Formulation of the Claim
A literal reading alone is not sufficient for understanding Qur’anic discourse.
Explanation
Arkoun holds that restricting oneself to the literal meaning obscures the metaphorical and poetic dimension within the Qur’an and narrows the horizon of signification. Therefore, in his view, Qur’anic discourse can only be understood if one takes into account what goes beyond the immediate wording into broader layers of meaning.
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This atom belongs to Arkoun’s call for a critical reading of the Qur’an that goes beyond closed patterns of understanding, and it is consistent with his effort to liberate the text from a treatment that confines it to the surface meaning of the expression alone. It supports his general thesis in the book: that prevailing approaches to interpretation do not exhaust the possibilities of the text or disclose all its dimensions.
Limits of the Claim
This atom does not mean abolishing the literal meaning or denying its importance; rather, it points out that it is insufficient on its own. Nor does it pass judgment on all forms of interpretation; instead, it focuses on the inadequacy of reduction to the surface meaning.
Brief Evidence Passage
Arkoun holds that restricting oneself to the literal meaning obscures the metaphorical and poetic dimension in the Qur’an and narrows the horizon of signification. Qur’anic discourse is not understood merely by stopping at the immediate wording. Rather, one must take into account what the wording goes beyond, toward its broader semantic layers.
Nearby Links
Arkoun the Qur’an