The Concept of Semantic Evolution and Its Applications in the Holy Quran

Abstract

This study addresses the concept of semantic change, clarifying its causes and manifestations, and examining applied models of semantic change in the Holy Qur’an based on the linguistic meanings derived from the verses. The study aims to define the concept of semantic change as understood by semantic scholars, identify the most important factors that lead to it, and explain its semantic manifestations, such as generalization, specialization, amelioration, and others. The concept is then applied through reviewing selected Qur’anic verses in which semantic change is evident, following a systematic semantic arrangement. The study is structured into two main sections. The first discusses the concept of semantic change, its causes, and its manifestations. The second presents the applied aspect of the study by examining selected Qur’anic examples that represent practical applications of the theoretical framework previously discussed. To achieve its objectives, the study adopts a descriptive inductive methodology. The findings reveal multiple manifestations of semantic change in the Holy Qur’an, with a notable prevalence of semantic specialization compared to other types of semantic change. Among the most important recommendations of the study is the exploration of semantic change in the books of Prophetic Hadith, as this could form the basis for an independent academic study, given the abundance of such semantic developments and examples in the Prophetic Sunnah, and the lack of comprehensive studies addressing this topic to the researcher’s knowledge.