Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Seyede Fateme Nikookar ¹
• abbas esmaeelizadeh ²

¹ Master's student, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Abstract As one of the foundational principles in understanding and interpreting the Qur’an, siyaq (context) has gained significant scholarly attention in Qur’anic studies. From the earliest centuries, this concept was examined through discussions on coherence (nazm) and thematic harmony (tanasub). In contemporary scholarship, however, a broader range of issues—such as the function, role, and typology of context—has emerged, with the classification of siyaq types often approached inconsistently by scholars. This study, employing a descriptive-analytical method and drawing on library-based sources, seeks to address this gap by organizing existing views and proposing a Qur’an-centered typology of siyaq. Based on explicit Qur’anic usage of its own structural components, the research identifies five contextual levels: verse (ayah), group of verses (ayat), chapter (surah), collection of chapters (suwar), and the Qur’an as a whole. These levels, viewed as interwoven layers within the Qur’anic corpus, provide a framework for extracting meaning from divine concepts and achieving deeper understanding. Furthermore, through exegetical and narrational evidence, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of each contextual level in resolving interpretive ambiguities, correcting misconceptions, and uncovering profound and novel meanings.

Keywords

• Principle of Siyaq
• Verse-Level Context (Siyaq al-Āyah)
• Group of Verses Context (Siyaq al-Āyāt)
• Surah-Level Context (Siyaq al-Surah)
• Holistic Qur’anic Context (Siyaq al-Qur’an)

Main Subjects

• Interpretation