The Qur’an is a rich and complete book — a tightly woven system of knowledge where concepts and themes are interconnected like threads in a living network. This structure allows the Qur’an to be studied and analyzed from within, revealing deeper insights into its purposes and mysteries.
Far from being a text for recitation only, the Qur’an is a living system that can be explored both scientifically and spiritually. Through this exploration, scholars and seekers can uncover the fundamental principles that guide humanity toward goodness, justice, and compassion — in fulfillment of God’s words:
“And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy to remember.” (54:17)
The Qur’an, therefore, is not merely a sacred text to be read; it is a dynamic system inviting deep exploration and reflection to uncover its inner design and objectives.
Between the Tongue of the Arabs and the Tongue of the Qur’an
Many people assume that the phrase “the Clear Arabic Tongue” (al-lisān al-ʿarabī al-mubīn) mentioned in the Qur’an refers to the ordinary Arabic spoken by the Arabs.
However, a closer look reveals that the Qur’an distinguishes between several related but different “tongues.”
The Tongue of the Arabs (Lisān al-ʿArab) refers to the language used by the Arabs in their poetry, oratory, and daily life.
The Arabic Tongue (al-lisān al-ʿarabī) is a broader linguistic system, encompassing the various dialects and speech forms that evolved over time among peoples influenced by Arabic.
The Tongue of the Qur’an (Lisān al-Qur’ān) refers specifically to the divine form of expression found only in the Qur’anic text; perfectly measured, self-consistent, and precise in meaning. Every word in it carries a single, exact sense determined by its Qur’anic context.
The Qur’anic idiom refers to expressions derived from Qur’anic roots and meanings, even when the exact word does not appear in the text of the Qur’an.
Thus, the Tongue of the Qur’an belongs within the Arabic Tongue but is not simply a part of the Arabs’ ordinary speech. It follows its own divine system of expression, structure, and meaning, while the Arabs’ tongue is broader, more flexible, and subject to change and custom.
Precision of Meaning in the Qur’anic Tongue
To truly grasp the Qur’anic Tongue, one must approach it through tadabbur — deep contemplation, careful reflection, tracing, and following. This is no ordinary language: the Qur’an’s tongue is far superior to any human language, for it comes directly from the Creator, whose capacity to construct meaning and expression surpasses anything a human being could achieve.
In the Qur’anic Tongue, every word carries a precise and fixed meaning within its context.
In contrast, in the Arabs’ tongue, meanings often shift depending on usage or convention.
Examples:
The word “qaswarah” in Arab poetry means “lion,” but in the Qur’an it carries the sense of something that drives by force or causes fear, derived from qasr (constraint or compulsion).
The phrase “ḥamaʾin masnūn” does not mean “rotting clay,” but “clay formed according to a divine law or pattern.”
These examples show that Qur’anic terms cannot be accurately explained by pre-Islamic poetry or tribal dialects alone.
Instead, the Qur’an must interpret itself; its words are explained by other words within it, forming a web of internal connections.
The Qur’an as a Perfectly Woven Text
The key difference between the human tongue and the Qur’anic Tongue is their purpose:
The human tongue is designed for communication between people.
The Qur’anic Tongue is designed for connection, linking divine meanings within the text itself.
Every word in the Qur’an is connected to others, creating a unified and coherent whole.
“Then produce a chapter like it.” (2:23)
The Qur’an did not challenge humanity to imitate a verse or a style, but an entire surah; a complete web of interrelated elements, bound by its own internal logic and network of meanings that no human could reproduce.
How Did the Uniqueness of the Qur’anic Tongue Go Unnoticed?
The Qur’an represents the primordial pattern of the human tongue, one that preserves the roots of earlier human languages — Syriac, Aramaic, South Arabian, and Egyptian. It was revealed in a land where multiple linguistic traditions met and blended.
Therefore, when a Qur’anic word resembles one found in another ancient tongue, it reflects a shared origin, not borrowing. The Qur’an carries echoes of the primordial human tongue, preserving traces of the earliest forms of divine communication with humanity.
The Method of Contemplating, tracing and Following (Tadabbur)
To grasp the Qur’anic Tongue, one must approach it through tadabbur — deep contemplation, tracing and following.
“Do they not contemplate the Qur’an?” (4:82)
At its root, tadabbur means “to follow something attentively, unfolding it into its full meaning.”
In other words, true contemplation means following the divine speech step by step — letting the Qur’an lead the way rather than imposing our own assumptions upon it.
Connection vs. Communication
In ordinary human speech, communication aims to exchange thoughts between people.
But in the Qur’anic Tongue, connection (tawṣīl) links divine meanings across verses and chapters.
“We have certainly connected the message for them, so that they might remember.” (28:51)
The Qur’an’s miracle, then, lies not merely in its eloquence, but in the internal architecture of its meaning; a self-contained system that unites heaven and earth through words.
Contemporary Efforts to Understand the Qur’an from Within
With the accurate preservation of the Qur’an and modern digital tools, scholars can now study it more comprehensively. Among the most promising initiatives are:
The Grand Qur’an Database Project, led by Dr. Omar Al-Shafi’, which includes:
The Qur’anic Discourse Corpus: analyzing word associations and structures using artificial intelligence.
The Contemporary Tadabbur Project: promoting systematic and scientific reflection on the Qur’anic text.
The Global Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the Qur’an (August 2023), organized by the International Qur’an Research Association (IQRA’), where 48 translators explored how AI can assist in understanding and translating the Qur’an.
Core Principles for Understanding the Qur’an from Within
- The Qur’an Explains Itself
“Do they not contemplate the Qur’an?” (4:82)
Example: “That Book, without doubt, is guidance for the mindful” (2:2) is clarified by “If you are mindful of God, He will grant you discernment.” (8:29)
- Unity of Theme
Example: Sūrat al-Anʿām revolves around monotheism — “Follow what has been revealed to you from your Lord; there is no god but He.” (6:106)
- Contextual Meaning
Example: “Do not force your slave girls into prostitution” (24:33) follows verses about chastity, revealing an integrated moral system.
- Gradual Revelation
Example: The prohibition of alcohol unfolded in stages — from awareness of harm (2:219), to prohibition during prayer (4:43), to total ban (5:90).
- God’s eternal patterns (Sunan)
Example: “God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.” (13:11)
- Ultimate Objectives (Maqāṣid)
Example: “In retribution there is life for you, O people of reason.” (2:179)
- Harmony between Revelation and Reality
Example: The case of the woman who pleaded for justice (58:1).
- Linking the Unseen and the Seen
Example: “It is God who sends the winds, stirring up the clouds…” (30:48)
Contemporary Applications of the Qur’anic Method
Social Justice: “Indeed, God commands justice, kindness, and generosity to relatives.” (16:90)
Women’s Dignity: “Women have rights similar to those upon them, in accordance with fairness.” (2:228)
Environmental Awareness: “Do not corrupt the earth after it has been set right.” (7:56)
Unity in Diversity: “O mankind, We created you from a male and a female and made you nations and tribes so that you may know one another.” (49:13)
“Hold firmly to the rope of God, all together, and do not divide.” (3:103)
Renewal of Religious Discourse: The Qur’an’s gradual and thematic method offer a balanced model for renewal and reform.
Future Directions
Developing digital tools to map the internal connections between words and meanings in the Qur’an.
Building encyclopedias that link ancient linguistic roots to Qur’anic meanings.
Producing translations that preserve the Qur’an’s internal logic and harmony.
Distinguishing between the Tongue of the Qur’an and the tongue of the Arabs is essential for understanding revelation as it was truly sent down. The Qur’an is a divinely woven system. Its inner connections transcend the limits of human language and expression.
Understanding the Qur’an from within is not merely an interpretive approach — it is a project of renewal, calling the Muslim community back to its pure source. It transforms the Qur’an from a recited book into a living foundation for thought, action, and civilization:
“There has come to you from God a light and a clear Book, through which God guides those who seek His pleasure to the paths of peace, bringing them from darkness into light, and guiding them to a straight path.” (5:15–16)
Conclusion
Understanding the Qur’an from within is not merely an interpretive method; it is a comprehensive project to return the ummah to its original source — transforming the Qur’an from a book recited into a source of thought, action, and civilizational development. It is a call to deep contemplation of its verses, to grasp the divine laws that govern human life and society, and to derive the higher principles that guide both individuals and communities toward goodness, justice, and compassion.
Here lies the essential difference between two distinct approaches to understanding the Qur’an:
The prevalent approach to understanding the Qur’an relies largely on inherited reports and traditional commentaries, often presenting interpretation separately from the text itself. It depends on transmission and imitation rather than direct engagement with the Qur’anic text.
The approach of understanding the Qur’an from within, however, begins with the text itself — with its language, meanings, and internal structure. It seeks to uncover its patterns and objectives, enabling the reader to understand it in a more holistic and objective way, free from partial or tradition-bound interpretations.
As the Qur’an affirms:
“There has come to you from God a light and a clear Book, by which God guides those who seek His pleasure to the ways of peace, and brings them out of darkness into light by His permission, and guides them to a straight path.” (Al-Mā’idah 5:15–16)
From this perspective, the Qur’an is not merely a text for recitation or memorization, but a living system that can be applied practically in daily life, politics, education, economics, and civilization. Understanding the Qur’an from within paves the way for the ummah to renew its relationship with knowledge and life, allowing it to become a source of goodness and an intellectual and moral light in the world — by harnessing the Qur’an’s illumination to build a balanced society founded on the universal human values brought by the Messenger ﷺ, far from stagnation and repetitive inherited interpretations.