Intended Meaning
Shahrur holds that the inherited classification of Qur’anic sciences is marked by inflation and conflation, because many of these sciences became mixed with exegesis instead of remaining independent disciplines. In his view, this reflects a disorder in the organization of Qur’anic knowledge within the tradition
Atom Structure in the Atlas
- Type of argument: Critical
- Argument movement: Criticizes the inflation of the classification of Qur’anic sciences and their intermingling in the tradition.
- Key terms: inherited classification, inflation, conflation, Qur’anic sciences.
- Degree of centrality: Central.
It records a flaw in the ordering of knowledge within the tradition, and hints at the disappearance of boundaries between the sciences. In this way, it prepares the ground for rebuilding the classification on clearer foundations.
Links that help reading
- Muhammad Shahrur, The Mother of the Book and Its Elaboration
- Critique of Heritage, Jurisprudence, and Exegesis
- Qur’anic narratives fall within the cognitive dimension, not legislation
Basis
- Supporting text: “that the inherited classification of Qur’anic sciences was marked by inflation and conflation”.
Place of the Basis in the Book
- Book: The Mother of the Book and Its Elaboration.
- Location: At the beginning of the book, within its presentation of the sciences related to revelation and their inheritance in the tradition.
- Type of basis: Close evidence.
- Verifying marker: the types of sciences and knowledge connected
- Reading note: This location is suitable because it speaks of the accumulation of sciences and knowledge connected to the Qur’an in a way that supports the idea of an inflated traditional classification.
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 reading: The wording above is an analytical summary, and should not be treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is cited textually.
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
The atom undermines the inherited structure from the standpoint of organization.