Guidance and Instruction in the Qur’an: A Contextual Analytical Study Based on the Witness { ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ } [Al-Fātiḥah: 6] in the Work of Abū Ḥilāl al-‘Askarī

Abstract

This study presents a contextual analytical investigation of the concepts of guidance and instruction in the Qur’an, based on the Qur’anic witness {ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ} [Al-Fātiḥah: 6] as presented by Abū Ḥilāl al-‘Askarī in his work Al-Furūq al-Lughawiyyah. The study is structured around two main axes: the linguistic analysis, which traces the lexical origin and semantic development of the two term s, and the contextual analysis, which examines the role of Qur’anic context in determining meaning.  The study also highlights the precision of Abū Ḥilāl’s citations and his adherence to contextual meaning, while noting certain issues that could be critically examined in future research. The findings underscore the value of the Qur’anic witness in establishing semantic distinctions and linking linguistic meanings to the Qur’an’s intended purposes, thereby facilitating a deeper understanding of Qur’anic concepts and providing a foundation for future linguistic and exegetical studies.

Keywords: Guidance, Instruction, Qur’anic Witnesses, Semantic Distinctions, Abū Ḥilāl al-‘Askarī