The Intended Meaning
The author sees that legislation does not remain in a single form, but must take into account the development of society and knowledge. For this reason, the understanding of the texts does not remain bound to the ijtihads of inherited jurisprudence; rather, the detailed rulings are understood as being open to practical ijtihad according to changing circumstances.
The Structure of the Atom in the Atlas
- Type of argument: Methodological
- Movement of the argument: Legislation changes in accordance with the development of society and knowledge.
- Key terms: legislation, society, knowledge, inherited ijtihad.
- Degree of centrality: Primary.
This atom establishes the principle of movement within legal understanding, so that the text is not left captive to a single reading. Its importance lies in making social change part of the method of interpretation.
Links That Help with Reading
- Muhammad Shahrur, The Mother of the Book and Its Elaboration
- The Method of Contemporary Reading
- Qur’anic penalties are civil limits that can be regulated, not fixed bodily procedures
Basis
- Supporting text: “Legislation must take into account the development of society and knowledge, and therefore the understanding of the texts does not remain fixed on the ijtihads of inherited jurisprudence. The detailed rulings in fasting, pilgrimage, almsgiving, retaliation, and others are understood as being open to practical ijtihad according to changing circumstances.”
Location of the Basis in the Book
- Book: The Mother of the Book and Its Elaboration.
- Location: Near the beginning of the book, within the discussion of ijtihad in elaboration.
- Type of basis: Direct evidence.
- Marker that helps verification: Ijtihad remains in the verses whose elaboration is detailed
- Reading note: The passage is appropriate because it states that ijtihad remains in the elaboration of the decisive verses, which supports the idea that legislation is connected to people’s circumstances and their development.
Degree of Documentation
- Level: Directly documented
- Meaning of the level: The atom rests on an explicit witness close to the wording of the claim.
- Limits of the reading: The formulation above is an analytical summary and should not be treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness is textually transmitted.
Its Function in the Book
Its function here is argumentative; it supports a larger conclusion in the chapter or prepares for it.
Related to
Editorial Note
The atom is methodological because it regulates the way of reading.