درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

One of the key aspects of structural semantics is the consideration of the issue of signification that paying attention to the types of denotative, implicative, and entailment significations is a strategy for discovering the meanings of words. The present study aims to translate the word "Ummī" based on its denotative significations and to present the meanings and interpretations of translators and commentators that are often based on entailment signification. It also seeks to refute their theories based on other verses and provide a new meaning. Accordingly, it begins by stating the primary meaning of the root "Umm," and based on that, it interprets all the roots of this word in terms of denotative signification. It then views the meaning of "Ummī" as illiteracy or other interpretations as entailment signification, which reflect a certain influence of the translators’ prior theological backgrounds, thereby hindering their ability to convey the original meaning of the word effectively. However, based on the denotative signification of the word "Ummī," meaning "Original," this meaning is evident in all its derivatives and aligns more closely with the root of the word. Also, based on the text and context, it is more consistent with sentences and phrases than other meanings.

Today, the world faces environmental crises that have led to the loss of biodiversity. Biodiversity, which is essential for the processes supporting all life on Earth, refers to the variety of life at all levels—ranging from genes to ecosystems—and is classified into three levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. This research, employing a descriptive-analytical approach and based on careful interpretations, examines the scientific concepts related to the three levels of biodiversity as mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, to highlight the importance of biodiversity for the continuity of life, which is addressed in various forms within the Qur’anic verses. The results show that at the genetic diversity level, there are verses expressing genetic variation within the human species and other organisms. At the species diversity level, numerous verses reflect the diversity among plants and animals from different perspectives. At the ecosystem diversity level, some verses refer to the variety of ecosystems present on Earth, including forests, grasslands, gardens, agricultural lands, pastures, rivers, mountains, valleys, deserts, marine environments, and others. Overall, the research results indicate that many Qur’anic verses emphasize the diversity of life and its components.

The Holy Qur’an is a guide for humanity toward felicity in all eras, and at the same time, it contains precise scientific indications intended to guide scholars. This study, using a descriptive-analytical method and drawing upon library-based sources, examines one such scientific indication in verse 27 of Sura al-Mursalāt. This verse addresses the conditions and characteristics of water storage in elevated mountains for the benefit of human populations dwelling in foothills and plains. The data collected for this study were categorized into two groups: Qur’anic and scientific. The Qur’anic data were extracted from both classical and contemporary exegetical sources, while the scientific data were derived from academic articles in the fields of geography and geology. In the first step, five key terms— jaʿalnā , rawāsī , shāmikhāt , asqaynākum , and furāt —were subjected to etymological and semantic analysis. In the second step, scientific findings were compared with these exegetical insights. The results indicate that the Qur’an in this verse alludes to the hydrological cycle, specifically the movement of water from high elevations on the Earth’s surface toward foothills and plains. Scientific findings clarify the significance of God’s designation of “uplifted mountains” as the primary source of water for humanity. This significance lies in two main aspects: first, such mountains have a higher capacity than plains for receiving precipitation—especially in the form of snow—which is generally more voluminous and less polluted; second, these mountains are more capable of storing water, enhancing its quality, and conveying it through surface and subterranean channels to consumer ecosystems, including vegetation, wildlife, and human settlements. In the absence of towering mountains, the global water cycle would be deficient and limited primarily to coastal regions. The results also indicated that the phrase rawāsī shāmikhāt reflects the Qur’an’s explicit reference to a remarkable scientific fact: the gradual growth of mountains. This progressive uplift is today corroborated by findings from geology and geodesy in the major mountain ranges of the world.