Formulation of the Claim
The Islamic exegetical tradition is testimony to Islamic consciousness, not a final authority that imposes meaning.
Explanation
Arkoun treats inherited exegesis as a historical trace that reveals how Muslims understood the text in their own contexts, not as a closed conclusion on meaning. Its value lies in bearing witness to the formation of consciousness, not in monopolizing interpretation or fixing its meaning forever.
From this perspective, the exegetical tradition is no longer an infallible reference that ends inquiry, but material to be read within the history of Islamic understanding and its transformations. It therefore remains open to examination and critique, rather than being granted the status of ultimate authority over the text.
Its Place in the Book’s Argument
This atom comes within Arkoun’s critique of the Islamic exegetical tradition, where he rejects turning accumulated commentaries into a decisive standard that precedes and closes off inquiry. It is connected to his broader thesis of reinserting texts and readings into history, so that they are not treated as self-sufficient truths outside the conditions of their production.
Limits of the Claim
This atom does not mean abolishing the exegetical tradition or diminishing its importance, but rather stripping it of absoluteness. Nor does it mean settling for mere historical description without critical questioning.