Language Aesthetics and Results in the Interpretation of the Quran in the Example of Some Prepositions

Tevhit Ayengin; Eid Fethi Abdulazız

Makale detayları

Language Aesthetics and Results in the Interpretation of the Quran in the Example of Some Prepositions

Yazarlar:

Tevhit Ayengin | Eid Fethi Abdulazız

Yayıncı:

Kocaeli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Arap Dili ve Belagatı | İslam Hukuku | Tefsir

Dergi:

Kocaeli İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 1, pp.136-159

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Arapça

Document ID (Org No.):

2001352351

pISSN:

2564-677X

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 This study addresses a linguistic and exegetical problem centered on the question of whether certain ḥarf-i jarr prepositions in the Quran can be interchanged with one another, and whether such a substitution would have any effect on the meaning. In various tafsir works and contemporary studies, it has been suggested that replacing one particle with another might not alter the intended meaning. Aiming to reassess the validity of such claims through grammatical, semantic, and rhetorical criteria, this study examines the use of ḥarf-i jarr in the Quran through both theoretical and applied approaches. In the theoretical section, the definitions, classifications, and semantic positioning of ḥarf-i jarr in classical Arabic linguistic sources are explored, drawing on the views of prominent scholars such as Khalil ibn Ahmad, Sibawayh, al-Mubarrad, Ibn Qutayba, Ahmad ibn Faris, Ibn Hisham, and al-Suyuti. The applied section focuses on selected Quranic examples  for instance, the use of the particle fī in the verse fī judhūi al-nakhl Tāhā 71 as allegedly substitutable with alā, or the particle bā in fasal bihi khabīran Furqān 59 as possibly used in place of an  both of which are subjected to detailed analysis. The analyses reveal that in the first example, the particle fī conveys notions of location, inclusion, and metaphorical enclosure, and that substituting it with alā would diminish both the aesthetic quality and the semantic depth of the expression. In the second example, although some have interpreted the bā particle as conveying the meaning of an, such interpretations are shown to be either metaphorical justifications borne of necessity or controlled semantic extensions within context  and in any case, each particle retains its own distinct meaning. The main conclusion of the study is as follows: every ḥarf-i jarr used in the Quran does not merely serve as a syntactic connector between sentence elements, but functions as an essential component in the construction of meaning. Therefore, substituting one particle for another weakens rhetorical force, distorts meaning, or leads to outright semantic disruption. Regardless of context, the use of each particle represents a deliberate choice, contributing integrally to the aesthetic, semantic, and rhetorical coherence of the text. In conclusion, the notion that ḥarf-i jarr can be substituted for one another in terms of meaning is neither linguistically nor exegetically consistent. Each particle in the Quran, when considered in its context and position, carries a unique and indispensable semantic load  further demonstrating that the Qurans miraculous eloquence is woven with deliberate precision down to its smallest linguistic elements.

 This study addresses a linguistic and exegetical problem centered on the question of whether certain ḥarf-i jarr prepositions in the Quran can be interchanged with one another, and whether such a substitution would have any effect on the meaning. In various tafsir works and contemporary studies, it has been suggested that replacing one particle with another might not alter the intended meaning. Aiming to reassess the validity of such claims through grammatical, semantic, and rhetorical criteria, this study examines the use of ḥarf-i jarr in the Quran through both theoretical and applied approaches. In the theoretical section, the definitions, classifications, and semantic positioning of ḥarf-i jarr in classical Arabic linguistic sources are explored, drawing on the views of prominent scholars such as Khalil ibn Ahmad, Sibawayh, al-Mubarrad, Ibn Qutayba, Ahmad ibn Faris, Ibn Hisham, and al-Suyuti. The applied section focuses on selected Quranic examples  for instance, the use of the particle fī in the verse fī judhūi al-nakhl Tāhā 71 as allegedly substitutable with alā, or the particle bā in fasal bihi khabīran Furqān 59 as possibly used in place of an  both of which are subjected to detailed analysis. The analyses reveal that in the first example, the particle fī conveys notions of location, inclusion, and metaphorical enclosure, and that substituting it with alā would diminish both the aesthetic quality and the semantic depth of the expression. In the second example, although some have interpreted the bā particle as conveying the meaning of an, such interpretations are shown to be either metaphorical justifications borne of necessity or controlled semantic extensions within context  and in any case, each particle retains its own distinct meaning. The main conclusion of the study is as follows: every ḥarf-i jarr used in the Quran does not merely serve as a syntactic connector between sentence elements, but functions as an essential component in the construction of meaning. Therefore, substituting one particle for another weakens rhetorical force, distorts meaning, or leads to outright semantic disruption. Regardless of context, the use of each particle represents a deliberate choice, contributing integrally to the aesthetic, semantic, and rhetorical coherence of the text. In conclusion, the notion that ḥarf-i jarr can be substituted for one another in terms of meaning is neither linguistically nor exegetically consistent. Each particle in the Quran, when considered in its context and position, carries a unique and indispensable semantic load  further demonstrating that the Qurans miraculous eloquence is woven with deliberate precision down to its smallest linguistic elements.

 This study addresses a linguistic and exegetical problem centered on the question of whether certain ḥarf-i jarr prepositions in the Quran can be interchanged with one another, and whether such a substitution would have any effect on the meaning. In various tafsir works and contemporary studies, it has been suggested that replacing one particle with another might not alter the intended meaning. Aiming to reassess the validity of such claims through grammatical, semantic, and rhetorical criteria, this study examines the use of ḥarf-i jarr in the Quran through both theoretical and applied approaches. In the theoretical section, the definitions, classifications, and semantic positioning of ḥarf-i jarr in classical Arabic linguistic sources are explored, drawing on the views of prominent scholars such as Khalil ibn Ahmad, Sibawayh, al-Mubarrad, Ibn Qutayba, Ahmad ibn Faris, Ibn Hisham, and al-Suyuti. The applied section focuses on selected Quranic examples  for instance, the use of the particle fī in the verse fī judhūi al-nakhl Tāhā 71 as allegedly substitutable with alā, or the particle bā in fasal bihi khabīran Furqān 59 as possibly used in place of an  both of which are subjected to detailed analysis. The analyses reveal that in the first example, the particle fī conveys notions of location, inclusion, and metaphorical enclosure, and that substituting it with alā would diminish both the aesthetic quality and the semantic depth of the expression. In the second example, although some have interpreted the bā particle as conveying the meaning of an, such interpretations are shown to be either metaphorical justifications borne of necessity or controlled semantic extensions within context  and in any case, each particle retains its own distinct meaning. The main conclusion of the study is as follows: every ḥarf-i jarr used in the Quran does not merely serve as a syntactic connector between sentence elements, but functions as an essential component in the construction of meaning. Therefore, substituting one particle for another weakens rhetorical force, distorts meaning, or leads to outright semantic disruption. Regardless of context, the use of each particle represents a deliberate choice, contributing integrally to the aesthetic, semantic, and rhetorical coherence of the text. In conclusion, the notion that ḥarf-i jarr can be substituted for one another in terms of meaning is neither linguistically nor exegetically consistent. Each particle in the Quran, when considered in its context and position, carries a unique and indispensable semantic load  further demonstrating that the Qurans miraculous eloquence is woven with deliberate precision down to its smallest linguistic elements.

 Bu çalışma, Kurân-ı Kerîmdeki bazı harf-i cerlerin birbiriyle yer değiştirip değiştiremeyeceği ve böyle bir değişimin anlam üzerinde herhangi bir etki oluşturup oluşturmayacağı sorusu etrafında şekillenen dilbilimsel ve tefsirî bir problemi konu edinmektedir. Zira bazı tefsirlerde ve çağdaş araştırmalarda, harflerin yer değiştirmesiyle anlamın sabit kalabileceği yönünde görüşler öne sürülmüştür. Bu görüşlerin geçerliliğini nahivsel, semantik ve belâgî ölçütler ışığında yeniden değerlendirmek amacıyla yapılan bu çalışma, Kurândaki harf-i cer kullanımlarını hem teorik hem de uygulamalı bir yaklaşımla incelemeyi hedeflemektedir. Araştırmanın teorik kısmında, harf-i cerlerin klasik dil kaynaklarında nasıl tanımlandığı, sınıflandırıldığı ve anlam bakımından nasıl konumlandırıldığı incelenmiş; bu bağlamda Halîl b. Ahmed, Sîbeveyh, Müberred, İbn Kuteybe, Ahmed b. Fâris, İbn Hişâm ve Süyûtî gibi dil âlimlerinin görüşleri esas alınmıştır. Uygulamalı kısımda ise Kurândan seçilen bazı örnekler  örneğin, في جذوع النخل Tâhâ 71 ayetinde في edatının على yerine; veya فاسأل به خبيرا Furkân 59 ayetinde الباء harfinin عن yerine kullanıldığı iddiaları  ayrıntılı olarak analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan tahliller neticesinde, ilk örnekte geçen في harfinin anlam itibarıyla yer, içerme ve metaforik bir kabzayı kuşatma ifade ettiği, bu nedenle على harfiyle değiştirilmesinin ifadenin estetik değerini ve anlam derinliğini zayıflatacağı tespit edilmiştir. İkinci örnekte ise الباء harfinin عن anlamında kullanıldığına dair görüşlere yer verildiği, ancak bu yorumların ya zaruret halinde yapılmış mecazî açıklamalar ya da bağlamdan kopmadan gerçekleştirilen semantik genişletmeler olduğu görülmüştür. Yani söz konusu harflerin, her hâlükârda kendi özgün anlamlarına sahip oldukları ortaya konmuştur. Araştırmada ulaşılan temel sonuç şudur: Kurânda kullanılan her harf-i cer, yalnızca cümle unsurları arasında bağlantı kurmakla kalmaz, aynı zamanda anlamı inşa eden asli bir öğe olarak işlev görür. Bu nedenle, herhangi bir harfi başka bir harfle değiştirmek, ifadenin gücünü zayıflatmakta, anlamı saptırmakta veya doğrudan bozabilmektedir. Hangi bağlamda olursa olsun, her harfin kullanımı bilinçli bir tercih olup, metnin estetik, semantik ve belâgî bütünlüğünü tamamlayan bir parçadır. Sonuç olarak, harf-i cerlerin anlam yönünden birbirlerinin yerine geçebileceği görüşü, dilsel ve tefsirî olarak tutarlı değildir. Çünkü Kurânda her harf, bağlamı ve kullanım yeriyle birlikte ele alındığında kendine mahsus ve vazgeçilmez bir anlam yükü taşımaktadır. Bu da Kurânın mucizevî belâgat yapısının, en küçük dil birimlerine kadar bilinçli bir düzen içinde örüldüğünü bir kez daha göstermektedir.

Makale detayları

Language Aesthetics and Results in the Interpretation of the Quran in the Example of Some Prepositions

Yazarlar:

Tevhit Ayengin | Eid Fethi Abdulazız

Yayıncı:

Kocaeli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Arap Dili ve Belagatı | İslam Hukuku | Tefsir

Dergi:

Kocaeli İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 1, pp.136-159

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Arapça

Document ID (Org No.):

2001352351

pISSN:

2564-677X

Qurʾān

Hurūf al-Jarr (Prepositions)

Tabdīl (Substitution)

Dalālah (Semantic Implication)

Tafsīr Lughawī (Linguistic Exegesis)Kur’ân-ı Kerîm

Harf-i Cerler

Tabdîl (Değişim)

Delâle (Anlam)

Tefsîr Lugavî (Dilbilimsel Tefsir)

Sayı

Makale detayları

Yazarlar: Tevhit Ayengin | Eid Fethi Abdulazız

Yayıncı: Kocaeli University

Ana Başlıklar: Arap Dili ve Belagatı | İslam Hukuku | Tefsir

Dergi: Kocaeli İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 1, pp.136-159

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2025

Belge Dili: Arapça

Document ID (Org No.): 2001352351

pISSN: 2564-677X

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Tevhit Ayengin | Eid Fethi Abdulazız

Yayıncı:

Kocaeli University

Ana Başlıklar:

Arap Dili ve Belagatı | İslam Hukuku | Tefsir

Dergi:

Kocaeli İlahiyat Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 1, pp.136-159

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Arapça

Document ID (Org No.):

2001352351

pISSN:

2564-677X