The Surah Luqman, like a radiant jewel within the treasury of the Noble Quran, centred on wisdom and knowledge, provides profound guidance for humanitys attainment of existential authority. This Meccan Surah, emphasising the epistemological roots and etymological derivations of words, guides man towards the comprehension of truth and ascent to sublime realms. In this treatise, relying on the content of the lecture series, an endeavour has been made to elucidate the deep concepts of this Surah and its relation to the existential authority of man in an eloquent language and coherent structure. The present text, employing analogies and semantic connections, opens a path to understanding the roots of wisdom and knowledge, inviting the reader to contemplate the Quranic verses and the existential roots of vocabulary.
The existential authority of man depends upon a return to epistemological roots and a profound comprehension of words and concepts. Etymology, like a golden key, unlocks the doors of knowledge and guides man from heedlessness towards truth. This science, through probing lexical roots, reveals inner meanings and directs humanity towards understanding existential reality. Just as a mighty tree is rooted firmly in the soil, human wisdom is anchored in epistemological roots.
In Surah Luqman, Luqmans wisdom in instructing his son exemplifies this return to the roots. By inviting reflection on profound meanings, he leads his son towards the inner essence, as though wielding a pickaxe of wisdom to break the soil of heedlessness and reveal the roots of knowledge.
Etymology, unlike superficial knowledge which remains like stagnant water on the surface, penetrates the depths of meanings. Knowledge without etymology confines man to the superficial level, preventing the understanding of truth. For instance, memorising words without grasping their profound meanings is akin to sowing seeds in barren soil that never bear fruit. Etymology, by uncovering the relations between word and meaning, guides man towards comprehending existential truths.
The Noble Quran, as a book abundant in knowledge and wisdom, invites mankind to deep understanding. This invitation is manifest in the verses of Surah Luqman, especially in Luqmans sagacious teachings.
There exists a profound and inseparable bond between word and meaning in etymology. Each word is like a garment that encloses a specific meaning, which is intertwined with its lexical roots. This relation is like a bridge leading man from the outward form of words to the inner reality of truth. In Surah Luqman, this connection is manifested in Luqmans teachings to his son, who regards every word as a jewel in the crown of wisdom.
For example, the word ear not only denotes the organ of hearing but also refers to the existential equilibrium of man, as if two walking sticks that keep the seeker steady on the path of truth.
The concept of synonymy, which assumes two words share one meaning, is incorrect within religious sciences. Each word, like a unique flower in the garden of knowledge, possesses its specific meaning. For example, the words Insn (human) and Bashar (mortal), or Sayf (sword) and rim (keen sword), each have subtle semantic nuances only revealed through etymology. Sayf may refer to a rusty sword, whereas rim indicates a sharp, keen sword that does not bear rust.
Colonialism, like a devastating storm, severed Islamic sciences from their epistemological roots and confined them to superficial and repetitive knowledge. This separation deprived religious sciences of dynamism and knowledge production, reducing them to preservation and repetition. Returning to the roots, like reconstructing an ancient edifice, is essential for the revival of Islamic sciences.
Educational systems of religious sciences, due to their focus on memorisation and repetition, have failed in producing profound knowledge. These systems, like gardens deprived of watering, lack epistemological flourishing. Surah Luqman, by presenting a wisdom-oriented paradigm, shows a path for the transformation of these systems, as if inviting the sowing of the seeds of knowledge in the fertile soil of etymology.
Traditional philosophies, such as the doctrines of Aristotle, Ibn Sina, and Mulla Sadra, and modern philosophies, due to lack of etymology and emphasis on general concepts, have strayed from truth. These philosophies, like ships without rudders, wander aimlessly in the sea of knowledge. The Noble Quran, emphasising the roots, offers solutions for reviving root-based sciences.
The Noble Quran is like a magnificent palace with millions of rooms, whose doors remain closed due to the absence of etymological keys. Without etymology, understanding the Quranic verses is impossible. This palace is unlocked by keys of knowledge and guides man to sublime realms.
Alif Lm Mm. This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance from the Lord of the Worlds.
The initial verses of Surah Sajdah, with the disjointed letters, emphasise epistemological roots and invite man to reflect on these keys.
Body parts such as the eye, ear, and skin possess deep etymological meanings that contribute to the existential authority of man. For example, the ear is not merely for hearing but for maintaining existential balance, like two wings that keep man steady on the path of truth. The skin, with countless pores, resembles a land that moderates the heat of existence.
The method of patience and division, like a vessel for discovery in logic, is essential for understanding word meanings and uncovering roots. This method, by precise analysis and segmentation of meanings, aids in unveiling truth. For instance, in examining the prohibition of wine, patience and division reveal its principal features, like a sieve separating the gem of meaning from the ashes of appearance.
The book Tawd Mufaal, like a shining gem among Shiite texts, provides a model for returning to epistemological roots. This text, by elucidating the grandeur of creation, invites man to comprehend divine realities and emphasises deep research against superficial sciences.
Understanding the Noble Quran depends on returning to the roots of its words and concepts through etymology. Verses such as He who created the heavens and the earth require root analysis to reveal their profound meanings.
Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor. Will you not then take heed?
Philosophical and theological concepts that confine God to frameworks such as Shadid Shadid (intensely intense) or Add Mad (limitlessly extending) are distant from divine reality. God is a dynamic being with infinite determinations, who manifests anew in every moment.
Every day He is engaged in a matter.
This verse from Surah Ar-Rahman illustrates Gods dynamism, as if He paints a new role on the canvas of creation at every moment.
Vitalist mysticism, which regards God as elusive and unattainable, is like a whirlpool leading the seeker into confusion. The Noble Quran, by inviting reflection and knowledge, negates this viewpoint and sees God as companion and close to the seeker.
The Lord, like a compassionate mentor, accompanies the seeker and guides him on the path of knowledge. This companionship resembles a childs game where the Lord takes the seeker from one door to another to reveal the truth.
The true Islamic society, like a fragrant flower, relies on roots and realities to reach knowledge and authority. In contrast, the plastic society is like an artificial flower devoid of scent and reality. This difference lies in the return to roots and transformation of educational systems.
Etymology, like a strong embankment, guides man towards truth. This process moves from word to meaning and from meaning to reality, resembling a journey from appearance to essence that leads the seeker to lordship and divine knowledge.
Educational systems of religious sciences must move from memorisation and repetition towards etymology and knowledge production. This transformation, like watering a dried garden, causes the flourishing of Islamic sciences. Surah Luqman, emphasising wisdom, provides a model for this transformation.
Transformation in religious sciences, by returning to roots and utilising etymology, is a pathway towards the revival of knowledge and existential authority. This transformation guides man from heedlessness towards truth and elevates religious sciences from superficiality to depth of knowledge.
Surah Luqman, like a shining lamp, illuminates the path of mans existential authority through wisdom and knowledge. Returning to the roots of words and concepts through etymology is the key to unlocking the doors of Quranic knowledge. The verses of Surah Sajdah and Ar-Rahman, emphasising the dynamism of creation and God, invite mankind to contemplate the roots. Religious sciences, if they move from superficial knowledge to deep etymology, can lead the Islamic society from plasticity towards truth and fragrance. This treatise, relying on the lecture content, has endeavoured to elucidate these concepts for readers with eloquent language and a coherent structure.
Under the supervision of Sadegh Khademi
