The History of the Concept "Ḥamd"; Investigating Semantic Changes from the Pre-Islamic Period to the Holy Qur’an and Islamic Culture

"Ḥamd" is a key concept in the Quranic theology that underwent fundamental changes in meaning upon entering Islamic culture. The lexicographers and commentators have considered ḥamd to mean praise (madh) or thanksgiving (shokr). In traditions and Islamic culture, the same meaning for ḥamd has been reflected. Meanwhile, in its pre-Islamic history and in semantic languages, ḥamd had two meanings: first, it means "fire, heat" and second, "desire, interest and pleasure"; that the second meaning is constructed from the first meaning. These semantic evidences show that ḥamd has undergone a fundamental change in its meaning through its life. in this research, by the historical method, the concept of ḥamd is investigated at the pre-Islamic era, age of Qur’an and the period of Islamic culture, and its semantic changes through the history, by the approach of history of concept. This research has reached the conclusion that the meaning of ḥamd in the Holy Qur’an is along its pre-Islamic meaning (desire, interest and attention) and it should not be carried over the changed meaning that evolved in the Islamic era (praise, thanks).