A Semantic Analysis of the Words “Amani” and “Omniyyah” in the Context of the Verses of the Holy Quran

The present study aims at the semantic analysis of the words “amani” and “omniyyah” in the linguistic context and situational context of the verses of the holy Quran. In this analysis, in addition to the context, analogous verses, the cause of revelation, the anthropology of the audience and the referential style of the holy Quran, as Wansbrough claims, are also considered. Based on the semantic analysis of the words “amani” and ‘omniyyah” in the contexts of the verses of the holy Qur'an, it can be generally concluded that these words are closely related to the concept of “wa’dah” in all their Quranic uses, and they refer to the blissful promises that one makes to himself or his followers. Some examples of “amani” are the false promises made by Satan's deception such as the promise of entering the Heaven and quick deliverance from the fire of the Hell, which the sinful Jews rejoiced in and they speculated about without any evidence from the revelation or the Torah. But sometimes the example of these promises is truthful as, in verse 52 of Surah al-Hajj, the example of the word “omniyyah” is “the promise of faraj” which the prophets and messengers of God received from the revelation and with which they assured themselves and their followers: this verse has been mentioned in reference to “the promise of faraj” which is in the Zabur of Prophet David (p.b.u.h.), and  the phrase “Satan’s inculcation” in this verse has been mentioned in reference to the symbolic response to the Satan in the Rami al-Jamrat ceremony. This ceremony is held in the land of “Mena”, which has the same root as that of the word “omniyyah”.