The Selection of the Phrase Ahl al-Dhikr in the Qur'an: A Comparative Semantic Study of QS. An-Nahl: 43 and QS. Al-Anbiya': 7

Mukhsin Mukhsin* -  Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Cicalengka Bandung, Indonesia
DOI : 10.24952/tkml.v1i2.19439
This study investigates the Qur'anic selection of ahl al-dhikr in QS. An-Nahl: 43 and QS. Al-Anbiyā': 7, where the context pertains to inquiring of knowledgeable individuals, yet the Qur'an employs dhikr rather than ʿilm. Using qualitative methodology integrating thematic exegesis, semantic analysis, and comparative examination of classical and contemporary commentaries, the study identifies four interpretive dimensions: epistemological, spiritual, moral, and methodological. Theoretical contributions include: a systematic comparative semantic analysis of dhikr (292 occurrences) and ʿilm (854 occurrences), demonstrating that dhikr encompasses cognitive, affective, and spiritual dimensions beyond the predominantly cognitive scope of ʿilm; articulation of methodological, theological, and historical factors producing interpretive differences between Sunni, Sufi, and Shīʿī traditions; and an integrated epistemological framework overcoming dichotomies between knowledge and spirituality. As a tentative interpretation, ahl al-dhikr constitutes a normative ideal of scholarship integrating cognitive expertise with spiritual-moral excellence. However, significant limitations are acknowledged: qualitative-only design without empirical data, scope limited to two verses, interpretive subjectivity, and absence of case studies testing contemporary effectiveness. Practical implications remain conceptual, with proposed indicators offered as a framework for future empirical research. The concept offers potentially relevant normative guidance for distinguishing authentic scholarly authority in the digital age, though empirical validation remains for future research.

Keywords : Ahl al-Dhikr; Ahl al-ʿIlm; Qur'anic Semantics; Islamic Epistemology; Tafsīr

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