Persian Historians and the Utilization of Quranic Verses in Reporting the Destruction by the Rulers (A Case Study of Verse 34, Surah An-Naml)Abstract

Abstract

Verse 34 of Surah An-Naml is one of the verses that attracted the attention of Persian historians from the 8th to the 13th centuries AH, and was included in historical reports with an interpretation aligned with these historians' objectives. This paper addresses the question: "How have Persian historians utilized this verse in describing the destructive actions of invading and enemy rulers, or the actions of their favored and praised rulers?" Through a descriptive-analytical method, the paper explores this issue. The findings indicate that the differing interpretations of "the corruption of lands and the humiliation of the esteemed, arising from the entry of rulers," mentioned in the verse, have led some historians to consider this corruption and humiliation as divine will. They view the destructive actions of foreign and invading rulers as a predetermined and inevitable fate referred to in the Quran. Another group sees this corruption and humiliation as an unavoidable principle reminded by God, thus describing the actions of their favored and praised rulers as legitimate and acceptable. In both groups' interpretations, this corruption and humiliation are seen as the essence of the divine word and not merely the statement of the Queen of Sheba, applied to describe the actions of either invading foreign rulers or praised and favored rulers.

Keywords

• verse 34 an-naml
• persian historiography
• legitimization in history
• quran and history