The Semantics of “Kalama” in the Holy Qurān, Based on Syntagmatic and Paradigmatic Relations

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MS in Science of the Quran and Hadith, University of Alzahra, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Science of the Quran and Hadith, University of Alzahra, Iran

3 Associated Professor, Science of the Quran and Hadith, University of Alzahra, Iran

Abstract

The concept of “Kalama” has always been one of the most important and yet complicated concepts that has been brought to attention in human and divine schools of thoughts. “Kalama” has also claimed a special place in the Holy Qur’an, and the repetition of it throughout the Book is a sign of its importance. Semantics of Quranic words is one of the modern methods of investigation in Holy Qur’an. This research, accordingly, has tried to clarify the concept of “Kalama” and to decipher its semantic components from the Holy Qur’an, by using modern semiotics. The synchronic method allowed the study of the 46 verses in the Holy Qur’an that contained “Kalama” within them. After analyzing their application and deciphering syntagmatic and paradigmatic concepts, the results showed that the concept “Ghol” was the closest concept to the core meaning of “Kalama”, and thus could be used as a paradigm for the phrase. Therefore “Kalama” is a speech or saying attributed to both God and human in the Holy Qur’an. However, over half of these 46 verses point to divine commands which result from God’s will or divine traditions. In one verse it points to infidels and reveals their beliefs about their actions. The rest of these verses are not attributed to anything or anyone, rather they are syntagmised with differing positive and negative traits, which express different monotheism and un-monotheism beliefs.

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