Theoretical And Practical Models For Studying

Meaning And Signification In The Qur'an

Abstract

The linguistic treatment of the Qur’anic text encompasses several levels of analysis: phonetic, morphological, syntactic, and semantic. Meaning is shaped through the constructive interaction among the various linguistic components that contribute to its formation. This necessitates a clear distinction between the meaning of a word in isolation and the signification it acquires within the textual context. It is well established that the Qur’anic discourse is unique in its divine origin and fundamentally distinct from human textual productions. As a linguistic miracle, the Qur’an demands a cautious and methodical approach in the study of its vocabulary and the interpretation of its verses.Objectives of the Study: – To examine the types of meaning and levels of signification, and to clarify how meaning is constructed in the Qur’an by distinguishing between different levels of signification: lexical, functional, and cultural. – To highlight the challenges of meaning determination in the Qur’anic text, such as polysemy, antonymy, and metaphor.The study adopts a critical approach by reviewing major linguistic theories, followed by a comparative analysis aimed at revealing the divergences and discrepancies between types of meaning on the one hand, and levels of signification on the other.We hypothesize that Qur’anic meaning is shaped through the interplay of multiple layers of signification—linguistic, emotional, cultural, or social. Moreover, both context (al-siyāq) and situational setting (al-maqām) play a crucial role in determining the semantic scope of Qur’anic expression.We have arrived at the following results:*The construction of meaning in the Qur’an rests on the unity of meaning across verses, through a structural and semantic system that itself relies on the weaving of relations among all morphological, syntactic, and lexical systems, with cultural, contextual, and discursive systems.*The study of meaning occupies a central place in the understanding and interpretation of the Qur’anic text, and this is achieved through multiple structural and interpretive systems