Religion Is One and Islam Is the Name of This Religion
Editorial verification status: This atom is extracted from an explanatory audiovisual source, and it has now been linked to the closest books within Shahrur’s project at the book level. For precise academic citation, consult the original book and the original episode together.
Formulation of the claim
Shahrur maintains that religion before God is one, and that its name is Islam, with no plurality in it at the level of doctrinal origin. He argues that all prior messages were also within this Islam in its comprehensive sense.
Explanation
In the episode, he repeats that Islam is not the religion of a single community, but rather the one and only divine religion. He connects this meaning to his statement that the earlier messages were sent with Islam as well. In this way, he distinguishes between the unity of religion and the plurality of laws and communities throughout history.
Its place in the episode’s argument
This atom is the theoretical foundation of the episode, because all the later distinctions between Islam and faith, and between religion and community, are built upon it.
Without it, his objection to the common juristic reading cannot be understood.
Scope of the claim
This idea does not say that all laws and rituals are identical, but rather that the religious origin is one.
Brief evidence
“Indeed, the religion before God is Islam"
"All the prior messages were sent with Islam”
Related links
- Shahrur - Islam
- Shahrur - the Qur’an
- Book: Islam and Faith