This is a lexicon entry that gathers the technical meaning of this term in Shahrur’s work across his various books, and connects its multiple uses.
This entry belongs to the Shahrur lexicon. For reading by theme, one may refer to Shahrur’s major themes and shared concepts.
The meaning in Shahrur
The Mother of the Book is the fixed, well-grounded domain that Shahrur makes the origin of the Muhammadan message and its highest referent. It is not viewed as a field for ijtihad in its basis, but rather as a foundation in light of which the rest of the verses are understood, and to which details and applications are referred back.
Distinctions
- It differs from the details that change with changing reality; these are built upon the Mother of the Book and do not affect its basis
- It differs from unrestricted ijtihad in interpretation; for its domain in Shahrur is closed to ijtihad at the level of the basis and open only in explanation and application.
Locations in his books
- The Mother of the Book and Its Details: the well-grounded, in Shahrur’s view, is the set of fixed, well-grounded verses that represent the foundation of the Muhammadan message. There is no room for ijtihad in its basis, only in its details and in clarifying its applications in the other verses
- Guide to the Contemporary Reading of the Wise Revelation: Shahrur presents it as the well-grounded domain closed to ijtihad; it is a fixed origin not open to free interpretation. In his methodological construction, it performs the function of the supreme referent in light of which the rest of the verses and their details are understood.
What is adjacent to it and what differs from it
- the well-grounded
- the Muhammadan message
- the verses of the Mother of the Book explain the prohibitions
- the Mother of the Book is the basis of the Muhammadan message
- the Mother of the Book establishes a boundary-based and civil legislation that restricts prohibition and frees ijtihad
- the Mother of the Book is the well-grounded verses
- The Mother of the Book and Its Details presents a project for rebuilding the understanding of the Qur’an, religion, and legislation on contemporary foundations
- Reclassifying the Book and the Mother of the Book organizes the structure and functions of the Qur’anic text
- Boundary-based legislation makes application variable within the constants of the Mother of the Book
- Legislation responds to changing reality
- Rituals fall within the details
- the Qurashi tongue and the reclassification of the Book establish a precise semantic structure for the text