Intended Meaning

Shahrur argues that much of the inherited Islamic fiqh does not rest on the Qur’an and has no direct connection to it Therefore, he distinguishes between the Qur’anic text and what accumulated in historical fiqh, and makes the Qur’an itself the primary point of reference

The Atom’s Structure in the Atlas

  • Type of argument: critical
  • Argument movement: it separates the Qur’an and inherited fiqh in terms of authority.
  • Central terms: inherited fiqh, the Qur’an, historical.
  • Degree of centrality: central.

An affirmation that some of the juristic structure took shape historically outside the Qur’anic text, so it is not placed on an equal footing with it in authority and is not made a substitute for the primary source.

Basis

  • Supporting text: “and he considers that much of Islamic fiqh has no connection to the Qur’an.”

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 formulation above is an analytical summary, and should not be treated as a literal quotation unless the witness is quoted verbatim.

Its Function in the Book

Its function here is argumentative; it supports a larger conclusion in the chapter or prepares the ground for it.

Editorial Note

The atom confines the critique to the relationship of authority, not to the principle of ijtihad itself.