This axis brings together 2 places where this verse is used in Muhammad Shahrur’s books, linking it to the concepts and arguments that appear around it.
The verse as cited
And when you meet those who disbelieve, then strike the necks until, when you have thoroughly subdued them, bind the captives firmly. Then either grace afterward or ransom, until war lays down its burdens
Brief reading
The verse is used to close the door to turning captives into slaves, and to make grace or ransom the default in dealing with them.
Axes
- Legislative
- Political and social
Related concepts
- Captives: 3
- Grace: 1
- Ransom: 1
- Denial of slavery: 1
Its place in the network of concepts
It is connected to the concept of captives and the limits of legislation in war and after it.
The verse’s role in the argument
- Critique of the tradition: 1
- Support: 1
Instances of use
- The State and Society, p. 262: He cites it to argue that the Qur’an restricted dealing with captives to grace or ransom, thereby denying the continued validity of captivity as a legitimate source of slavery.
- Concept: captives
- Function of the verse here: critique of the tradition
- Textual evidence: “It was clear in deciding this matter: {فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا …} (Muhammad 4), so dealing with captives takes one of two paths: {فَإِمَّا مَنًّا} … and {وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً}”
- The corresponding traditional reading: considering captivity in wars a source of slavery
- Towards a New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence, p. 231: He uses it to rebut turning captives into slaves, and makes grace or ransom, not slavery, the basis of dealing with them.
- Concept: captives
- Function of the verse here: support
- Textual evidence: “And God – Most High – has set the policy for dealing with them on the basis of: { فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاء } (Muhammad 4)“
Related books
This page is presented within the general method of constructing the atlas.