Men and Women as Functional Terms in the Verse
Editorial verification status: This atom is extracted from an explanatory audiovisual source, and has now been linked to the closest books within the Shahrur project at the book level. For precise academic citation, consult the original book and the original episode together.
Formulation of the claim
Shahrur holds that “men” and “women” in this verse are not merely biological terms, but may indicate categories according to their position in guardianship.
Explanation
Shahrur uses linguistic comparison with other verses to argue that the pronoun and structure are not understood only in terms of masculinity and femininity. He cites that the Qur’an sometimes uses “men” in a general sense that is not restricted to males alone. He then connects this to the idea that the discourse here is about the one who assumes guardianship, not about a specific sex. Thus, the categories become tied to function rather than biological identity.
Its place in the episode’s argument
This atom supports the first atom and deconstructs the traditional reading that always equates “men” = males.
Scope of the claim
This idea does not claim that every use of the word “men” in the Qur’an is general, but rather that it may be so depending on the context.
Brief excerpt
“Men are those who have competence… and women are those who have competence”
Nearby links
- Shahrur - The Qur’an
- Shahrur - The Decisive Text
- Shahrur - Jurisprudence