What is meant
Shahrur holds that social organization does not rest on slavery, but on contracts as the alternative basis to it Here, the contract is the framework that regulates relations and obligations among people in society
The atom’s structure in the atlas
- Type of argument: Legislative
- Movement of the argument: The contract replaces slavery in organizing relations.
- Central terms: contracts, slavery, relations, obligation.
- Degree of centrality: Central.
The atom shows that social organization rests on mutual consent and contracting rather than human ownership, thus linking freedom and legal regulation within society.
Links that help reading
- Muhammad Shahrur State and Society
- Legislation, Limits, and Prohibition
- Freedom is the principle that is bounded by the constitution and regulated by law
Grounding
- Supporting text: «A social-legislative reading of the verses, such that “contracts” are the alternative basis to slavery».
Degree of documentation
- Level: Directly documented
- Meaning of the level: The atom relies on an explicit witness close to the formulation of the claim.
- Limits of the reading: The wording above is an analytical summary and should not be treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is transmitted 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 legislative alternative is highlighted without expanding into details.