This is a lexical entry that gathers the technical meaning of this term in Shahrur’s work across his various books, connecting its multiple usages.
This entry belongs to Shahrur’s glossary. For thematic reading, one may refer to Shahrur’s major themes and shared concepts.
The meaning according to Shahrur
Prophethood, in Muhammad Shahrur’s thought, is a station connected to the unseen, reports, and knowledge, and is understood as a domain of reception and notification, not a domain for enacting general legislation. Accordingly, situational rulings tied to the person of the Prophet and his context are attributed to this station, not the permanent rules that belong to the Muhammadan message.
Distinctions
- It differs from the Muhammadan message; the message is the station of legislation and general organization, whereas prophethood is the station of the unseen and reports
- It is not equated with the new foundations of jurisprudence in terms of method, because that method distinguishes between the fixity of the text and the historicity of interpretation, whereas prophethood here designates the function of the Prophet’s own station.
- It does not fall under the clothing of political conflict in religious garb, because this expression describes the use of religion in conflict, not the meaning of prophethood in itself.
Occurrences in his books
- Toward New Foundations for Islamic Jurisprudence: Prophethood in Muhammad Shahrur’s thought is connected to the unseen, reports, and knowledge, not to the function of general legislation. This distinction allows him to isolate the situational rulings associated with the Prophet’s station from the permanent rules associated with the Muhammadan message
Its neighboring and contrasting terms
- the Muhammadan message
- the new foundations of jurisprudence are based on distinguishing between the fixity of the text and the historicity of interpretation
- clothing political conflict in religious garb
- distinguishing between the station of the message and the station of prophethood
- the station of the message is the station of legislation and organization
- the station of prophethood is the station of the unseen and reports
- Shahrur - the Prophet