Intended Meaning
Shahrur does not present wrongdoing here as a mere error, but as an act arising from a will that knows in advance that the decision is wrong. Shahrur says: “The act of ‘wrongdoing’ is connected here to will because it is a specific act. This is because volition includes two possibilities: wrongdoing and justice. But when wrongdoing is carried out, volition becomes will, because the matter has been decided and one of the two possibilities has been chosen. As a result, this act is carried out with full perception, consideration, and awareness of its consequences and ramifications.”
How Does He Describe the Occurrence of Wrongdoing?
According to the text, for wrongdoing to occur, the will must decide upon the act while knowing beforehand that it is wrong, and then proceed with it. Shahrur says: “For wrongdoing to occur, there must be a will that decides it while knowing in advance that it is a wrong decision, and proceeds with it.” Shahrur links carrying out this act to “full perception, consideration, and awareness of its consequences and ramifications.”
Limits of the Formulation
The available passage does not describe the will as “free.” This page therefore confines itself to what the text establishes: will, the settling of the choice, prior knowledge of the error, and awareness of the consequences. This atom does not establish a definition of wrongdoing as placing a thing in other than its proper place.
Reading Aids
- Muhammad Shahrur, the State and Society
- Civil State, Religion, and Authority
- Wrongdoing
- Falsehood and tyranny corrupt morals, while morals remain fixed above politics
Falsehood and tyranny corrupt morals, while morals remain fixed above politics