This axis 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.
The Verse as Cited
O my son, do not associate anything with God; indeed, associating partners with God is a great injustice.
Reader’s Answer
Question
Where does Shahrur cite Luqman 13, and what function does the citation serve in his argument?
Shahrur cites the verse in «Islam and Faith» (p. 53) as part of his introduction to distinguishing the fornicator from the polytheist, and the fornicatress from the polytheist woman, in a context connected to the verse on marriage to polytheist women and men. Here, the citation does not establish a detailed definition of polytheism, nor does it state that polytheism is, first and foremost, an injustice to oneself.
Shahrur cites Luqman 13 when raising the need to distinguish the fornicator from the polytheist, and the fornicatress from the polytheist woman, before moving on to Qur’an 2:221 concerning marriage to polytheist women and men.
Citation and Location
Islam and Faith — p. 53.
Limits of the Reading
- The citation establishes the location and polemical context of the reference, but the passage does not provide Shahrur’s final definition of the polytheist man or woman.
- The citation does not establish that polytheism is a deviation that first and foremost wrongs the person themself.
- The citation does not establish a connection to verses on fighting or a distinction from the rulings on fighting.
- No relationship may be inferred from verbal similarity alone.
Continue from Here
Brief Reading
For Shahrur, the verse reinforces the meaning of polytheism as a deviation that first and foremost wrongs the human being themself, and distinguishes it from other rulings concerning relations and fighting.
Axes
- Faith-related
- Human and ethical
Related Concepts
- Polytheism: 3
- Injustice to oneself: 1
- Distinguishing polytheism from unbelief: 1
Its Place in the Conceptual Network
It is connected to the network of concepts of polytheism, injustice, and the distinction between rulings.
The Verse’s Role in the Argument
- Support: 2
Instances of Use
- Islam and Faith, p. 53: He uses it to explain the meaning of the polytheist man and woman in the context of marital relations and to distinguish them from the fornicator and fornicatress.
- Concept: Polytheism
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: “{… O my son, do not associate anything with God; indeed, associating partners with God is a great injustice} (Luqman 13).”
- Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 94: He uses it to respond to those who equate every unbeliever or polytheist with a cause for fighting, explaining that polytheism is first and foremost an injustice to oneself.
- Concept: Polytheism
- Function of the verse here: Support
- Textual citation: “Indeed, associating partners with God … is an injustice, as indicated by His, exalted be He, words on the tongue of Luqman …”
Related Books
This page is presented within the general atlas construction methodology.