This means that God’s favoring some over others signifies differentiation by competence
Editorial verification status: This atom is extracted from an explanatory audiovisual source, and has now been linked to the closest books within the Shahrur project at the book level. For precise academic citation, consult the original book and the original episode together.
Formulation of the claim
Shahrur says that “by which God has favored some of them over others” refers to differences in competence and abilities, not to the preference of one sex over another.
Explanation
He rejects the reading that makes the verse mean that God favored men over women by virtue of sex. He says that the word “some” indicates the distribution of differentiation among individuals of both sexes. He then connects this to administrative competence and ownership of wealth, meaning that guardianship is granted to whoever possesses its conditions. In this way, differentiation becomes functional and open.
Its place in the episode’s argument
This atom is central because it explains why “some of them” appears instead of a pronoun specific to one sex.
Scope of the claim
This idea does not deny the existence of real differences among people, but it denies that these differences are translated into a fixed sex-based superiority.
Brief evidence
“The ‘some-ness’ here… some men and women are guardians over some”
Nearby links
- Shahrur - righteous action
- Shahrur - sovereignty
- Shahrur - jurisprudence