Synonyms in the Qur’an and their role in the deep understanding of texts, obedience and following as an example
Introduction
We have entered the topic of the vast and overlapping linguistic fields of synonyms, where we find triple, quadruple, quintuple, pentadic, and even hexadic fields, which expand greatly to include a large number of synonyms. Dealing with these fields is very complex and requires a specialized research team. In essence, the study of synonymy relies on multiple angles of looking at the concept, not just the meaning. For this reason, the more members of the research team, the more multiple perspectives, which contributes to building a more cohesive and accurate concept. However, this is very difficult in today’s fast-paced world, which makes it difficult to form full-time research teams.
For this reason, we have found it most appropriate for readers themselves to be part of this team, as we welcome their participation in the various available platforms or other media through which we publish this content. Through this approach, we aim for readers to participate in the moral and scientific effort of this research, and to share with them the pleasure of working in the field of Quranic synonyms, which is an inexhaustible sea of meanings, and a rich source of research that continues over time. Working in this field can take a lifetime, as a person can spend a lifetime exploring synonyms in the Qur’an.
Some sections related to these different fields may require more research and scrutiny, and this is where readers come in to fill these gaps. For example, if a reader feels that they have a better insight or explanation than what has been presented, they can prove it in the comments and their intellectual right will be preserved. This is very important, as we are keen to follow the comments and respond to them, and if we find that the new idea is more coherent, we will republish the research based on that idea, while preserving the rights of the author of the idea, and explaining that it came from his contribution.
We recognize the difficulty of this research path and seek to provide illustrative examples of some of the fields we are working on. For example, there are some linguistic fields that we have not touched yet, because they require collecting all the relevant synonyms and presenting distinct concepts between them. One such field is that of the Last Day: Day of Judgment, Day of Reckoning, Day of Abscission, Day of Separation, Day of Gathering, Day of Azfah, Day of Resurrection, Day of Hashr, Day of Search, Day of Tannad, and the Promised Day. When looking at these concepts, each term has a different connotation, even though they all refer to the same period of time. For example, it is called “the Day of Gathering” because it is when people are gathered, “the Day of Hashr” because it is when people are gathered, and so on.
Hence, it is clear that these words are not identical in meaning, but have different connotations. For example, we find that the Day of Judgment is called “the Day of Tannad” in some places, and “the Day of Tannad” in other places, which means that the intended period of time is the same, but the qualities of this period differ according to the event or circumstance.
We would also like to present another example related to other fields of synonyms, such as: Appearance, manifestation, declaration, declaration, projection, output, manifestation, manifestation, revelation, revelation, and emergence. These are all Qur’anic terms used in different contexts, such as
“They should not show their adornment except what is visible“ (Al-Noor: 31).
As the saying goes:
“They spend their money secretly and openly“ (Al-Baqarah: 274).
To the Almighty:
“And when his Lord appeared to the mountain“ (Al-A’raf: 143).
These linguistic fields require careful understanding and in-depth study to identify the nuances of the concepts.
Also, there are other well-known fields such as: Category, Shia, Party, Regiment, Clique, and Vehicle. All of these concepts need careful research to know their dimensions and meanings in Quranic contexts.
Therefore, so Analyzing synonyms is not an easy task, and no one person can do it alone. We believe that there are two main issues in the Qur’an, namely the study of synonyms and understanding the system of groups that some scholars have worked on. If these two issues are resolved, the overall understanding of the Qur’an will become easier, as only about 2,000 words will remain to be considered at the conceptual level. This does not mean that the final interpretation of the Qur’an has been realized, but it does mean that we are closer to building a holistic view that enables us to dig deeper.
Model: The concept of obedience and following: Differences and connotations
In this paper, we address one of the most important fields of knowledge, which leads to much confusion and rivalry between sects and those engaged in the study of the Holy Qur’an, namely the difference between “obedience” and “following”. This confusion requires an accurate understanding of the concepts involved. What is the difference between following and obeying another person, and how can we understand these differences in the light of the Qur’anic texts?
. The concept of following
“Following” can be defined as a voluntary process involving adherence to a particular program or behavioral approach. It does not require the follower to be alive. It can be following the approach of someone who has long since passed away, such as following the approach of a scientist, thought leader, or founder of a political party. The follower is responsible for his or her own decision to follow, and cannot later blame the follower.
For example, an individual can follow a political or intellectual program developed by someone who has been dead for centuries, and it is not about the person of the founder, but about the program he developed. Therefore, so The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was commanded to follow the way of Abraham, peace be upon him, even though Abraham had died long before the Prophet. This indicates that following is about the method, not the person being followed.
The process of following is always about behavior and programs, as evidenced by many Qur’anic verses, such as Almighty Allah:
“They have no knowledge of it except to follow a guess“ (Al-Nisa: 157).
And what the Almighty says:
“And what most of them follow is only a belief“ (Yunus: 36).
Examples of contexts in which following is mentioned in the Qur’an include: Following what God has revealed, following the caller, following the guide, following the guidance, and following the religion. This shows that following is related to approach and behavior, and the person who is followed has a choice in his decision and is responsible for following it.
. The concept of obedience
Obedience, on the other hand, involves compliance with orders and judgments issued by a person who is distinguished by characteristics or abilities that make him worthy of issuing such orders. It must be emphasized here that obedience is not necessarily associated with coercion, but may be the result of taming and adapting. The obedient person is not necessarily coerced, but complies with the orders issued by the person who has the ability to give orders and judgments. For this reason, obedience relates to the person of the obedient, not the methodology independent of them, and requires both the obedient and the obedient to be alive at the same time.
For example, the Almighty says in the words of Aaron, peace be upon him:
“And Aaron said to them before, ‘O people, you have been seduced by him, but your Lord is the Merciful, so follow me and obey my command‘” (Taha: 90).
Here we find a clear distinction between following and obeying: “follow me” refers to following the program or approach, and “obey my command” refers to complying with his orders.
. Obedience and following in the light of the Qur’an
When studying the difference between obedience and following in the Qur’anic texts, we find that all commands that call for obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him) refer to his obedience in the context of issuing judgments and directives derived from God Almighty. The Prophet (peace be upon him) conveys and communicates God’s commands to the people, and thus obedience to the Prophet is obedience to God, as in the words of Almighty Allah:
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed God“ (Al-Nisa: 80).
The prophet’s role here is to report from God, not just to follow his own personal approach.
For this reason, the Qur’an does not say “obey the prophet”, but rather “obey the messenger”, because obedience relates to the messenger’s role as a communicator of divine commands. Thus, we understand that obedience is obedience to the commands communicated by God, while following can be after the death of the person being followed, because it concerns a method or program that can be followed at any time.
. Differences between obedience and following
The differences between obedience and following can be summarized in the following points:
- Following is about approach, behavior, and programs, and can be for a dead or living person. The follower takes responsibility for their decision to follow, and that decision is entirely voluntary.
- Obedience relates to commands and judgments issued by a person who has qualities or abilities that make him or her worthy of issuing such commands. Both the obedient and the obedient must be alive, because obedience requires compliance with direct orders.
- Obedience is not coercion: Obedience can be voluntary, as in the saying: “And to Him belong those in the heavens and the earth, voluntarily and involuntarily“ (Al-Imran: 83). Obedience can be voluntary, in the sense of voluntary compliance, and is not always the result of coercion.
. Obedience and following in a practical context
The concept of obedience and following is shown in everyday life by the difference between obeying the orders of a boss, which requires his personal presence and constant guidance, and following his idea or vision, which can continue even after his departure. If a person is obeying a boss, it requires the boss’s presence and guidance. If you are following the vision of the founder of the company, it will continue even if the founder is gone.
In light of these concepts, we can understand the Qur’anic texts more clearly and avoid the confusion that arises between obedience and following. Following relates to approach and behavior, while obedience relates to direct compliance with commands. This understanding helps clarify many issues that have led to disagreements and divergent interpretations among sects.
