What Shahrur Says

Shahrur reads the two verses concerning the parents’ attempt to induce their child to commit polytheism as deciding in favor of children in two cases: binding them to the old epistemic level, or demanding absolute obedience to parental commands.

He couples disobedience in this case with keeping company with one’s parents in kindness and treating them well.

Limits of the Reading

This passage concerns the condition of coercion described by the text, and does not establish a general ruling for every disagreement between parents and children. Nor does it mention an injunction concerning parents or “development” in these terms.

Muhammad Shahrur: the Book and the Qur’an

Women, Family, and Dress

Beneficence