Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World

Analysis of the semantic features of "Jannat" and Paradise in the Qur'an, based on traditional-cultural symbology

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Farideh Mardaneh 1
Zahra Besharati 2
Mostafa Moradi 3
1 .Master's student in Qur'anic Sciences, Interdisciplinary Qur'anic Studies Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Qur'anic Studies Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University,, Tehran, Iran
3 .Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Qur'anic Studies Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University ,, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/iscw.2025.2053590.1141
Abstract
The word "Jannat" and "Jannāt" are among the most frequently used words in the text of the Holy Qur'an, which in a number of verses is interpreted as the eternal abode of the faithful and good-doers, in some verses, as lush gardens, and in some verses related to the creation of man, as the original abode of Ādam and Ḥawwā. Given these diverse functions of the word in question within the text of the Qur'an, a more detailed analysis of the verses containing this word is necessary. Although the interpreters of the Qur'an have mentioned the meanings of the word in different places in the text, considering the context of the verses before and after, a systematic study with a semantic approach to the mentioned word has not been conducted so far; in addition, considering the existence of the concept of paradise and the extensive use of its symbols in different religions and cultures, it is necessary to examine the cases of commonality of the semantic features of "Jannāt" in the Qur'an with the traditional-cultural symbols of paradise in order to more accurately explain the uses of the mentioned word in the text of the Qur'an, especially in cases such as the original abode of Ādam and Ḥawwā. Accordingly, the present study, with a semantic approach and a traditional-cultural symbology method, has answered the key question: "What is the relationship between the semantic features of "Jannat" and "Jannāt" in the Quran and the traditional-cultural symbols of Paradise, and how is it explained?" The findings of this study indicate the existence of a commonality between the Qur'anic features of "Jannat" and "Jannāt" and the main symbols of Paradise, such as immortality, the Promised Land, etc., as well as the symbols of the lost Paradise in the story of the beginning of creation, such as the fall and separation from unity into plurality.
Keywords
Jannat
Paradise
Quran
Adam and Eve
Traditional-Cultural Symbolism
Subjects

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Islamic Studies and Quranic Research in the Contemporary World
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 7
August 2025
Pages 309-347

  • Receive Date 17 February 2025
  • Revise Date 08 October 2025
  • Accept Date 21 September 2025
  • First Publish Date 21 September 2025
  • Publish Date 23 August 2025