Verses of peace in the Holy Quran: A semantic study

Abstract

This research, entitled "Verses of Peace in the Holy Quran: A Semantic Study," examines the concept of peace in the Holy Quran from a semantic and linguistic perspective, revealing its lexical and contextual dimensions and the diversity of its usage in the Quran. The research begins by studying the root (س ل م) and its derivatives, such as: peace, tranquility, Islam, Muslim, and sound, while clarifying the semantic relationships that connect these words within the structure of the Quranic discourse. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach based on studying semantic fields, semantic change, semantic relationships, and linguistic context to uncover the multiple meanings of the word peace in the Holy Quran. The research demonstrates that peace is not limited to the commonly understood meaning of greeting, but rather its connotations extend to include security, tranquility, safety from harm, divine honor, and submission to God Almighty, in addition to being one of the Beautiful Names of God .The research also examined the semantic shifts of words derived from the root ,(س ل م) explaining their transition from their original linguistic meanings to broader legal and contextual meanings. It explored the Quran's use of literal, figurative, and metaphorical language in constructing these meanings. Furthermore, it studied the phenomena of homonymy, synonymy, and antonymy and their relationship to shaping Quranic meaning, highlighting the pivotal role of context in determining the intended meaning of a single word. The research concluded that the concept of peace in the Quran represents a comprehensive semantic system, ranging from individual and psychological well-being to social and cosmic peace, culminating in divine and otherworldly peace. This reflects the richness and precision of Quranic expression in employing words to serve doctrinal, legislative, and humanitarian objectives.