Ketab-E-Qayyem

Ketab-E-Qayyem

The Semantic Components of the Root Word "Ḥifẓ" in the Holy Quran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
soheila jalali 1
Farideh Amini 2
fatemeh taghikhany 3
1 Associate professor, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: s.jalali@alzahra.ac.ir
2 Assistant professor, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: famini@alzahra.ac.ir
3 MA, Department of Quranic Sciences and Hadith, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: fatemehtaghikhany@gmail.com
10.30512/kq.2026.22847.4002
Abstract
The root word "ḥifẓ" in the Holy Quran embodies a dual concept. On the one hand, it represents an intrinsic attribute of God and, on the other, it points to a human responsibility to safeguard divine values. This intricate connection between the divine attribute and human obligation renders the examination of this root crucial for discovering its semantic components and accessing its deeper layers. Through the methodology of structural semantics, the present research seeks to delineate the semantic network of the root word "ḥifẓ" within the Quranic context so as to discover its semantic components. Semantic network refers to the diverse relationships among concepts, whereas semantic components denote the characteristics that constitute the conceptual essence of terms, identifying their commonalities and disparities. The research findings indicate that, between the term Hifz and its paradigmatic substitutes, certain components are shared, while others represent points of distinction. For example, the shared components between Hifz and its substitutes include divine supervision and protection of creatures' lives, moral self-restraint and the control of instincts, safeguarding divine boundaries and religious and moral boundaries, and the angels’ care for humans. The syntagmatic data reveal that Hifz is enacted by God, angels, prophets, and human beings as the active agents. Divine Hifz within the ontological realm (Takwin) encompasses the preservation of the heavens and the earth, the divine command, the Preserved Tablet, and the divine watchers. Conversely, what must be safeguarded by human beings within the legislative realm (Tashri') includes divine orders, such as the establishment of prayer, giving chastity, and the preservation of divine scriptures. Within the paradigmatic data, a semantic affinity exists among the concepts of Masak, Hasan, Wakil, Muqit, Raqib, Maknun, Iqama, and Asam; consequently, they can be considered as substitutes for Hifz within similar contexts.
Keywords
Imsaq
Hifz
Structural semantics
The Holy Quran
Semantic components
Subjects
The Holy Qur’an
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Ketab-E-Qayyem
Volume 16, Issue 2 - Serial Number 35
October 2026
Pages 205-225

  • Receive Date 29 December 2024
  • Revise Date 22 May 2025
  • Accept Date 05 July 2025