Intended Meaning
Shura here is the Qur’anic term for democracy, that is, the practice of freedom within a defined framework It is based on accepting pluralism as its proper foundation Therefore, what is meant by it is not merely consultation, but a system that recognizes diversity within a disciplined framework
The Atom’s Structure in the Atlas
- Type of argument: political
- Movement of the argument: it defines shura as the practice of freedom within a framework that accepts pluralism.
- Central terms: shura, democracy, freedom, pluralism.
- Degree of centrality: pivotal.
This atom links shura with political freedom, and gives pluralism the status of the foundation in the general system rather than restricting shura to narrow consultation.
Reading Aids
- Muhammad Shahrur, State and Society
- The Civil State, Religion, and Authority
- Shura
- Freedom
- Pluralism
Basis
- Supporting text: «Shura is the Qur’anic term for democracy, and it is the practice of freedom within a framework, and accepting pluralism is its sound foundation».
Basis Location in the Book
- Book: State and Society.
- Location: in the middle section of the book, within the treatment of the social and political system based on plurality.
- Type of basis: proximate witness.
- Marker that helps verification: pluralism
- Reading note: This location is suitable as evidence because it links shura to pluralism and freedom, and it is close to the intended meaning in the atom.
Degree of Documentation
- Level: directly documented
- Meaning of the level: the atom relies on an explicit witness close to the wording of the claim.
- Limits of reading: the wording above is an analytical summary, and should not be treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is cited word for word.
Function in the Book
Its function here is definitional; it sets out a meaning or conceptual distinction on which Shahrur relies in building the idea.
Related to
Editorial Note
It overlaps with the atom of the civil state in constructing the political sphere.