al-Nahl 126

2 min read

This axis gathers 1 locus 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

{And if you punish, then punish with the like of that with which you were punished. But if you are patient, it is surely better for those who are patient.}

Reader’s answer

Question

How does Shahrur employ al-Nahl 126 in his discussion of fighting and responding to harm?

Shahrur includes the verse among the “verses detailing fighting,” relying on its text, which restricts punishment to equivalence with what was inflicted and presents patience as better for those who are patient. However, the citation offers no further explanation from him of the verse beyond this inclusion.

Shahrur places al-Nahl 126 in his list entitled “Verses Detailing Fighting.”

Citation and location

Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism — p. 115.

Limits of the reading

  • The citation is a classificatory list of verses, not an independent interpretive paragraph on al-Nahl 126.
  • It is not valid to attribute to Shahrur a detailed rationale that goes beyond the inclusion of the verse and its text in this context.

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Brief reading

He uses it to affirm that responding to harm must remain within the bounds of equivalence, without transgression.

Axes

  • Human and ethical
  • Legislative
  • Equivalence in punishment: 2
  • Harm: 1
  • Responding in kind: 1

Its place in the network of concepts

It enters into the network governing punishment and ethical response.

The verse’s role in the argument

  • Support: 1

Loci of use

  • Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 115: He uses it to affirm that responding to harm must remain within the bounds of equivalence, without transgression.
    • Concept: Equivalence in punishment
    • Function of the verse here: Support
    • Textual citation: “al-Nahl (126) | { And if you punish, then punish with the like of that with which you were punished … }”

This page is presented within the general methodology for building the atlas.

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Muhammad Shahrur Atlas