This page explains a conceptual relationship between two poles within Shahrur’s thought and how this relationship functions in the construction of meaning.
Within a Broader Family
This formulation belongs to the field of the Mother of the Book as the domain of the definitive verses and the commands and prohibitions. Its specific angle highlights a particular dimension, while the encompassing family shows how this relates to the foundation of the message and the sphere of ijtihad.
The Meaning of the Relationship
This linkage indicates that the Mother of the Book is the domain that pertains to the commands and prohibitions governing human behavior. The meaning here does not concern ontological truths or objective laws, but rather what directs human action and regulates conduct within the framework of moral and practical obligation. For this reason, the Mother of the Book is understood as the sphere of legislation directly connected to human daily practices and to what one should and should not do.
The Two Poles of the Relationship
- First pole: the Mother of the Book
- Relationship: pertains to
- Second pole: the commands and prohibitions related to human behavior
Evidence
- The Book and the Qur’an via The Mother of the Book is the commands governing human behavior
- Witness: - It affirms that the Qur’an pertains to objective laws and ontological truths, whereas the Mother of the Book pertains to the commands and prohibitions related to human behavior.
Its Effect in the Knowledge Map
The importance of this relationship appears in that it distinguishes the place of the Mother of the Book within the conceptual map of the Qur’anic text, separating what pertains to cosmic knowledge and general truths from what pertains to the practical guidance of conduct. This separation helps build a more precise conception of the functions of the central concepts and prevents confusion between the sphere of ontological statement and the sphere of moral obligation, making the relationship fundamental to organizing the network of meanings within the intellectual system.