Meaning
For Shahrur, the Qur’an is not of the same kind as human heritage, because it is the living word of God rather than an accumulated human product. It should therefore not be understood as an inherited text like human books, but read according to Arabic and its rules. Nor may it be conflated with jurisprudence and legal schools, or inherited exegesis treated as though it were the text itself.
Atom Structure in the Atlas
- Argument type: definitional.
- Argument movement: removes the Qur’an from the sphere of human heritage.
- Central terms: the Qur’an, heritage, the Arabic language.
- Degree of centrality: foundational.
The atom defines the Qur’an as a living divine word, separates it from human inheritance, and links its understanding to the rules of Arabic rather than to the authority of accumulated commentary.
Links That Aid Reading
- Muhammad Shahrur: the Book and the Qur’an
- the Book, the Qur’an, and the Mother of the Book
- the Qur’an
- Qur’anic understanding distinguishes between objective law and human choice
Supporting Evidence
- Supporting text: “The Qur’an differs from human books because it is from the living God, and therefore it is not considered heritage. Understanding the Qur’an must take place according to the Arabic language and its rules, not according to synonymy or inherited commentary alone. The interpretation of the text must not be conflated with jurisprudential heritage or legal schools as though they were the text itself.”
Location of Support in the Book
- Book: the Book and the Qur’an.
- Location: at the beginning of the book.
- Type of support: close evidence.
- Verification marker: The Noble Qur’an is valid for every time and place.
- Reading note: The passage affirms that the Qur’an is from God and that the contemporary reading differs from inherited tradition, making it suitable evidence for the atom concerned with distinguishing the Qur’an from heritage.
Documentation Level
- Level: documented by synthesis.
- Meaning of the level: the atom rests on more than one piece of evidence or on a clear synthesis of closely related formulations.
- Reason for classification: the statement that the Qur’an is not heritage is explicit.
- Limits of the reading: the wording above is an analytical summary and should not be treated as a verbatim quotation unless the supporting passage has been reproduced word for word.
Its Function in the Book
Its function here is definitional: it establishes a meaning or conceptual distinction on which Shahrur relies in constructing the idea.
Related to
Note to the Reader
This atom is foundational to Shahrur’s method of reading the Qur’an.