Publication: البحث الدلالي في تفاسير الشيخ محمد باقر الناصري
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2025-10-26
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Abstract
It has been said that the Arabic language is like a seventh heaven,
honored and blessed by God, who made it the language of humanity. It is
the language in which the clear Book—the Noble Qur’an—was revealed in
eloquent Arabic. God granted it this high and noble status, elevating it
above all other languages. It is the language of Ḍād, the essence of poetry
and eloquence in the heritage of the ancestors—truly a language with
roots in the earth and a foundation anchored in the heavens.
Modern interpreters (mufassirun) have drawn richly from the depths
of this language, diving into its secrets in pursuit of meanings and
indications embedded in the verses of the Holy Qur’an. With the genius of
their intellects, they have crafted interpretations grounded in the context
of Qur’anic sentences, guided by the structures of grammar, morphology,
phonology, rhetoric, semantics, and literary beauty.
Among the scholars distinguished by their interpretations is Sheikh
Muhammad Baqir Al-Nasiri, whose tafsir follows the path of the classical
commentators. This study was prompted by the absence of an
independent analysis focusing on the linguistic and semantic aspects of his
works—despite the rich and diverse semantic content they contain,
deserving of academic study and analysis. An exception is a single study by
Dr. Muhammad Idris Al-Husaynawi, who examined one of the Sheikh’s
commentaries, addressing its general methodology while only briefly
mentioning its linguistic and semantic efforts with limited examples. This
opened a broad space for further exploration and research in this
direction.
Hence, this study seeks to trace the manifestations of semantic
meaning in Sheikh Al-Nasiri’s interpretations and to uncover his method in
addressing linguistic meanings. It aims to recognize the Sheikh’s
contribution to the linguistic study of the Qur’an and to shed light on his
scholarly efforts, which have not received sufficient attention in previous
studies. This is part of a broader endeavor to appreciate and highlight the
contributions of contemporary scholars—who represent a renewed
extension of the original source of wisdom that continues to enrich
intellectual discourse with its values and principles.
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Abstract
The study assumes that Sheikh Al-Nasiri’s interpretations do not
employ linguistic tools merely for formal presentation but rather to serve
the semantic understanding of the Qur’an. This stems from the
interpreter’s dedication to showcasing the Qur’an’s linguistic miracle and
uncovering its deep meanings and semantic subtleties. From this arises
the central research problem: How did Sheikh Al-Nasiri employ tools of
linguistic-semantic analysis in his interpretation of the Qur’an? What
sources did he rely on to trace the meanings of words and their
connotations? What methodology did he adopt in deriving Qur’anic
meanings؟
This research follows an analytical investigative methodology. It
involves collecting interpretive texts from Al-Nasiri’s tafsir, then classifying
them based on levels of linguistic study—phonetics, morphology, syntax,
and context—along with their related issues. Mastery of these linguistic
levels is essential in semantic research, as each plays a vital role in
extracting and directing meanings within Qur’anic discourse.
The study is structured into an introduction, three chapters, and a
conclusion, in line with its scientific and methodological nature. The
introduction is dedicated to presenting Sheikh Al-Nasiri’s biography and
scholarly contributions and tracing the development of the concept of
semantics—from classical linguists, interpreters, usulis, rhetoricians,
logicians, and jurists to modern scholars—concluding with Al-Nasiri’s
stance on deriving meaning from the Qur’anic
Chapter One is devoted to the semantics of the individual word and
contains two main sections. The first addresses phonetic semantics,
highlighting Al-Nasiri’s efforts in showcasing the semantic dimensions of
Qur’anic sounds. The second focuses on morphological semantics,
analyzing his interpretation of word structures through the meanings of
nouns, verbs, and alternations in forms and their subtle semantic shifts.
Chapter Two explores semantic relationships among individual
words in two sections. The first discusses polysemy, antonymy, and
semantic opposition, while the second addresses semantic change, such
as specification, generalization, and shifts in meaning domains.
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Abstract
Chapter Three investigates syntactic semantics, with two sections.
The first covers grammatical semantics, examining the effects of syntax,
meaning of words and particles on the interpretation of meaning. The
second focuses on contextual semantics, explaining the concept of
context, its types, and Al-Nasiri’s efforts in employing it to interpret
Qur’anic verses—especially its role in semantic coherence, generality, and
specificity.
The study concludes with a summary of the most important findings
that highlight the semantic contributions of Al-Nasiri’s interpretations.
The findings reveal that Al-Nasiri’s tafsir adopts a coordinated
methodology evident throughout his works. He integrates a variety of
semantic mechanisms, including dictionary meanings, syntactic analysis,
reference to Qur’anic readings (qira’at), clarification of the overall
meaning of the text, determination of figurative and legal meanings, and
use of the verse’s story or reason for revelation as key components in
constructing the interpretive context and understanding the Qur’an’s
objectives.
This research was not without challenges—most notably, the
similarity of topics in prior studies, making it difficult to find a fresh angle
within theoretical frameworks. Another challenge was the overlapping
nature of semantics with other linguistic disciplines, requiring
comprehensive and precise knowledge. Additionally, the degree of
analytical methodology varied within Al-Nasiri’s tafsir—appearing clearly
in some parts and absent in others. The absence of an explicit theoretical
framework on semantics by Al-Nasiri also made it necessary for the
researcher to infer and classify his methodology based on personal
analysis and interpretation.
It
is hoped that this study will open new academic paths for
researchers to explore other linguistic dimensions in Al-Nasiri’s tafsir,
especially in the areas of rhetoric and style, thus further advancing his
linguistic project.
This research was conducted with strict scientific methodology to
ensure objectivity and neutrality—despite possible unintentional
shortcomings due to the complexity and breadth of semantic study and
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Abstract
the difficulty of fully encompassing the details and intricacies of the Arabic
language. Nonetheless, it is hoped that the analytical steps taken have
added precision and depth to the study.