Reference passage: Islam and Faith, p. 86.
Intended Meaning
The point here is not to establish, in an independent formulation, that everything falling under obedience to the Messenger is a free choice. Rather, it is to show that Shahrur explains “Obey God” in the context of the two verses on obedience as voluntary submission and willing commitment. The atom’s title and body should therefore be narrowed to what the passage supports.
What Is Attributed to Shahrur
After citing the two verses, “Say: ‘Obey God and the Messenger’” and “Obey God and the Messenger,” Shahrur explains that what is meant by “Obey God” is: “Thus, by His saying, { OBEY GOD }, He means voluntary submission to God Almighty, with complete choice and freedom, in complying with His divine sovereignty through willing commitment to what has come in His religion, ‘Islam’ …”
Atlas Explanation
The two verses place the discussion in the context of obedience to God and the Messenger together, but the quoted explanation specifically concerns the phrase “Obey God.” The Atlas therefore does not equate the two commands, nor does it extend the description “voluntary” to obedience to the Messenger unless an explicit passage states this.
For connected reading: Muhammad Shahrur Islam and Faith, Freedom, the Human Being, and Responsibility, Freedom.
Conclusion
It may be inferred that, in this passage, freedom is not the opposite of religious commitment for Shahrur; he links submission to God with choice and willing commitment. This inference is limited to the phrase “Obey God” as explained in the text.
Open Question
Does Shahrur state elsewhere that obedience to the Messenger itself is voluntary obedience? And does he derive from this an explicit ruling concerning coercion or responsibility? The available evidence does not settle these two questions; they require a verified primary passage from his discussion of obedience to the Messenger.