Intended Meaning
The elaboration of the Mother of the Book consists of the verses that elaborate the decisive and explain its topics. Therefore, it is an exposition of what is already decisive in origin, and its function is interpretive and organizational, not foundational.
The Atom’s Structure in the Atlas
- Type of argument: Interpretive
- Argument movement: It makes the elaboration an explanation of the decisive.
- Key terms: elaboration, decisive, explanation.
- Degree of centrality: Secondary.
The atom connects elaboration to the decisive in an interpretive way, to show that the function of the later parts is clarification and organization, not the creation of the origin.
Reading Aids
- Muhammad Shahrur Guide to the Contemporary Reading of the Wise Revelation
- The Book, the Qur’an, and the Mother of the Book
- the decisive
Grounding
- Supporting text: «The elaboration of the Mother of the Book: the verses that elaborate the decisive and explain its topics».
Location of the Grounding in the Book
- Book: Guide to the Contemporary Reading of the Wise Revelation.
- Location: within the first section of the book in the discussion of divine and human legislation
- Type of grounding: Near witness.
- Marker that helps verification: elaboration of the decisive
- Reading note: This location is suitable as evidence because it links the elaboration of the decisive with the messenger’s explanation and the organization of the lawful.
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 is not treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is transmitted textually.
Its Function in the Book
Its function here is definitional; it establishes a meaning or conceptual distinction that Shahrur relies on in building the idea.
Editorial Note
The atom is elaborative within the structure of the Mother of the Book.