The Method for Quranic Words’ Semantics and Criticizing the Contemporary Persian Translations of Quran (Case Study: The Root Word “Sharā”)

Abstract

Quranic “Lexicology” as one of the most important subjects, has always been the focus of Quran researchers. Since there is no proper “method” to explain this subject, Modulation has often faced challenges, such as inaccuracy in Semantics, incompleteness of the concept, and so on. For the same reason, it is necessary to provide a coherent, complete, and logical method for this subject. Therefore, this study is to present a proper model. Firstly, it proposes a comprehensive and complete method, secondly, by using the analytical-descriptive method, it analyzes the meaning of the words derived from the root word “sharā”, on which there are different ideas. After that, the contemporary Persian equivalences of the word “sharā” in the Quran, and the strict adherence of Quran translators to the verses including this word, are examined (scholars such as Āyati, Elāhi Ghomshei, Rezāei, Sha'rāni, Saffārzadeh, Safavi, Fooladvand, Fayz al-Islam, Meshkini, Mesbāhzadeh, Moezzi, and Makārem). The present study concludes that the core meaning of the word “sharā” is “to exchange”, which according to the context of the verses, means “to give” or “to take”, although the above-mentioned translators have been incapable of expressing this kind of meaning. Nevertheless, some of the translators such as Āyati, Elāhi Ghomshei, Sha'rāni, and Fayz al-Islam, have referred to this meaning in some verses, using similar terms.

Keywords

• lexicology
• semantics
• modulation
• root word “sharā”
• quran translation