Established Claim
In the table appearing under the heading “the Muhammadan message,” “the Mother of the Book” occurs alongside the decisive verses, and the text describes it as fixed in text and content and as “the very essence of the message.” This establishes, in this passage, its position within Shahrur’s presentation of the structure of the Muhammadan message.
What the Evidence Does Not Settle
Opposite this column, the table mentions “verses that are neither decisive nor allegorical” as “a detailing of the ruling.” However, the available evidence does not state that ijtihad is confined to this detailing, nor does it by itself explain the full methodological relationship between the foundation and the detailing.