The Intended Meaning
Shahrur sees the first emergence of human freedom in choice as having been in disobedience, that is, the first transgression was not merely a mistake but rather a sign of the human being’s capacity to choose. Thus disobedience becomes linked to the establishment of human free will.
The Atom’s Structure in the Atlas
- Type of argument: Interpretive
- Argument movement: It makes disobedience the first expression of the human being’s freedom of choice.
- Central terms: disobedience, freedom of choice, will, human being.
- Degree of centrality: Primary.
This atom connects disobedience with the beginning of free will, making moral choice a foundational moment rather than a passing transgression.
Reading Aids
- Muhammad Shahrur, The Qur’anic Narrative, vol. 1
- Freedom, the Human Being, and Responsibility
- The Human Being
- The Tree as a Symbol for the Test of Possession
Basis
- Supporting text: ««The first expression of human freedom in choice was in disobedience»».
Location of the Basis in the Book
- Book: The Qur’anic Narrative, vol. 1.
- Location: In the first section of the book, in the discussion of free will.
- Type of basis: Close evidence.
- Verification marker: Freedom of choice
- Reading note: The text clearly affirms the human being’s freedom of choice, and is close to this atom even though it does not explicitly state that the first expression was in disobedience.
Degree of Documentation
- Level: Directly documented
- Meaning of the level: The atom rests on an explicit witness close to the wording of the claim.
- Limits of the 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.
Its Function in the Book
Its function here is argumentative; it supports a larger conclusion in the chapter or prepares for it.
Related to
Editorial Note
Central in building the image of the responsible human being.