o
Beginning is with Allah's
personal name Ar'Reh'maan Who
is The Fountain of Infinite Mercy.
Semantics of Grand Qur'aan - Dictionary of Roots and Lexicon
of Qur'aan
1. Introduction
2. Semantics of Qur'aan is like "semantics" of
DNA—triplet
schema
3. Root
[In reality, it is "seed"-an embryonic plant] +
4. Morphology +
5. Syntax
Introduction
Linguistic Semantics is the study of meanings
as inherent at the levels of words, phrases, sentences and larger units of
discourse-text. It is used for understanding human expression through
language. The discourse-text of Grand Qur'aan is in Arabic:
a
perspicuous, eloquent, distinctive and precisely expressive
language;
the language of the sons of soil of Arabian Peninsula.
Experts suggest that it is useful to view the vocabulary of a
language/text as a set of words referring to a series of conceptual
fields. In linguistics, these divisions are called Semantic fields.
A semantic field or
semantic domain is a set of words grouped by meaning referring to
a specific subject; languages will have fields of distance, location,
size, shape, time, emotion, beliefs, economics, academic subjects,
natural phenomena, etc. Each field can have many sub-divisions or
lexical sets: actual words and expressions. Semantic fields are arranged
hierarchically, going from the more general to the more specific.
Linguists generally refer the general word by umbrella term
"superordinate" and the specific word as "hyponym".
The propositional meaning carried by a general word or superordinate is
part of the meaning of each of its hyponyms but not vice versa.
Semantics of Qur'aan is like "semantics"
of DNA—triplet
schema
1.
The source of guidance is but unitary,
be it for a single cell or for human being with hundred trillion cells in his
body. There is only one star in the Sky that comes to the rescue of a man in
bewilderment of clueless location to show him the direction
[refer
16:16].
The guidance: information code for aright course for sustaining life of a cell
is encoded in the DNA. DNA contains the
instructions for
growth and development in humans and all living creatures. Our DNA is
packaged into chromosomes that contain all of our genes.
The guidance for humanity is encoded in the Grand Qur'aan: the constitution for
aright conduct and the guarantor of sustained life.
It is the "DNA" for
growth and development
to an exaltation that will
render him eligible to be piloted beyond the ascensions of earthly universe to
his original abode to live
the truly
living life of the Hereafter.
Genetics is quite a delicate and complicated
discipline. Being a person of ordinary prudence, I have but to restrict to
non-technical and elementary approach. I, however, understand that the
Source-Originator of information is since Unitary, therefore, the transmission
and decoding of guidance in the DNA and the Book of Allah the Exalted: Grand
Qur'aan must have similarities, resemblances and are governed by similar rules.
Genetic scientists tell us that the genetic code is a set of rules that
defines how the four-letter code of DNA is translated into 20-letter code of
amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins.
Likewise, the linguists and grammarians have
the
set of rules for translating a source-language text into target-language
text. Deviations from the rules will produce a defective protein and a defective
translation.
Guidance for humanity is:
the
Parlance—verbal
Message of Allah the Exalted. Like Messenger RNA, it was in timeline
transferred—transcribed
to the elevated human Messenger of Allah the Exalted for onward
communication-delivery verbatim to public:
-
Take note; It has
never been the practice of Allah the Exalted for any human being:
-
That Allah the
Exalted might communicate with him in a humanly understandable
language;
-
The exception to the
negation of lingual communication with a human being is firstly in
the manner of a written revelation: giving him a book;
-
Or He the Exalted
might communicate speaking to him from behind a barrier;
-
Or He the exalted
might send a messenger, angel or a man, to a person:
-
Whereby he the
messenger might communicate-inform, with the permission of Him the
Exalted, a person about that which He the Exalted intends to be
communicated:
His
Verbal
Message-Parlance-Book.
-
Indeed He is the
Exalted Supreme;
eternally the Knower
of visible and invisible domains and the Infinitely
Just Supreme Administrator of the created realms.
[42:51]
They were a galaxy of men of
personal choice of Allah the Exalted described by Adjective resembling
participle:
signifying
the person who is the Chosen, elevated and given Distinction and exaltation over
all others in timeline since their birth. However, they were assigned the
responsibility of the Messenger only upon attaining strengthen maturity
to convey the Message of Allah to the people of their time and nation in their
respective language. The same is the case in human genome that the
mature Messenger RNA
does the same job.
-
Let it be
known, Our Majesty sent not the Messengers before you the Messenger
[Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam]
but only the Men whom We communicated verbal messages.
-
They were living
amongst the residents of certain cities. [Refer 12:109]
The last in the galaxy of men
of personal choice of Allah the Exalted, described by Adjective resembling
participle:
is
the final universal Messenger who is unique by virtue of having been appointed
for the humanity for the entire time-span.
The
Universal Messenger
Muhammad
Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam
is perpetually the sole
Warner and survivalist for all those whom Grand Qur'aan reaches in time and
space:
-
You the Messenger
[Muhammad
Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam]
pronounce:
- "Listen
O you the Mankind;
Indeed I
am the Messenger of
Allah the Exalted towards
you people universally - all
people collectively;
[Refer 7:158]
The
Universal Messenger
Muhammad
Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam
has relayed
and Grand Qur'aan has since
reached us.
It is like the Messenger RNA has
reached to
the
cytoplasm, where the
ribosome
are located. It is the job of
the individual and ribosome in
cell to translate the message:
2.
"Semantics" of DNA is decoding—to
transform an encoded message into an
understandable form—the
20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes in the
human genome. And perhaps there are
a similar number of sentences in the
text of Grand Qur'aan. A gene
comprises of a sequence of Codons. A
codon is a set of three consecutive
nucleotides in
Messenger
RNA (mRNA) molecule that codes for
one
amino acid. Thus each gene encodes
the sequence of amino acids that
will produce a specific protein.
Proteins are polymers of amino
acids. Each protein has a unique
sequence of amino acids. The
sequence of amino acids specifies
protein shape and function.
In verbal language, a gene corresponds to a sentence of a
text that conveys a complete thought/proposition-concept. And a codon
corresponds to a word or phrase—grammatical unit in a sentence imparting
only
one meaning. And their sequence in a sentence signifies the type of
sentence by structure and function—meanings-message-communication.
3.
A portion of mRNA Is Not Translated.
Interestingly, not all
regions of a
messenger RNA
molecule correspond to
particular amino acids.
In
particular, there is an
area near the 5' end of
the molecule that is
known as the
un-translated region
(UTR) or leader
sequence.
This portion of mRNA is
located between the
first
nucleotide that
is transcribed and
the start codon (AUG) of
the coding region, and
it does not affect the
sequence of amino acids
in a protein.
So, what
is the purpose of the
UTR? It turns out that
the leader sequence is
important because it
contains a
ribosome-binding site.
Sequencing of Grand
Qur'aan for translation
purposes is exactly like
mRNA molecule. After the
first Chapter:
Segment
called:
literally denoting;
"an Enclave of
superiority and
elevation-Ascending
Leap", there is a small
binding-site, one Ayah:
,
which is not
translatable because it
comprises of only
letters of alphabet and
diacritical mark, but
has no syllable, vowel.
Arabic is a language of
syllables, comprising of
at least a consonant and
a vowel producing a
meaningful sound and
verbal proposition which
is translatable. This
sequencing is
specifically mentioned:
-
Moreover, the fact remains
that Our Majesty did give you the Messenger
[Muhammad
Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam]
Seven distinctly elaborative Aa'ya'at: Unitary Verbal Passages
selected-excepted from the Binary-Symmetrical-analogous Miscellany.
-
Furthermore, it also remains
a certain fact that We have given the Grand Qur'aan to you the Messenger
[
Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam].
[15:87]
After the First Segment: Chapter, there are 29
untranslatable binding-sites in the Qur'aan where only letters of alphabet and
diacritical mark appear. Interestingly, the alphabet of Arabic also comprises of
29 segments, one letter and 28 consonants. [So
called Mystery of Initial Letter/Consonants]. Thus the Grand Qur'aan has
thirty translatable segments.
4.
The ribosome is
a complex molecular
machine
found
within all living cells, that serves
as the site of biological
protein synthesis- translation.
Ribosome link amino
acids together
in the order specified by messenger
RNA (mRNA)
molecules. Ribosome consist of two major components: the small ribosomal
subunit, which reads the RNA, and the large subunit, which joins amino acids to
form a polypeptide chain.
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
molecule is a single strand. Similarly Arabic text is a single
continuous strand depicting first word to its last word as a chain. In
both, there is neither capital letter to indicate the start of a
sentence nor end markers like full stop, exclamation and question mark.
The ribosome binds to the single strand of Messenger RNA. As the
ribosome binds, we are also directed to consciously bind ourselves with
the "strand of Allah the Exalted":
5.
Human Genome Project
has highlighted that the structure
of the genetic language is very
simple and that the rules for
reading the genetic code are simple.
The "Author" of Genetic code and
Grand Qur'aan is Allah the Exalted.
He the Exalted has proclaimed:
-
Thereby, for reason of its universality and permanence, We have
certainly rendered it: Grand Qur'aan easy, open and facilitative for
reading and comprehension by transcribing it in the mother tongue:
Arabic language of you Muhammad
[Sal'lallaa'hoalaih'wa'salam].
-
The purpose of its
facilitative rendering is that you the Messenger might give glad
tidings-guarantee on the strength of this Grand Qur'aan
to those who
endeavor to remain cautious and avoid
conduct inspired and governed by emotion, in reverence and fear of
Allah the Exalted;
-
And so that you the
Messenger
may admonish, with this Grand
Qur'aan, the
excessively argumentative people. [19:97]
-
Know
the certain fact: We have simplified-rendered the Grand Qur'aan easy, open
and facilitative for reading, comprehension and saving in memory to recall,
take lesson and to relate.
-
Thereat, is there one
who consciously and purposely saves it in memory, comprehends and recalls to
mention-takes lesson and admonition?
[54:17;22;32;40-Easy
to read and comprehend]
6.
For accurate decoding-translation of
a codon-basic unit of genetic code
there is an anticodon which is a
trinucleotide
sequence complementary to that of
codon in a messenger RNA (mRNA)
sequence. An anticodon is found at
one end of a transfer RNA (tRNA)
molecule. During protein synthesis,
each time an amino acid is added to
the growing protein, a tRNA forms
base-pairs with its complementary
sequence on the mRNA molecule,
ensuring that the appropriate amino
acid is inserted into the protein.
Like the triplet code of codon and
corresponding anticodon for translation of a gene for producing a protein, for
accurate translation of a sentence (gene) in the text of Grand Qur'aan, there is
a "triplet anticodon": Root + Morphology + syntax for every word - element
(codon) of the sentence. Without applying this "anticodon", any attempted
translation will be but faulty, inaccurate, erroneous, incomplete or vague.
Roots
The language of Grand Qur'aan is Arabic:
language of the exalted universal Messenger-Spokesperson of Allah the Supreme
Sovereign, and of sons of soil of Arabian peninsula.
Arabic
words, nouns and verbs, stem from Roots. Root is a cluster of three, in
some cases four or rare five, consonants of Alphabet placed in a
peculiar sequence. Out of 29 letters of Arabic alphabet, Aleph is not a
consonant since it has no sound, hence it is never the part of a
Root. All 28 consonants may function as root radicals. However, there
are no roots with identical consonants in the first and second position
while at the second and third position radicals of a root can be the
same consonant. Such roots are termed geminate roots.
Though a combination of three unique
consonants can constitute
six Roots, for example consonants:
ح ,
ب
and
ر
make these Roots:
ب
ح ر
-
ب
ر ح -
ح
ب ر -
ح
ر ب -
ر
ب ح
-
ر
ح ب ;
the Roots are determined and fixed. No
new Root can be structured.
Roots are comparable to proper names as both
are with unique semantic reference. However, there is a profound difference
between proper names and roots. The former designate identifiable entities with
real existence, whereas root is pure abstraction. The root is the common element
shared by its derivatives.
The Root has
specific, defined, distinct, conspicuous and apparent concept, phenomenon,
perception
and signification
folded in it. It is the source, the reservoir of knowledge. Roots can be termed
as "repertory of frames" of Arabic language if we follow frames approach to
semantic analysis.
The amazing fact about
the Roots of Arabic is that the perception infolded in them is reflective of
physical—scientific
realities pertaining both to matter and life.
They seem as if they are the
baseline for scientific study and investigation.
For semantics,
Root is like the first of
trinucleotide sequence of anticodon.
It is well know that vocabulary is
of vital importance in language study because it is the essence of a
language. Linguist D. A. Wilkins (1972) has the famous line : "Without
grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be
conveyed. (p.11)".
That book is conveniently understandable which uses minimum vocabulary
of the language. The entire vocabulary of Grand Qur'aan, nouns and
verbs, stems from just 1646 Roots. Therefore, at
preliminary stage, we should feel pleased that learning the skill for
real-time translation of Qur'aan is rendered facilitative by the use of
a small part of otherwise large vocabulary of Arabic in its discourse.
If we merely run through the basic perception infolded in these Roots,
we will gain a fairly good understanding of meanings of the words of
Grand Qur'aan, even before learning the meanings added by other features
of the language; morphology and syntax.
Classical tradition employs the word Root, but in
reality, the concept resembles exactly to a "seed" which is either
monocotyledon or dicotyledonous and contains the DNA to sprout and grow
into a plant in a specific environment. "Seeds" of Arabic
language have distinction of monocotyledon-nominal and
dicotyledonous-verbal. Unique assemblage and sequencing of consonants is
like a DNA that encodes complete tree of a unique concept-field of
understanding which "germinates" in specific environment.
Morphology
Morphology deals
with word structures. Arabic morphology is highly systematic.
It involves
the study of patterns and forms of words found in the language with
regard to their origin, derivation, construction and meanings. Words
originate from the Roots on various well defined
patterns-moulds-structuring frames. But they
retain the original
perception infolded
in the Root,
dominantly and
conspicuously.
Additional
meanings and connotation, shades and colours get added to the
perception-concept-meanings infolded in the Root by the peculiar pattern
- placing of vowels—syllabification
and addition of consonants. Moreover, relational aspect of the semantic
field will also influence and add connotations to the word with
reference to its collocates. Hence;
the meanings, perception and connotation of an
Arabic word is the composite whole of the perception infolded in its
Root, coupled with meanings associated with its pattern, and its
relation to the semantic field where it is used—collocates.
It
signifies that the basic meanings of a Root and word do not exhaust
when they
are used in a different semantic field, relational area, while necessarily
retaining the base meanings. This phenomenon is particular
to the words which are other than those coined to denote and identify a specific
tangible object, or person, i.e. substantive nouns. Actions and gestures, bodily
actions or body language has various levels of intensity, depth, magnitude
proportionally reflecting the feel and state of heart and mind.
For semantics,
morphology is like the second of
trinucleotide sequence of anticodon.
All the words stemming from a particular root are enumerated in the root page
and their morphological features are mentioned therein. Moreover, all words are
segregated by their types.
Syntax- (Arabic: النحو
العربي or قواعد
اللغة العربية)
Comparable to third
trinucleotide sequence of anticodon is
syntax.
It is the other branch of Arabic grammar that
deals with the set of rules, principles, and process that govern the structure
of sentences. It deals with how words or other elements of sentence structure
are combined to form grammatical sentences-complete expressions. The subject of
syntax [Nahw-] revolves around word itself and the speech. The benefit of
grammar is protection against error in speech, and likewise in writing. Syntax
is concerned with the expression-word as it exists within the context of a
sentence. It is not particularly concerned with the expression-word itself which
is the main subject of other branch of Arabic grammar, i.e. morphology-Tasreef.
Syntax is all about the concept called
grammatical inflection-I‘rāb إﻋﺮﺍﺏ.
It is considered the core of grammar and everything else
revolves around it. Experts say understand this concept is understanding the
Arabic language and failing to understand it is failing to understand the
language.
Syntax of Grand Qur'aan is the
simplest because we have only to observe the vowel on the
last consonant of a noun. The last
vowel reveals the role and function of a noun in the
sentence. Nouns having vowel sign
ـُُ,
,ـُـُ
on their last consonant are termed "nominative-
مَرْفُوْع";
those with vowel sign
[ــًــ,
ـَ]
are termed "accusative-مَنْصُوْب",
and third case-ending with vowel sign
[ـِ .. -ٍ ] are termed "genitive-مَجْرُوْر".
There are 8 roles that
nouns play in sentences when they have case ending
ـُُ,
,ـُـُ
—"nominative-
مَرْفُوْع";
There are 12 roles that
nouns play in sentences when they have case ending
[ــًــ,
ـَ]—"accusative-مَنْصُوْب";
and
There are 2 roles that
nouns play in sentences when they have case ending [ـِ .. -ٍ
]—"genitive-مَجْرُوْر"
Thus there are only 22
positions for reflecting the role and function a noun
performs in sentences and discourse.
There are 22 standard amino acids, a start
and a stop codon in protein-coded gene translation. In
Arabic, there are twenty two declensions of a noun that
signify its role in the sentence: two genitive, eight
nominative, and twelve accusative.
The Dictionary of Roots
enumerates all the nouns, with different case endings,
stemming from them that are used in the Grand Qur'aan.
ء
ب ب
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