The Meanings of al-Mathānī as Edges or Folds
Editorial verification status: This atom has been extracted from an explanatory audio-visual source and is now linked to the closest books within Shahrur’s project at the book level. For precise academic citation, consult the original book and the original episode together.
Formulation of the claim
Shahrur interprets «al-mathānī» to mean folds or edges, not merely repetition and not necessarily al-Fātiḥa.
Explanation
Shahrur builds the meaning on a linguistic root that connects «al-muthannā» to the edge and the fold, and explains this with the example of a folded sheet of paper with two edges. From this root, he moves to the idea of “seven mathānī” as seven edges or seven openings, not simply seven preserved verses in a single sura. This linguistic definition is the basis that allows him to link the seven mathānī with the disjointed letters.
Its place in the episode’s argument
This atom prepares the transition from the inherited reading to the phonetic/structural reading adopted by Shahrur.
Scope of the claim
This does not establish that every Qur’anic use of mathānī necessarily means “edge”; rather, it presents it as the stronger interpretation in this context.
Brief citation
“The basic meaning of al-muthannā is the edge of the fold.”
Related links
- Shahrur - The Qur’an
- Shahrur - Jurisprudence
- Shahrur - The Mother of the Book and Its Elaboration