Journal of the Quran: Contemporary Studies
Volume:2 Issue: 6, Winter 2023

The Quranic disconnected letters (al-ḥurūf al-muqaṭṭaʿa) and their meaningfulness have garnered the attention of both contemporary and early Muslim scholars and thinkers. The notion of the disconnected letters being devoid of meaning or shrouded in mystery is a theory propagated by certain Orientalists with the intent of casting doubt on the divine origin of the noble Quran. This research aims to elucidate, analyze, critique, and refute such perspectives. By highlighting the revelatory essence of the Quran and defending it against Orientalist skepticism, this article employs a descriptive-analytical method and a critical approach to address concerns raised by Orientalist figures such as George Sale, Régis Blachère, Richard Bell, and Theodor Nöldeke regarding the purported meaninglessness of the Quranic disconnected letters. The author believes that the Quran embodies the pinnacle of eloquence, and the Orientalists’ assertion of the disconnected letters’ lack of meaning is rooted in their distinct objectives, intellectual frameworks, and interpretations of Islamic studies. This includes viewing the Quran as having a human origin, being influenced by its social context, and reflecting the cultural milieu of its time. Furthermore, their methodology of Quranic studies often exhibits superficiality, bias, illusionism, and a lack of understanding of the depths of those “firmly grounded in knowledge” (al-rāsikhūn fi al-ʿilm). Their conclusions regarding the disconnected letters are thus a product of their failure to consult all authentic Islamic sources, notably neglecting Shiite perspectives.

Conceptual relationships and links in linguistics are the tools and methods by which the hidden meaning of the text is better understood. Given that some Qur’anic words have found semantic notions over time, or have become obscured by theological and non-theological perspectives, the semantic approach and the attention to the conceptual relations have been effective in the exact definition of the concepts under study and by providing systematic solutions to explore new layers of meaning and provides the ground for recognizing the meaning of vocabulary without theological or non-theological presuppositions. The word “Burhān” is one of the most important Quranic concepts that have been variously defined in dictionaries and interpretations and the issues raised in the Quranic reading of this term make it necessary to research and study it. Therefore, the present study aims to find out the meaning and concept of “Burhān” in the Quran by a descriptive-analytical method and concludes that there is no consensus on the word’s being Arabic, and in the semantic apparatus of the Quran, “Burhān” has central and relative meanings. Also, by examining the alternatives of this word, including “Āyah,” (sign) “Bayyinah,” (manifest proof), and “Sulṭān” (authority), the main purpose of using the term “Burhān” and distinguishing it from other similar terms has been clarified. Ultimately, by considering the co-occurrences of this word in the Quran, it has been determined that the category of miracles referred to as “Burhān” are those that are clear and perceptible, serving as evidence that goes beyond convincing opponents and establishing certainty in hearts. Furthermore, upon examining the discourse space in the verses under scrutiny, it has become evident that the verb structure within the speech in verses where “Burhān” is used in its primary meaning indicates a kind of inadequacy and weakness in presenting evidence by the speakers. The addressees in these verses are those who claim partnership with God or assert exclusive rights to paradise. On the other hand, the verb structure in the speech in verses where “Burhān” is used in a relative sense indicates the introduction of evidence by God to the addressees of the verses.

Nasr Hamed Abu Zayd is a prominent contemporary thinker from Egypt whose controversial and unconventional views led to his apostasy. One of his most important views is the theory of the Non-Revelatory of Quranic Words. The desacralization of Quranic words, the possibility of fault in Quranic words, the possibility of distortion of the Quran, the denial of the linguistic miracle of the Quran, and the denial of the religious authority of the Quran are among the important results of his views. On the other hand, the supreme leader has excellent perspectives on interpreting and understanding the Quran as a comprehensive jurist, scholar, and exegete of the Quran. Therefore, the present article is organized so that, in addition to criticizing the arguments of the Abu Zayd, it also studies the view of Ayatollah Khamenei in this regard. This research shows that Abu Zayd relies on some evidence such as Quranic verses, the diversity of recitations, the hadith of the seven letters, and historical evidence to prove his claim, while all of his evidence is completely weak and incomplete. Verses of the Quran have been selectively chosen and historical narrations are questionable in terms of authenticity. However, the supreme leader always stresses the divine nature of the Quran. Through his exegetical statements and Quranic speeches, evidence supporting this can be found. In Imam Khamenei’s perspective, the challenge of the Quran, the miraculous nature of the words and meanings, wisdom in the arrangement of verses, and authority of Quranic appearances, all point to its divine essence.

This article employs a descriptive-analytical method, utilising library resources to recognise the factors of happiness with an emphasis on the perspective of the Quran. The goal is to delve deeply into the verses, narrations, and analysis of happiness, addressing the spiritual and physical needs of humans in this regard. The Islamic lifestyle, devoid of worry and anxiety, and harmonious with creating a cheerful spirit while being rooted in religious foundations, requires an analysis of religious texts and their accurate analysis. Physical and material factors contributing to happiness include bodily nutrition, cleanliness, wealth and riches, adornment, pleasant sounds, and music. Psychological and internal factors encompass aspects such as sleep, travel, and spouses as sources of happiness. Furthermore, social factors such as maintaining family ties, relationships with friends, and helping others play a significant role in happiness alongside religious and doctrinal elements such as faith, connection with God, contentment, and charity. The findings of this article suggest that many sources of happiness do not require significant expenses, and individual and social factors are crucial in achieving happiness.

The notion of the Quran’s scientific authority has long been ingrained in Muslim thought, though not always explicitly articulated in Islamic scholarship. Throughout history, scholars within the Islamic tradition have engaged in extensive debates surrounding this concept. It is evident that Quranic exegetes, whether overtly or implicitly, grappled with the idea. In today’s context, marked by technological and scientific advancements alongside increasing skepticism towards Islam, there exists a noticeable deficiency in both Muslim and non-Muslim knowledge structures—a neglect of engaging with the Quran for knowledge evaluation and alignment. There is a glaring absence of knowledge derived directly from the Quran. While Quranic exegetes acknowledge the Quran’s scientific authority, questions persist about the extent of its applicability across all fields of knowledge and sciences. Some ponder whether the Quran encompasses all the intricacies of every discipline or if it primarily offers general guidance for humanity, without engaging in the specifics. As a result, diverse perspectives have emerged on the scientific authority of the Quran. This study employs both field and library research methods, consulting exegeses from Shiite and Sunni scholars to explore, elaborate upon, and evaluate their respective views on the nature of the Quran’s scientific authority. Through this analysis, it aims to advocate for the most cogent position on the issue.

Effective compliance is one of the key topics and central concepts in organization and management knowledge. This issue has been the focus of experts in the field of knowledge of organization and management since the 1980s and they have addressed it in the course of their developments with different approaches. Since the desired compliance is considered one of the important pillars of leadership success, the quality and understanding of its foundations and process have a decisive contribution to the growth and progress as well as the decline and stagnation of organizations.However, studies show that the topic in question is not considered adequately from the perspective of the Holy Quran, and there is a religious gap in this field. Considering the existing gap, the main goal of the current research is to examine the governing principles of effective obedience from the perspective of the Holy Quran. Since the scope of the discussion is very wide, in the present work, some of the most important foundations governing the effective following of Divine teachings have been discussed with a descriptive and analytical method and with an inferential approach.The findings of the research show that the Holy Quran, while not mentioning intellectual and experimental achievements, for balanced growth and all-round excellence, above all else, gives basic attention to principles such as God-centeredness, equality, justice, commitment, responsibility, and the hereafter, which are all considered the basis of effective compliance.