Thesis Summary
Worship here is understood as fixed, divinely ordained rituals, not derived from political reasoning and not governed by coercion. Shahrur also distinguishes it from the sphere of public regulation, placing it outside the direct authority of political legislation.
Foundational Atoms
- Rituals Outside Political Legislation
- Authority Does Not Coerce in Rituals
- Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting, and Pilgrimage Are Rituals
- Worship Is Broader Than Rituals
Location of Support Within the Book
This meaning is drawn from the passages that discuss rituals and acts of worship in the first section of the book, along with the adjacent distinction it makes between worship, rituals, and the sphere of authority.
Limits of the Reading
This formulation is a summary that brings together more than one passage, and it does not mean that every detail of worship falls under the same ruling. The distinction between worship and general regulation also remains in force within the context of the book itself.