Luqman 15

This locus gathers 4 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 text as cited

AND IF THEY STRIVE TO MAKE YOU ASSOCIATE WITH ME THAT OF WHICH YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE, THEN DO NOT OBEY THEM BOTH

Brief reading

Shahrur distinguishes in the verse between rejecting coercion toward polytheism and maintaining companionship with one’s parents in kindness.

Axes

• Human and ethical
• Political and social
• Faith-based

Related concepts

• Companionship in kindness: 3
• Polytheism: 2
• Obedience to parents: 2

Its place in the network of concepts

It is linked to the concept of ethical dutifulness, which does not cancel the human relationship.

The verse’s role in the argument

• Distinction: 1
• Critique of the inherited tradition: 1
• Foundation: 1
• Support: 1

Instances of use

• Islam and the Human Being: He uses it to distinguish between rejecting coercion toward polytheism and continuing companionship with one’s parents in kindness.
  • Concept: companionship in kindness
  • Function of the verse here: Distinction
  • Textual evidence: «{ وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا } (لقمان ١٥)»
• The Qur’an in Contemporary Thought, p. 14: He interprets it as discourse about steadfastness in the principle of paternalism and rejecting the call to polytheism, not about verbally declaring polytheism.
  • Concept: Polytheism
  • Function of the verse here: Critique of the inherited tradition
  • Textual evidence: «عندما يقول الله – تعالى –: {وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي…} (لقمان 15)»
• The Book and the Qur’an, p. 453: He interprets it as a case in which children are subjected to parents’ pressure for absolute obedience, and he decides that ethical dutifulness remains even while rejecting obedience in polytheism or tyranny.
  • Concept: obedience to parents
  • Function of the verse here: Foundation
  • Textual evidence: «ففي كلتا الآيتين جاء فعل “جاهداك” … حسمت لصالح الأبناء بقوله “فلا تطعهما” ثم أضاف “وصاحبهما في الدنيا معروفاً”»
• Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism, p. 173: He uses it to prove that disavowal of polytheism does not mean severing the human relationship or abandoning good treatment.
  • Concept: companionship in kindness
  • Function of the verse here: Support
  • Textual evidence: «{… فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا} (لقمان ١٥).»

Related books

• Islam and the Human Being
• The Qur’an in Contemporary Thought
• The Book and the Qur’an
• Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism

This page is presented within the general method of building the atlas.