The Moral Language of the Qur’an from the First to the Fifth Century AH
Subject Areas : Ethics and Islamic EducationMahdavi Nour Seyyed Hatam 1 , aLI Shams Aryan 2
1 -
2 - Department of Islamic Studies, Tehran West Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Qur’an, Islamic Ethics, Qur’anic Language, Qur’anic Exegesis, Schools of Tafsīr, Mu‘tazilites, Islamic Moral Philosophy, Justice, Truthfulness, Trustworthiness, Forgiveness.,
Abstract :
The Holy Qur’an, as the most important source of Islamic teachings, abounds with moral precepts and ethical guidance. The Qur’an’s moral language—comprising commands and prohibitions, exhortations and warnings, and descriptions of virtues and vices—has played a fundamental role in shaping Islamic culture and civilization. A historical examination of how this moral language was understood and interpreted from the first to the fifth century AH reveals that Muslims’ comprehension of Qur’anic moral concepts underwent significant evolution during this period. In the first century AH, the early Muslims approached the Qur’an’s moral verses with immediacy and simplicity; these verses directly influenced both their personal conduct and social behavior. Gradually, in the second and third centuries AH, with the emergence of various interpretive schools—both traditionalist (naqli) and rationalist (‘aqli)—and the rise of theological debates on the nature of good and evil, interpretations of the Qur’an’s moral language gained depth and complexity. By the fourth and fifth centuries AH, with the expansion of classical exegetical works and the infusion of philosophical thought into Islamic sciences, new dimensions emerged in understanding the Qur’an’s moral discourse. Muslim theologians and philosophers sought to present the Qur’anic moral system in a more reasoned and systematic manner. Using a descriptive–analytical method, this article traces the historical development of the Qur’an’s moral language over the first five centuries of Islam. Findings indicate that although the fundamental ethical principles of the Qur’an—such as justice, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and forgiveness—remained constant, the mode of expression and interpretation of these values evolved from the early simple elucidations to more profound rational and philosophical analyses. This transformation was influenced by diverse intellectual, cultural, and social factors, yet the intrinsic coherence and continuity of the Qur’an’s moral teachings were preserved within the Islamic tradition. In conclusion, the paper summarizes the trajectory of this evolution, highlighting the relative stability of Qur’anic moral meanings alongside the interpretive flexibility they permitted, and offers suggestions for future research on the moral language of the Qur’an and its impact on the formation of Islamic civilization.
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