Thesis Summary
Shahrur holds that the purpose of Qur’anic narratives is reflection, not storytelling, and that they distinguish between the report (naba’) and the account (khabar) so as to make reading more disciplined. He links this understanding to the development of the revelations and to the narratives as a tool for understanding history.
Foundational Atoms
- The purpose of Qur’anic narratives is reflection
- Narratives distinguish between report and account
- The Qur’anic narratives record the development of the revelations
- No legislation is derived from the Qur’anic narratives
Place of the Argument within the Book
This idea appears in the final section, with a return to earlier passages that highlight the function of reflection, the distinction between report and account, and their connection to history and the revelations.
Limits of the Reading
Reflection here is the highest aim of the reading, but it does not cancel the multiplicity of meanings within the text, nor does it confine it to a single final meaning.