The Terminology of Choice in the Holy Quran: Between Divine Will and Human Will A Semantic and Contextual Study

Abstract

The phenomenon of synonymy is one of the characteristics that distinguishes our Arabic language, namely the multiplicity of words for a single meaning. However, we do not encounter this phenomenon in Quranic expressions. Every word in the Quranic context has a semantic significance that is unmatched by any other word, even if it is similar in meaning. This is the secret of the miraculous nature of the Quranic text, which is miraculous in its organization, structure, and wording.  My study began by demonstrating the semantic differences between the verbs of "choice" mentioned in the Holy Quran (i.e., ikhtara, istafa, ijtaba, athar, fadala, and akhadha). It also sought to understand how each word can carry a specific connotation appropriate to the context in which it appears, as illustrated in the table. The meaning of the verb "ikhtara" is more general and comprehensive than that of other verbs of choice, which are specific to a specific aspect. The study also demonstrated that verbs of choice may be specific to God alone, such as "selected," "selected," and "fadala." They may also be shared in their attribution between God and humans, but their meanings differ depending on the actor. The study relied on a descriptive-analytical approach by identifying these words in different Quranic contexts and studying their linguistic and Quranic meanings, drawing on linguistic dictionaries and commentary books