is greater in low-lying areas. He interprets “a day of misfortune” as an occasion or circumstance, rather than a span of twenty-four hours, and connects this to the mention of “days of misfortune” elsewhere.
Evidence and Location
Qur’anic Narratives Vol. 2 — p. 52.
Limits of the Reading
- The evidence does not explicitly state that the wind “was not a miraculous violation”; therefore, this negation should not be asserted in the answer.
- In the attached passage, the evidence does not establish a complete conclusion regarding the scope or locality of the wind disaster.
- The distinction presented is between the geographical effects of wind and flood, not merely a verbal resemblance between the verses.
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Brief Reading
Shahrur reads the verse as meaning that the destruction of ʿĀd was caused by a natural phenomenon—the violent wind—rather than by a miraculous violation.
Axes
- Narrative and historical
- Linguistic and semantic
Related Concepts
- The howling wind: 2
- The destruction of ʿĀd: 1
- Natural phenomenon: 1
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It contributes to linking the narrative to natural laws.
The Verse’s Role in the Argument
- Support: 1
Instances of Use
- Qur’anic Narratives Vol. 2, p. 52: He cites it as evidence that the destruction of ʿĀd was a natural phenomenon—the violent wind—rather than a miraculous violation.
- Concept: the howling wind
- Function of the verse here: support
- Textual evidence: “As indicated by His saying, exalted is He: {Indeed, We sent upon them a howling wind on a day of unremitting misfortune} (al-Qamar 19).”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general atlas construction methodology.