Thesis Summary
Shahrur redefines disbelief, associating partners, and witnessing as cognitive and behavioral concepts, not combatant ones. The witness is a cognitive testimony, the martyr is a present witnessing, and human witnessing continues after the closure of prophethood through knowledge and understanding.
Foundational Atoms
- Distinguishing the witness from the martyr
- Distinguishing the martyr from the witness
- The Martyr is a Name Among God’s Names
- God’s witnessing is present and all-encompassing
- Witnessing continues after the closure of prophethood
- Scientific witnessing supports the message
- Scholars are among the witnesses
Position Within the Book
These meanings are concentrated in the middle section of Islam and Faith, within the discussion of witnessing, the names of God, and the status of knowledge.
Limits of the Reading
This page summarizes an interwoven conceptual network, and does not distinguish each usage of the term except to the extent that the atoms allow.