Brainstorming#1- On Zumar Sura

In The Name Of ALLAH

What is the meaning of "Zumar" by itself? Zumar means ...groups....OK! then why is this surah called Zumar why not "Din Khales" or so?

This surah starts with reminding and assuring us that this Holy Book verily descended by Allah, the Source of Wisdom Supreme power.Why should there be emphasized on this point while it seems so clear? Is it because of the following important points being considered from the Source of Truth mentioned in this surah?

 It seems "Din Khales and being Mokhles"( that is, the pure Religion >of monotheism<and  sincerely worshiping) is emphasized here in the Sura. If so, then how is it possible to purify our beliefs and actions in accordance with guidelines of Allah? Moreover, with respect to this sura, what are the characteristics of a sincere worshiper of Allah?

Appreciate your attention for broadening our viewpoints by discussing on different aspects of this great sura. Needless to mention that discovering new meanings and concepts of the surah  depends on sharing and debating our comprehensions of it. 

F. Arjmandi 

Preview to Word-oriented Tadabbor

In The Name Of Allah

Each and every texts of the Holy Book, Qu'ran, is composed of words and meanings and all are in accordance with a purpose linking us to the Divine World. It is started in the text of Word-Oriented Tadabbor Book, "Tadabbor" or attentive reflection which means to pay attention to a text purpose and consider it in life.

Each "word" itself lifts a curtain on a truth and transfers an absolute meaning. The absolute meanings do not change under no circumstances; and in fact, they are always fixed. All origins from the One Truth ( the Source of Truth or "Haq") and each of them covers a meaning based on the level/ rank descending by the Source of Truth ("Haq"). Revealing and descending Meanings by the Source of Truth ("Haq") defines as "Kalam" or Meaning; that is, all the existing Worlds reveal the Divine Meaning.

The Holy Book, Qu'ran, is the collection of texts, meanings, and words of the Creator of the Worlds. Thus, it is essential to reflect deeply on its words in order to achieve an attentive reflection or "Tadabbor", and approach the purpose as well as the meaning of its verses (or Ayat) and surahs.

Word-oriented Tadabbor means that a reflecting person comprehends that :

• * Which Worlds Truth is disclosed for human by the considered word?
• * Which Worlds Truth can be found in the core of this word?
• * What is the relation between this word in a Sura and the whole meanings of the Sura?

Words are connected with the Truths on one hand, and on the other hand, with the examples; that's why, they disclose the Truths as well as revealing their instances of the Truths. Therefore, in word-oriented Tadabbor ( reflection), it is determined how to discover the coordination of the words' meanings with the Truths and also how to disclose the coordination of the examples with the words' meanings.

In word-oriented Tadabbor or reflection, it becomes obvious that each word has so close relation with a topic, a purpose, and the ultimate goal of a surah. By comprehending these words, one is able to reach the truths of science in addition to use them. Using these truths, sometimes  is to realize the action procedures; sometimes it is to ratify laws and religious decrees, sometimes it is to generalize laws and religious decrees, and so on. Hence, all in all it can be mentioned that knowing the Qu'ran truths and acting to them may be possible through words." Actually the words are the doors to understanding".

Appreciate 

Arjmandi

Homework#12

Dear classmates

According to the lesson covered till now please do the following tasks:

1. Pick the word "Abd" in Zomar surah and investigate the derivation subject in it.Find different types of derivation

and write down what should be added to our understanding by considering it.

e.g. "Ta'abod": Asghar type --- Object +Desire

* If you noticed that another word's derivatives are more dominant change the picked root "Abd"

2. Choose 3 words from Zomar surah and derive their meaning from "Attahghigh" book and define the type of definition

and also highlight the parts of definition or new words you face in definition.

e.g. "Falagh": The cutting or separation resulting in appearance of two sides --- components

3. Choose 3 words from Zomar surah. The words are preferred to be in at least one type of context. Then compare the

situation when the context is considered with the raw definition.

e.g. "Zehaar": back or revealing  is the raw meaning but in Mojadele surah it is used in religious context. The meaning changes

to a tradition which was a specific kind of divorcing in pegan state of arabs.

Good luck and wish you the best

P.S. I Expect you all to be more involved in uploading texts, clips, understandings, and conversations. We miss you all here.

Class Voice - Session13

Dear classmates

The recorded voice for the 13th session can be downloaded from the links below:

Download-Session13-Part1

Download-Session13-Part2

Download-Session13-Part3

Word definition

Dear classmates

When you look up a word in the dictionary specially in arabic, considering the following points are

useful and can lead to better understanding of their meaning and helps you classify the words in

some manner:

1. A word root can be defined in 3 ways:

  1.1. Limitation/components: e.g. "Ghol" : Expressing+What is in our inner side+ With any possible mean

  1.2. Contrast/by opposites: e.g. "shar" : the opposite of "Kheir" and "Kheir" is sth that you logically prefer

  1.3. With famous/common words: e.g. "Zolfa": is the highest level of "Ghorb" or being close

by this classification you can find the words that are defined in the same manner and also from their definition

you can relate them indirectly. the second function of this classification would be understanding the levels of meaning

and helps in contrasting.

2. According to the context, the word meanings can differ. we have 3 main contexts:

  2.1. Common context

  2.2. Idiomatic / scientific context

  2.3. religious context

neglecting the context may lead to misunderstanding of the meaning. A an example we have the term "Tahriro raghaba"

if you get to study the word meanings neglecting its context you understand "heating the neck!!!!" which doesn't make

sense. But when you realize it is defined in religious context you understand "Freeing slaves".

So context affect the meaning and it should be kept in mind that the word is not separated from its context.

3. The common meaning we understand from a word is the first level and by considering the mentioned points

we can deepen our understandings.

About Derivation

Dear classmates

Our 4th lesson focuses on Derivation and talks about its effects on our written statements. Considering the derivation

along with the meaning of the root leads in more accurate understandings about meaning and also the context emphasis.

There exist 4 types of derivation but here we combine two of them and talk about 3 types:

1. "Asghar/Saghir":

 1.1. Appearance of word roots in different parts of speech

       1.1.1. Noun

       1.1.2. Adjective

       1.1.3. Verb form

  1.2. Conjugating word roots into different forms("Baab")

        1.2.1. "Efa'al" form: Focuses on the subject / abrupt or sudden event

        1.2.2. "Taf'eil" form: Focuses on the object or receiver / gradual event

        1.2.3. "Tafa'ol" form: accepting the effect by the object or receiver with desire

        1.2.4. "Efte'al" form: accepting by ones choice

        1.2.5. "Tafaa'ol" form: two sides are subject/ two-way action

        1.2.6. "Mofa'ele" form: one side is the subject

        1.2.7. "Estefa'al" form: want sth and having intention to reach it

        1.2.8. "Enfe'al" form: being affected without choice     

      

2. "Kabir": Root letters are the same and you only face with dislocated letters like "Hamd" and "Madh"

     or "Sherk" and "Shokr". This dislocation, results in specification or conflict of the meaning.

3. "Akbar": The root are the same but with altered letter(1 or 2) like "Ghavasa" and "Ghavara" that both mean

    getting deeper.

If we consider the role of derivation our resulting statements are to be more accurate and more consistent with

God intentions and emphasis!

Class Voice - Session 12

Dear Classmates

The voice for the 12th session can be downloaded from the link below:

Download-Session12-Part1

Download-Session12-Part2

Homework #11

Dear classmates

As your homework, try to find examples for the concepts "Din" and "Ghol" (mentioned in Kaferun surah) in

Zomar surah. The following procedure is suggested:

1. Logical analysis of the chosen word according to its meaning

2. Search Zomar surah  and derive the verses containing the exact root

3. From the verses found, write down logical statements and broaden the concept(it characteristics and etc.)

 3.1. In the case where the exact root was not found you can search for the components of the definition in the surah

       say if you are talking about "Din" you have to search for a program and also an obedience.

       The program can be in the form of laws or commands, so by finding commands in the surah you can broaden the

       concept of the word "Din".

Good luck

Meaning, Concept and Examples

Dear Class mates

In the first three lesson we are to study the inter-relations between Meaning, Concept and examples

in a so-called triangular form and try to go back and forth between them.

we should start by their definition:

1. Meaning: A fact which is unbounded and unlimited

2. Concept: The understanding of every individual from the meaning(receiver-based)

3. Example: An example which is consistent to the concept and broadens its meaning

we can draw the following triangle on their relations:

Meaning-Concept: By the process of Tadabbor we are trying to make our concepts closer to the meaning

or in other words moving from limited understanding(according to ourselves) to unlimited facts.

Meaning-Example: God is the only example exist and the meanings owe their existence to God, and furthermore

the examples are derived from the meanings!

Concept-Example: Examples help us to understand the concept more and in detail so it makes the concept reachable

and also from studying examples we get to know a concept. This part is the most important part of this lesson.

So in each surah we are to see examples along with concepts and with the aid of Tadabbor we are able to get close to

the meaning or the truth.

Word-Oriented Tadabbor

Dear Classmates

With the aid of Allah we are moving to our next topic in "Tadabbor" course called "word-oriented tadabbor" or actually

focusing on words as the building block of each surah and also the doors to Quranic concepts.

Our third topic outline is as follows:

3. Word-oriented tadabbor

   3.1. Meaning/Understanding/Examples

   3.2. Word defining forms / Derivatives

   3.3. Definition Literature(Native definition)

   3.4. Commonness in definition

   3.5. Surah Intention - The spirit flowing in words

   3.6. Situation-free and situation-based words

   3.7. Word chain relation

The diagram below shows the topics in brief: