This lexicon entry gathers the technical meaning of this term in Shahrur’s work across his different books, and connects its multiple uses.
This entry belongs to the Shahrur glossary. For reading by theme, one may refer to Shahrur’s major themes and shared concepts.
The meaning according to Shahrur
The reasons for revelation are historical reports that may be used to help interpret certain verses and explain their context, but they are not made into a universal basis for understanding the Qur’an as a whole, nor into a standard that governs all of its significations. Their interpretive value is limited, and the error lies in generalizing their presence across all verses, thereby confining meaning to the event and leading to determinism that denies human agency.
Distinctions
- Not a comprehensive key to understanding the Qur’an as a whole, but only a partial indication for specific places
- Different from the Qur’an itself, and therefore not treated as a legislative source or a final interpretive authority binding for all verses.
Passages from his books
- The Qur’anic Narrative, vol. 1: The author holds that these reports may explain some verses, but they are not suitable as a comprehensive key to understanding the Qur’an as a whole. When generalized, they close the text off within history and prevent its renewed significance
- The Qur’anic Narrative, vol. 2: Shahrur sees them as a limited indication, not a comprehensive key to understanding the Wise Revelation as a whole, because generalizing them leads to determinism that negates human will. Hence, for him, they are a partial interpretive tool that must not be imposed on all verses.
What is adjacent to it and what differs from it
- The Qur’an
- Reasons for revelation do not explain the whole Qur’an
- The Qur’anic narrative is not a direct legislative source
- The Wise Revelation
- Reasons for revelation are not a comprehensive key
- Reasons for revelation and the reports are not suitable as an absolute basis for understanding
- A methodological reading of the narrative separates moral lesson from legislation and frees understanding from the closed inherited tradition
- Generalizing the reasons for revelation leads to determinism