The Definitive and Ambiguous Verses According to Muhammad Shahrur

Abstract

This study examines the concept of the definitive (muḥkam) and ambiguous (mutashābih) verses according to Muhammad Shahrur in his book “The Book and the Qur’an”, through analyzing and criticizing his views in the light of Qur’anic sciences, principles of interpretation, and the Arabic language. The research aims to clarify the nature of Shahrur’s classification of Qur’anic verses into definitive, ambiguous, and verses that are neither definitive nor ambiguous, and to evaluate the extent of its agreement or contradiction with the views of classical Islamic scholars. The study adopts an inductive and comparative methodology by tracing the definitions of muḥkam and mutashābih in linguistic and exegetical studies, then comparing them with Shahrur’s contemporary interpretation. The research concludes that Shahrur’s understanding of muḥkam and mutashābih differs fundamentally from the understanding of traditional Islamic scholarship, and that his division of the Qur’an into three categories lacks reliable linguistic and exegetical foundations. It also demonstrates that many of his interpretations depart from the contextual and legal meanings of the Qur’anic verses. Furthermore, the study shows that the claim regarding the possibility of distortion in the definitive verses and the role of ambiguous verses as a means of protection leads to serious implications affecting the authority and integrity of the Qur’an. Finally, the research emphasizes the importance of strengthening critical studies that address secular approaches to Qur’anic interpretation and establishing sound academic methods for responding to contemporary misconceptions about the Qur’an and its sciences.