What is meant
Shahrur defines Hanifiyya as “movement within limits.” He links this definition to the changing nature of religion across time and place, while movement remains within the constants. Thus, change here is not an unrestrained departure from the framework, but movement that does not exceed it.
Witness text
“Hanifiyya: movement within limits; a religion that changes with time and place without departing from the constants.”
What the witness establishes
The witness establishes the conjunction of change and constants in the definition of Hanifiyya. However, it does not specify the nature of the limits or constants, nor how they are to be applied to a particular legislative question.
Links for further reading
- Muhammad Shahrur’s Book and the Qur’an
- the methodology of contemporary reading
- Hanifiyya
- Abrogation does not occur within the Muhammadan message but pertains to the previous messages
Abrogation does not occur within the Muhammadan message but pertains to the previous messages