Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran

Analysis of the Language of Qurʾānic Narratives in Responding to Contemporary Questions from the Perspective of Allāmeh Faḍlallāh, with Emphasis on Women’s Issues

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
mohamad hadi amin naji 1
narges rezaee tarahomi 2
1 Professor of Qurʾānic and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Payame Noor University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 PhD Student in Qurʾānic and Hadith Sciences, Al‑Allameh Askari (RA) International University (Usul al‑Din Faculty, Tehran Branch), Tehran, Iran
10.22034/sshq.2025.491932.1502
Abstract
Extended AbstractResearch Objective:The objective of this research is to analyze the language of Qurʾānic narratives from the perspective of Allāmeh Sayyid Muḥammad Ḥusayn Faḍlallāh in responding to contemporary questions concerning women. By reflecting upon Allāmeh Faḍlallāh’s view regarding the non‑symbolic nature of the language of Qurʾānic narratives, this article examines the manner in which God engages with the thoughts and decisions of female characters and, thereby, elucidates the various dimensions of women’s personalities and their human capacities—individual and social—within the framework of Islamic beliefs. Given that one of the fundamental concerns of contemporary societies is clarifying the status and role of women within Islamic thought, Allāmeh Faḍlallāh, recognizing the necessity of addressing the apparent identity conflicts experienced by women in the context of social transformations, emphasizes the use of realistic and non‑symbolic language in the exegesis of Qurʾānic narratives. This meticulous attention to the type of language is not merely an expressive method; rather, it constitutes a fundamental approach to analyzing female characters in the Qurʾān, which decisively provides the ground for answering fundamental questions and for presenting a living and dynamic model of female identity within religious discourse.Research Methodology:This research has been conducted using qualitative and descriptive‑analytical methods. Initially, the term Qiṣṣah (story) was elucidated with reference to lexical works and Qurʾānic dictionaries, and a general perspective on symbolic and realistic language in the Qurʾān, together with the arguments of its proponents, was outlined and analyzed. Subsequently, the type of language in Qurʾānic narratives was examined from the perspective of Allāmeh Faḍlallāh. Utilizing content analysis and examining his exegetical works and specialized views in the field of women’s issues, Allāmeh Faḍlallāh’s approach to employing the realistic language of the Qurʾān in relation to narratives whose central characters are women was identified and analyzed.Findings:The findings of this research indicate that Faḍlallāh’s perspective on understanding the text is close to modern linguistic theory, which interprets the text without regard to the speaker’s intention and posits unlimited significations for it—albeit with an important distinction: he considers the role and impact of the reader’s culture and living environment in interpreting the text to be highly significant. In a sense, Faḍlallāh’s view of the text, as well as of Qurʾānic narratives, is a synthesis of modern linguistic theory and traditional Qurʾānic exegesis. In his view, narrative verses present Islamic concepts concerning women in a tangible manner in the external world for people. He believes that Qurʾānic narratives—particularly those in which the influential characters are women—by avoiding abstract concepts, are not only models for expressing moral teachings but also instruments for addressing issues that lead to a lack of identity cohesion in the Muslim woman and weaken her commitment to individual and social responsibilities in society. By examining the historical accounts that the verses provide of female figures such as Lady Āsiyah (peace be upon her), the mother of Musa (peace be upon him), the Queen of Sheba, and the wives of two prophets, he regards gendered perspectives as ineffective factors with respect to rationality, faith‑based commitment, and intellectual and practical independence, and he has striven to promote positive female characteristics in public understanding.Conclusion:Ultimately, the conclusion of the research indicates that Allāmeh Faḍlallāh’s approach to Qurʾānic narratives is a synthesis of traditional attitudes and modern linguistic approaches. By rejecting gender‑centric views, he regards Qurʾānic narratives related to women as an instrument for redefining the status of the Muslim woman and for presenting models of individual and social responsibility. In addition, he considers women’s faith, perseverance, and sense of responsibility to play a decisive role in shaping and advancing developments within a monotheistic society, and he has continuously striven for the realization of this.This research can contribute to the fields of Islamic studies, women’s studies, and religious linguistics. Analyzing the language of Qurʾānic narratives with an emphasis on female characters introduces the Qurʾān as a living and dynamic source for answering the social, cultural, and identity‑related questions of women in the present era, and provides the possibility of reconsidering the status of women and of presenting models of intellectual independence, faith, and responsibility for all human beings.
Keywords
Qurʾānic narratives
Allāmeh Faḍlallāh
Linguistic analysis
Women&‌‌rsquo
s issues
Qurʾānic exegesis
Realism
Subjects
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Stylistics Studies of the Holy Quran
Volume 10, Issue 18 - Serial Number 18
Volume 10, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1۸,Spring&Summer 2026
May 2026 Article ID:60-85

  • Receive Date 05 December 2024
  • Revise Date 23 May 2025
  • Accept Date 08 June 2025
  • Publish Date 21 April 2026