Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: During the course of my academic engagement with the Qur'an and in light of my recent writings in particular, in which I continue to interrogate Qur'anic styles and norms, I came to appreciate how the Qur'an does not merely expect but rather seeks to encourage compliance and obedience amongst the faithful.Of the many tools in its arsenal is a feature I will highlight and showcase here, that of Qur'anic 'enablement'.This can easily be appreciated in the context of the Qur'an's primary function as 'guidebook' (hudā) 1 as opposed to 'lawbook'.2 A selection of passages will illustrate how the Qur'an's enabling language facilitates obedience in arenas as distinct and diverse as religious financial obligations, ritual practice, and sexual morality.In each of the illustrative examples below we will find a focal set of Qur'anic verses that extol God's attributes and explicate, in some manner, the individual's relationship with the Divine and His Book, thereby serving to remind its audience of its covenant with Him.Positioning a reminder in this manner reinforces one's relationship with God and reminds one of the gratitude and obedience due to Him, as such, these 'interruptions', or what may otherwise be termed 'suspensions', are essential to the 'enabling' outlined here. Personal Morality and Communal RelationshipsThe first example, one within the arena of personal morality and communal relationships, is from, Q. 24, Sūrat al-Nūra sura that has been treated to an extensive analysis in my recent article 'Sūrat al-Nūr (Q.24), "Light upon Light": Shedding New Light on the Light Verse'.3 Q.24 starts out with a very strong admonishment against and penalties for adultery and slander.Having started with these the sura proceeds to offer practical ways whereby one may avoid falling into these
Source: Journal of Qur anic Studies
Author: M. A. S. Abdel Haleem
Institution: SOAS University of London
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4413329260