Meaning
The author holds that the Qur’an is the only revelation upon which one should rely, because it is the pure divine text. As for the prophetic hadith and the sira, they have been affected by a mixture of history and legend; therefore, he does not equate them with the Qur’an in the rank of revelation.
Structure of the Atom in the Atlas
- Type of argument: definitional.
- Argument movement: restricts binding revelation to the Qur’an alone.
- Central terms: the Qur’an, revelation, prophetic hadith, sira.
- Degree of centrality: pivotal.
It grants the Qur’an the position of the sole recognized source of revelation and lowers the status of hadith and sira to the realm of mixed history. In this way, it defines the authority of religious knowledge through one supreme text.
Links That Aid Reading
- Muhammad Shahrur: Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism
- the Book, the Qur’an, and the Mother of the Book
- the Qur’an
Evidence
- Supporting text: “He maintains that the Qur’an is the only revelation, and that the prophetic hadith and the sira have been affected by a mixture of history and legend.”
Location of the Evidence in the Book
- Book: Drying Up the Sources of Terrorism.
- Location: in the final section of the book, within its critique of the exaltation of hadith books and its comparison of them with the Wise Revelation.
- Type of evidence: close witness.
- Verification aid: a single focus—the Wise Revelation.
- Reading note: the passage places the Wise Revelation at the center and diminishes the status of hadith books; it is thus very close to the atom being supported.
Documentation Level
- Level: directly documented.
- Meaning of the level: the atom rests on an explicit witness close to the wording of the claim.
- Limits of reading: the wording above is an analytical summary and should not be treated as a verbatim quotation unless the witness has been reproduced word for word.
Note for the Reader
The atom reflects the restriction of authority to the Qur’an, as expressed in the witness.