The Meanings of the Word “Aziz” in the Quran

Abstract

This article examines the meaning of the word “Aziz” (except for “Asma-ul-Husna”) and other words with the same root in other forms found in the Holy Qur’an. The research draws on Arabic language sources compiled in the first centuries of the Hijrah. It also utilizes early Arabic language dictionaries, works of Wujuh and Nasa’ir, Tafsirs, and the literature of Maani and Gharib al-Quran, which explains the words of the Qur’an. This article quotes ancient sources to define the word “Aziz,” and identifies ten different meanings attributed to the word. It also attempts to establish a connection between these ten different meanings based on the most concrete one. The study then goes through the verses in which “Aziz” and other words with the same root appear in order. Providing meticulous translations of the source texts about these verses, the article presents the meanings attributed to the word and other derivatives, especially by linguists. It then offers translations of each of these verses accordingly. This paper also cites Turkish translations of Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır, Ömer Nasuhi Bilmen, Hasan Basri Çantay, and Ali Fikri Yavuz, demonstrating the various meanings attributed to the word depending on the context. Eight of the ten meanings mentioned are found in the Qur’an. The paper also assesses these translations through examples, aiming to illustrate that a direct translation of the word may cause misunderstandings, although the exact same word exists in Turkish. The conclusion lists all of the meanings attributed to the word and the findings of this research.

Keywords

• quran
• aziz
• izzet
• garibu’l-kuran
• tafseer
• maani’l-quran
• al-wojooh wa al-nazair