This thematic axis brings together 1 instance 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
Do you kill a man because he says, “My Lord is God”?
Reader’s Answer
Question
Where is the verse located, what does Shahrur distinguish in it, and what function does it serve in his argument?
The verse is in Surat Ghafir, verse 28. Shahrur employs it as an example of the existence of those who disagreed with Pharaoh; he presents the words of the believing man from Pharaoh’s family as an objection to killing a man because he says: “My Lord is God.”
Shahrur cites Ghafir 28 after discussing Pharaoh’s موقف toward the sorcerers’ faith, in order to establish that there were people in Pharaoh’s circle who disagreed with him. Following this example, Shahrur links this context to his statement that the city was not destroyed.
Citation and Location
Towards New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence — p. 129.
Limits of the Reading
- The citation does not explicitly formulate a general legal principle concerning “the legitimacy of defending those who differ in belief.”
- Describing Pharaoh’s stance as “the brutality of authority” goes beyond the wording of the attached citation.
- This passage alone is insufficient to define a specific theoretical meaning for the term “difference in belief” in Shahrur’s thought, beyond his discussion here of disagreement in opinion and the declaration of faith.
- The connection between the city’s not being destroyed and the verse is mentioned by Shahrur in the passage, but the citation does not provide its detailed rationale.
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Brief Reading
He cites it to highlight the legitimacy of defending those who differ in belief against the brutality of authority.
Axes
- Political and Social
- Human and Ethical
Related Concepts
- Religious freedom: 2
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It is connected to the question of social protection for freedom of belief.
Role of the Verse in the Argument
- Support: 1
Instances of Use
- Towards New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 129: He cites it to highlight the legitimacy of defending those who differ in belief against the brutality of authority.
- Concept: Religious freedom
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: “{ And a believing man from Pharaoh’s family said … ‘Do you kill a man because he says, “My Lord is God”?’ … } (Ghafir 28).”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general atlas-building methodology.