Summary of the Thesis
Shahrur states that Islam predates the Muhammadan message both historically and conceptually, and that it is voiced on the tongues of earlier prophets. In contrast, faith remains a designation specific to the followers of Muhammad, which distinguishes between the universal and the particular.
Related Verses
Foundational Atoms
- Islam predates the Muhammadan mission
- Faith is specific to Muhammad’s followers
- Loyalty to the ummah is religious and individual
Place of the Citation within the Book
This meaning appears in the early parts of Islam and the Human Being when tracing the occurrence of the term Islam across the prophets, and in Islam and Faith when distinguishing between Islam and faith.
Limits of the Reading
The reading here is synthetic; it brings together historical citation and conceptual distinction. It does not go beyond what the atoms allow in terms of explicit or near-explicit indication.