Compositions’ Semantics and its Effect on Qur’anic Contemplation, An Applied Study on Surat Yusuf Report on a Master's Thesis

Abstract

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the guide of humanity to the Lord of the worlds, Muhammad, the trustworthy, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, his companions, his wives, and his followers until the Day of Judgment.

We are pleased to present in the nineteenth issue of the peer-reviewed academic journal Tadabbur, in its tenth year, a report on a scholarly thesis as part of the journal’s commitment to publishing reports on theses, projects, and academic conferences. These efforts aim to enrich researchers with the latest developments in the academic field, strengthen the connection between scholarly research and the academic community, and accelerate the global dissemination of knowledge through a specialized, peer-reviewed platform focused on Quranic contemplation (tadabbur). This issue features a report on a master’s thesis titled: "The Semantics of Linguistic Structures and Their Impact on Quranic Contemplation: An Applied Study on Surah Yusuf." This thesis highlights the significance of tadabbur and its scholarly and practical applications. The thesis, submitted by the researcher Ghazi Ahmad Muhammad Dughmush at the World Islamic Sciences and Education University, addresses several topics. It begins by defining the concept of tadabbur, traces the emergence of the science of semantics in foundational Islamic texts, categorizes its three divisions after defining and comparing them, establishes the legitimacy of using semantics as evidence, and illustrates its impact on Quranic contemplation by broadening the scope of analyzing its linguistic expressions.

This thesis represents a valuable contribution to the field of Quranic studies and linguistics, as it explores the intrinsic relationship between the semantics of linguistic structures and the process of Quranic contemplation. The research derives its importance from its endeavor to establish a deeper understanding of the Quranic discourse, utilizing semantic tools to analyze the meanings derived from the text. As the thesis emphasizes, tadabbur is not merely a superficial reading but a profound reflective process that engages the intellect and insight to uncover the treasures of guidance, wisdom, and lessons within the Quran.

The researcher has defined the term tadabbur, clarified its linguistic and technical meanings as understood by Quranic exegetes, and outlined its scopes. He also defined the semantics of linguistic structures, distinguished their differences, identified their categories and principles, and noted the earliest scholars who documented them in foundational texts. The researcher established the connections between the discussions of linguistic semantics among scholars of Islamic jurisprudence (usuliyyin) and rhetoricians (bayaniyyin). In the applied section of the thesis, the second chapter is dedicated to an applied study of semantic contemplation of Surah Yusuf (peace be upon him), extracting dozens of contemplative insights through a systematic and disciplined methodology. The study resulted in 210 contemplative insights, one-third of which relate to the science of rhetoric (balagha), while two-thirds pertain to the field of semantics. This underscores the critical importance of the science of semantics in Quranic contemplation.