The Polysemy of the Qurʾanic word Ibn from the Viewpoint of Historical Semantics: A Supplement to the So-called Interpretive Subgenre al-Wujūh wa al-Naẓāʾir

Shirzad, Mohammad Hossein

doi:10.22034/naghdeara.2025.529559.1310

The Polysemy of the Qurʾanic word Ibn from the Viewpoint of Historical Semantics: A Supplement to the So-called Interpretive Subgenre al-Wujūh wa al-Naẓāʾir

Document Type : Original article

Author

Mohammad Hossein Shirzad

Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran (Email: mh.shirzad@umz.ac.ir).

10.22034/naghdeara.2025.529559.1310

Abstract

This study investigates the semantic plurality of the Qurʾanic term ibn through the lens of historical semantics, situating its analysis within the interpretive tradition of al-wujūh wa al-naẓāʾir. Rather than treating ibn as a static lexical item denoting biological descent or genealogical affiliation, the article traces its conceptual evolution across various exegetical contexts, highlighting its polyvalent functions in theological, eschatological, and symbolic registers. The inquiry begins by problematizing the assumption of semantic stability in Qurʾanic vocabulary, arguing that diachronic shifts in interpretive frameworks—especially those shaped by sectarian, philosophical, and mystical currents—have led to layered understandings of key terms. The term ibn, often rendered simply as ʿson,’ emerges as a site of exegetical tension, particularly in verses where its referent is ambiguous, metaphorical, or embedded within polemical discourse.
Drawing on a wide range of classical tafsīr sources from both Sunni and Shiʿi traditions, the article identifies several semantic clusters associated with ibn, including its use in expressions of spiritual affiliation, moral typology, and eschatological categorization. For instance, the designation ibn al-sabīl is examined not merely as a legal category but as a conceptual node linking themes of mobility, vulnerability, and divine care. Similarly, the phrase ibn al-dunyā is shown to function as a moral epithet, indexing a particular orientation toward worldly life. These usages suggest that ibn operates not only as a relational marker but also as a vehicle for ethical and theological valuation. The article further explores how exegetes have negotiated the tension between literal and figurative readings of ibn, especially in verses involving divine sonship, where polemical concerns vis-à-vis Christian doctrine have shaped interpretive strategies.
The methodological framework employed combines historical semantics with a comparative hermeneutic approach, allowing for the reconstruction of semantic trajectories across time and across interpretive communities. The study pays particular attention to the genre of al-wujūh wa al-naẓāʾir, which catalogues Qurʾanic terms with multiple meanings and attempts to systematize their semantic range. While this genre has often been dismissed as lexically reductive, the article argues that it provides valuable insight into the epistemic assumptions of early exegetes and their efforts to stabilize meaning in the face of textual ambiguity. By revisiting this genre with contemporary semantic tools, the study reveals its latent potential for tracing conceptual shifts and mapping exegetical priorities.
In addition to its lexical focus, the article engages broader questions about the nature of Qurʾanic language and the dynamics of meaning-making in Islamic intellectual history. It suggests that semantic plurality is not a defect to be resolved but a feature to be interpreted, one that reflects the Qurʾān's dialogical engagement with its audience and its layered modes of address. The term ibn, in this regard, serves as a prism through which to examine the interplay between language, theology, and community formation. The article also considers how later mystical and philosophical readings reconfigure the term within metaphysical frameworks, such as the notion of spiritual filiation or ontological dependence, thereby extending its semantic field beyond its original lexical bounds.
By offering a diachronic and cross-sectarian analysis of ibn, the study contributes to ongoing debates in Qurʾanic semantics, tafsīr methodology, and the historiography of Islamic thought. It challenges the tendency to treat Qurʾanic terms as semantically fixed and instead advocates for a more dynamic understanding that accounts for historical context, interpretive plurality, and genre-specific conventions. The article concludes by reflecting on the implications of semantic instability for contemporary Qurʾanic studies, particularly in relation to translation, interfaith dialogue, and the construction of meaning in pluralistic settings. It calls for renewed attention to the semantic lives of Qurʾanic terms and the interpretive traditions that have shaped them, arguing that such inquiry is essential for a nuanced and historically grounded understanding of the Qurʾanic text.

Keywords

Semantics of the Quran

Quranic Lexicons

Ibn al-Sabīl

Semitic Linguistics

Proto-Afroasiatic

Subjects

Linguistic analyzes in the interpretations of the Holy Quran

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