𝑼ṣū𝒍 𝒂𝒍-𝑸𝒖𝒓’𝒂𝒏 | أُصُولُ الْقُرْآنِ
Principles of Qur’anic Interpretation — A
Comprehensive Terminology Guide
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🌿 AHMADTRINI • QUR’ĀN • SUNNAH • BENEFICIAL KNOWLEDGE 🌿
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مُقَدِّمَةٌ | INTRODUCTION
The Qur’an is the Book of Allah, revealed to His Messenger Muḥammad ﷺ as guidance for humanity. Its study encompasses numerous disciplines, including revelation, compilation, language, interpretation, recitation, legal principles, themes, and the methods through which its meanings are understood.
This guide presents 100 important Arabic terms connected with the Qur’an and its study. It is designed as a student-friendly reference for those beginning their studies in ʿUlūm al-Qur’ān, Tafsīr, Qur’anic sciences, and the principles of interpretation.
Each term is presented in Arabic, followed by its transliteration and a concise English explanation.
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❖ ① أَسَاسِيَّاتُ الْقُرْآنِ ❖
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE QUR’AN
🔹 01 ◇ أُصُولُ الْقُرْآنِ
Uṣūl al-Qur’ān — Principles related to the study and interpretation of the Qur’an.
🔹 02 ◇ عُلُومُ الْقُرْآنِ
ʿUlūm al-Qur’ān — The sciences and disciplines concerned with the Qur’an.
🔹 03 ◇ الْوَحْيُ
Al-Waḥy — Divine revelation.
🔹 04 ◇ التَّنْزِيلُ
At-Tanzīl — The sending down or revelation of the Qur’an.
🔹 05 ◇ الْمُصْحَفُ
Al-Muṣḥaf — The written codex containing the Qur’anic text.
🔹 06 ◇ السُّورَةُ
As-Sūrah — A chapter of the Qur’an.
🔹 07 ◇ الْآيَةُ
Al-Āyah — A verse or sign of the Qur’an.
🔹 08 ◇ الْمَكِّيُّ
Al-Makkī — A revelation classified as Makkan because it was revealed before the Hijrah, regardless of its physical location.
🔹 09 ◇ الْمَدَنِيُّ
Al-Madanī — A revelation classified as Madinan because it was revealed after the Hijrah, regardless of its physical location.
🔹 10 ◇ أَسْبَابُ النُّزُولِ
Asbāb an-Nuzūl — The circumstances or occasions connected with the revelation of particular verses.
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❖ ② التَّفْسِيرُ وَالتَّأْوِيلُ ❖
EXEGESIS AND INTERPRETATION
🔹 11 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ
At-Tafsīr — Explanation and interpretation of the meanings of the Qur’an.
🔹 12 ◇ التَّأْوِيلُ
At-Ta’wīl — Interpretation; scholars have used this term in different technical senses.
🔹 13 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ بِالْمَأْثُورِ
At-Tafsīr bil-Ma’thūr — Tafsīr based upon transmitted reports and authoritative narrations.
🔹 14 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ بِالرَّأْيِ
At-Tafsīr bir-Ra’y — Interpretation involving scholarly reasoning within recognised principles and established limits.
🔹 15 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ الإِشَارِيُّ
At-Tafsīr al-Ishārī — An interpretive approach that draws subtle indications from the text while remaining subject to accepted principles.
🔹 16 ◇ الظَّاهِرُ
Aẓ-Ẓāhir — The apparent or readily understood meaning.
🔹 17 ◇ الْبَاطِنُ
Al-Bāṭin — The inward or deeper aspect of meaning; its interpretation must remain within sound scholarly principles.
🔹 18 ◇ الْمُحْكَمُ
Al-Muḥkam — A verse whose meaning is clear and decisive.
🔹 19 ◇ الْمُتَشَابِهُ
Al-Mutashābih — A verse whose meaning is not immediately or fully clear and may require further explanation.
🔹 20 ◇ تَفْسِيرُ الْقُرْآنِ بِالْقُرْآنِ
Tafsīr al-Qur’ān bil-Qur’ān — Explaining one part of the Qur’an through another part of the Qur’an.
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❖ ③ اللُّغَةُ وَالْبَلَاغَةُ ❖
LANGUAGE AND RHETORIC
🔹 21 ◇ الْمَجَازُ
Al-Majāz — Figurative expression; a technical term whose application is discussed among scholars of language and rhetoric.
🔹 22 ◇ الْحَقِيقَةُ
Al-Ḥaqīqah — The literal or primary sense of an expression.
🔹 23 ◇ الْكِنَايَةُ
Al-Kināyah — An indirect expression through which a meaning is conveyed without stating it directly.
🔹 24 ◇ الاسْتِعَارَةُ
Al-Istiʿārah — Metaphorical expression.
🔹 25 ◇ التَّشْبِيهُ
At-Tashbīh — Simile or comparison.
🔹 26 ◇ الإِعْجَازُ الْبَيَانِيُّ
Al-Iʿjāz al-Bayānī — The Qur’an’s extraordinary rhetorical eloquence and expressive power.
🔹 27 ◇ غَرِيبُ الْقُرْآنِ
Gharīb al-Qur’ān — The study of uncommon, difficult, or less familiar Qur’anic vocabulary.
🔹 28 ◇ الإِعْرَابُ
Al-Iʿrāb — Grammatical analysis of words and their syntactic functions.
🔹 29 ◇ الْوُجُوهُ وَالنَّظَائِرُ
Al-Wujūh wan-Naẓā’ir — The study of Qur’anic words that carry different meanings according to their contexts and related usages.
🔹 30 ◇ الْفَوَاصِلُ
Al-Fawāṣil — The endings of Qur’anic verses and their distinctive rhetorical features.
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❖ ④ أَحْكَامُ الْقُرْآنِ وَالنَّاسِخُ وَالْمَنْسُوخُ ❖
QUR’ANIC RULINGS AND ABROGATION
🔹 31 ◇ آيَاتُ الأَحْكَامِ
Āyāt al-Aḥkām — Qur’anic verses dealing with legal rulings.
🔹 32 ◇ النَّاسِخُ
An-Nāsikh — That which abrogates a previous ruling according to the principles of naskh.
🔹 33 ◇ الْمَنْسُوخُ
Al-Mansūkh — A ruling described as having been abrogated.
🔹 34 ◇ النَّسْخُ
An-Naskh — The abrogation of a previously applicable ruling according to recognised scholarly principles.
🔹 35 ◇ الْعَامُّ
Al-ʿĀmm — A general expression applying to a broad category.
🔹 36 ◇ الْخَاصُّ
Al-Khāṣṣ — A specific expression applying to a particular case or category.
🔹 37 ◇ الْمُطْلَقُ
Al-Muṭlaq — An unrestricted expression.
🔹 38 ◇ الْمُقَيَّدُ
Al-Muqayyad — An expression restricted or qualified by a condition or description.
🔹 39 ◇ الْمَنْطُوقُ
Al-Manṭūq — Meaning explicitly expressed by the wording.
🔹 40 ◇ الْمَفْهُومُ
Al-Mafhūm — Meaning understood from an implication of the wording.
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❖ ⑤ الْقِرَاءَاتُ وَالتَّجْوِيدُ ❖
QUR’ANIC RECITATIONS AND TAJWĪD
🔹 41 ◇ الْقِرَاءَاتُ
Al-Qirā’āt — The transmitted canonical modes of Qur’anic recitation.
🔹 42 ◇ الْقِرَاءَاتُ السَّبْعُ
Al-Qirā’āt as-Sabʿ — The seven well-known canonical readings transmitted through established scholarly traditions.
🔹 43 ◇ الْقِرَاءَاتُ الْعَشْرُ
Al-Qirā’āt al-ʿAshr — The ten canonical readings recognised in the established science of Qur’anic readings.
🔹 44 ◇ التَّجْوِيدُ
At-Tajwīd — The rules governing correct pronunciation and recitation of the Qur’an.
🔹 45 ◇ التَّرْتِيلُ
At-Tartīl — Deliberate, measured, and careful recitation.
🔹 46 ◇ الْوَقْفُ
Al-Waqf — Pausing during Qur’anic recitation.
🔹 47 ◇ الابْتِدَاءُ
Al-Ibtidā’ — Beginning or resuming recitation from an appropriate place.
🔹 48 ◇ الْمَدُّ
Al-Madd — Lengthening a vowel sound according to the rules of recitation.
🔹 49 ◇ الإِدْغَامُ
Al-Idghām — Assimilation of one letter into another according to the rules of Tajwīd.
🔹 50 ◇ الإِخْفَاءُ
Al-Ikhfā’ — A Tajwīd rule involving partial concealment of a sound.
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❖ ⑥ جَمْعُ الْقُرْآنِ وَتَدْوِينُهُ ❖
COMPILATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF THE QUR’AN
🔹 51 ◇ جَمْعُ الْقُرْآنِ
Jamʿ al-Qur’ān — The compilation and preservation of the Qur’anic text.
🔹 52 ◇ الرَّسْمُ الْعُثْمَانِيُّ
Ar-Rasm al-ʿUthmānī — The established orthographic convention of the ʿUthmānic muṣḥafs.
🔹 53 ◇ الْمَصَاحِفُ الْعُثْمَانِيَّةُ
Al-Maṣāḥif al-ʿUthmāniyyah — The official copies prepared and distributed during the caliphate of ʿUthmān رضي الله عنه.
🔹 54 ◇ التَّدْوِينُ
At-Tadwīn — The recording and documentation of knowledge.
🔹 55 ◇ كُتَّابُ الْوَحْيِ
Kuttāb al-Waḥy — The scribes who wrote down revelation.
🔹 56 ◇ الْعَرْضَةُ الأَخِيرَةُ
Al-ʿArḍah al-Akhīrah — The final review of the Qur’an between Jibrīl عليه السلام and the Prophet ﷺ.
🔹 57 ◇ الْحِفْظُ
Al-Ḥifẓ — Memorisation and preservation of the Qur’an.
🔹 58 ◇ الإِجَازَةُ
Al-Ijāzah — Scholarly authorisation or certification to transmit or recite according to an established chain.
🔹 59 ◇ السَّنَدُ
As-Sanad — The chain of transmission connecting a reciter or transmitter to earlier authorities.
🔹 60 ◇ الْمُتَوَاتِرُ
Al-Mutawātir — That which is transmitted through numerous independent chains in a manner recognised as mass transmission.
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❖ ⑦ الإِعْجَازُ الْقُرْآنِيُّ ❖
THE INIMITABILITY OF THE QUR’AN
🔹 61 ◇ الإِعْجَازُ
Al-Iʿjāz — The inability of creation to produce the like of the Qur’an.
🔹 62 ◇ إِعْجَازُ التَّشْرِيعِ
Iʿjāz at-Tashrīʿ — The distinctive qualities attributed to the Qur’an’s legislation and guidance.
🔹 63 ◇ الإِعْجَازُ الْعِلْمِيُّ
Al-Iʿjāz al-ʿIlmī — A term used for discussions connecting Qur’anic statements with scientific observations. Such claims require careful methodology and sound evidence.
🔹 64 ◇ الإِعْجَازُ الْغَيْبِيُّ
Al-Iʿjāz al-Ghaybī — The Qur’an’s references to matters of the unseen and future events.
🔹 65 ◇ الإِعْجَازُ الْعَدَدِيُّ
Al-Iʿjāz al-ʿAdadī — Claims concerning numerical patterns in the Qur’an. Such claims require careful verification and should not be treated as established evidence without sound methodology.
🔹 66 ◇ التَّحَدِّي
At-Taḥaddī — The Qur’anic challenge to produce something comparable to the Qur’an.
🔹 67 ◇ الصَّرْفَةُ
Aṣ-Ṣarfah — A historical theological theory concerning the Qur’anic challenge, discussed by some scholars in relation to iʿjāz.
🔹 68 ◇ النَّظْمُ
An-Naẓm — The distinctive arrangement and harmonious composition of Qur’anic expressions.
🔹 69 ◇ إِعْجَازُ الْبَلَاغَةِ
Iʿjāz al-Balāghah — The extraordinary rhetorical eloquence and expression of the Qur’an.
🔹 70 ◇ التَّنَاسُبُ
At-Tanāsub — The harmony, relationship, and coherence between verses, passages, and themes.
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❖ ⑧ التَّفَاعُلُ مَعَ الْقُرْآنِ ❖
INTERACTION WITH THE QUR’AN
🔹 71 ◇ التَّدَبُّرُ
At-Tadabbur — Deep reflection upon the meanings, guidance, and lessons of the Qur’an.
🔹 72 ◇ التِّلَاوَةُ
At-Tilāwah — Recitation of the Qur’an.
🔹 73 ◇ الاسْتِمَاعُ
Al-Istimāʿ — Attentive listening to the Qur’an.
🔹 74 ◇ الْخُشُوعُ
Al-Khushūʿ — Humility, attentiveness, and reverence before Allah.
🔹 75 ◇ الْعَمَلُ بِالْقُرْآنِ
Al-ʿAmal bil-Qur’ān — Acting according to the guidance of the Qur’an.
🔹 76 ◇ الاسْتِشْفَاءُ
Al-Istishfā’ — Seeking healing through the Qur’an, particularly through legitimate forms of ruqyah and supplication.
🔹 77 ◇ الْهَجْرُ
Al-Hajr — Abandoning or neglecting the Qur’an and its guidance.
🔹 78 ◇ آدَابُ حَمَلَةِ الْقُرْآنِ
Ādāb Ḥamalat al-Qur’ān — The manners and etiquettes expected of those who carry, memorise, recite, and teach the Qur’an.
🔹 79 ◇ الاقْتِبَاسُ
Al-Iqtibās — Quoting or incorporating Qur’anic wording into speech or writing.
🔹 80 ◇ أَهْلُ الْقُرْآنِ
Ahl al-Qur’ān — People closely devoted to the Qur’an through recitation, learning, understanding, and practice.
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❖ ⑨ مَوْضُوعَاتُ الْقُرْآنِ ❖
QUR’ANIC THEMES
🔹 81 ◇ الْقَصَصُ الْقُرْآنِيُّ
Al-Qaṣaṣ al-Qur’ānī — The narratives and accounts mentioned in the Qur’an.
🔹 82 ◇ الأَمْثَالُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ
Al-Amthāl fil-Qur’ān — Parables and examples presented in the Qur’an.
🔹 83 ◇ الْقَسَمُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ
Al-Qasam fil-Qur’ān — Oaths found throughout the Qur’an.
🔹 84 ◇ الْوَعْدُ وَالْوَعِيدُ
Al-Waʿd wal-Waʿīd — Divine promises and warnings.
🔹 85 ◇ التَّرْغِيبُ وَالتَّرْهِيبُ
At-Targhīb wat-Tarhīb — Encouragement towards righteousness and warnings against wrongdoing.
🔹 86 ◇ الْمَكِّيُّ وَالْمَدَنِيُّ
Al-Makkī wal-Madanī — The classification of Qur’anic revelations according to whether they were revealed before or after the Hijrah.
🔹 87 ◇ فَوَاتِحُ السُّوَرِ
Fawātiḥ as-Suwar — The openings and introductory passages of Qur’anic chapters.
🔹 88 ◇ أَسْمَاءُ الْقُرْآنِ
Asmā’ al-Qur’ān — The names and descriptions used for the Qur’an.
🔹 89 ◇ خَوَاتِيمُ السُّوَرِ
Khawātīm as-Suwar — The endings and concluding passages of Qur’anic chapters.
🔹 90 ◇ الْمَقَاصِدُ الْقُرْآنِيَّةُ
Al-Maqāṣid al-Qur’āniyyah — The overarching objectives, purposes, and guidance found throughout the Qur’an.
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❖ ⑩ مَنَاهِجُ التَّفْسِيرِ ❖
METHODOLOGIES OF QUR’ANIC INTERPRETATION
🔹 91 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ الْمَوْضُوعِيُّ
At-Tafsīr al-Mawḍūʿī — Thematic interpretation, studying Qur’anic passages related to a particular subject.
🔹 92 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ التَّحْلِيلِيُّ
At-Tafsīr at-Taḥlīlī — Analytical interpretation, examining verses in detail according to their wording, context, language, and related evidence.
🔹 93 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ الإِجْمَالِيُّ
At-Tafsīr al-Ijmālī — Concise interpretation that presents the general meaning of the verses.
🔹 94 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ الْمُقَارَنُ
At-Tafsīr al-Muqāran — Comparative interpretation involving the comparison of interpretations, approaches, or evidence.
🔹 95 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ الْعِلْمِيُّ
At-Tafsīr al-ʿIlmī — An approach that discusses Qur’anic verses in relation to scientific observations, requiring careful limits and methodology.
🔹 96 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ الْفِقْهِيُّ
At-Tafsīr al-Fiqhī — Interpretation emphasising legal rulings and their juristic implications.
🔹 97 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ اللُّغَوِيُّ
At-Tafsīr al-Lughawī — Interpretation emphasising Arabic vocabulary, grammar, morphology, rhetoric, and linguistic usage.
🔹 98 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ الاجْتِمَاعِيُّ
At-Tafsīr al-Ijtimāʿī — An approach examining Qur’anic guidance concerning society and human relationships.
🔹 99 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ التَّرْبَوِيُّ
At-Tafsīr at-Tarbawī — An approach emphasising the educational, spiritual, and character-building guidance of the Qur’an.
🔹 100 ◇ التَّفْسِيرُ الْمَقَاصِدِيُّ
At-Tafsīr al-Maqāṣidī — An approach emphasising the broader objectives and purposes conveyed by Qur’anic guidance.
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❖ خُلَاصَةٌ | KEY POINTS ❖
The study of the Qur’an is a vast and noble field. These 100 terms provide a foundation for students beginning their journey into ʿUlūm al-Qur’ān, Tafsīr, Qur’anic language, recitation, compilation, themes, and interpretive methodologies.
Learning terminology is only the beginning. True benefit comes through studying the Qur’an with sound knowledge, authentic evidence, a proper understanding of Arabic, humility, reflection, and sincere implementation.
The purpose of learning these disciplines is not merely to memorise definitions, but to develop a sound understanding of the Book of Allah and to approach its meanings with knowledge, care, and reverence.
May Allah سبحانه وتعالى make the Qur’an the light of our hearts, the guidance of our lives, and a proof for us rather than against us.
الدُّعَاءُ | SUPPLICATION
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلِ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قُلُوبِنَا، وَنُورَ صُدُورِنَا، وَجَلَاءَ أَحْزَانِنَا
وَذَهَابَ هُمُومِنَا
O Allah, make the Qur’an the spring of our hearts, the light of our chests, the removal of our sorrows, and the relief from our worries.
آمِينَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ
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📖 ذَكِّرْ بِالْخَيْرِ | A REMINDER TO SHARE
If you found benefit in this material, share it with others so that this knowledge may continue to reach students, families, and seekers of beneficial knowledge.
وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَىٰ تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“And remind, for indeed the reminder benefits the believers.”
Qur’an 51:55
May Allah accept this effort as ṣadaqah jāriyah, grant benefit through it, and reward everyone who learns, teaches, shares, and acts upon beneficial knowledge.
آمِينَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ
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🌿 AHMADTRINI • QUR’ĀN • SUNNAH • BENEFICIAL KNOWLEDGE 🌿
