The unifying idea
For Shahrur, the Qur’anic narratives are not merely historical storytelling; rather, they are a tool for understanding the movement of history and uncovering its laws, without turning into a direct source of legislation.
The propositions included in the axis
- The Qur’anic narratives explain history; they do not merely recount it.
- The Qur’anic narratives reveal the laws of history, not legal rulings.
- The Qur’anic narratives are not a direct legislative source.
- The human being is the active agent of historical development.
Support for the axis from the atoms
- The Qur’an as an entry point to the philosophy of history
- The Qur’anic narratives are not a historical account
- The Qur’anic narratives are not for legislation
- The report pertains to the unseen
- The report is linked to reality
- The narratives reveal the laws of history
- The human being is an active agent in history
The reading method
Here, the narratives are read as historical and moral knowledge, not as a tool of codification. Therefore, they are used for understanding and reflection, not for turning every event into a direct ruling.