A Comparative Semantic Analysis of Verse 6 of Sūrat al-Qadr: A Critical Evaluation of Gabriel Sawma’s Interpretation in Light of the Qurʾan and the Old and New Testaments

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Corresponding Author, Ph.D candidate in Qur’anic and Hadith Studies, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Qur’an and Jurisprudence, Faculty of Theology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Faculty of Comparative Qur’anic Studies, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

 
This study aims to critically examine the view of Gabriel Sawma regarding the “Aramaic character of the language of the Qurʾan,” and specifically to conduct a semantic analysis of his claim that all the words of verse 6 of Sūrat al-Qadr (“Salāmun hiya ḥattā maṭlaʿ al-fajr”) have been mistranslated. The present research adopts an analytical-critical approach and employs a historical-comparative linguistic method. Data were collected and analyzed through library-based sources, including exegetical works, Arabic, Syriac, and Hebrew lexicons, and historical studies. First, Sawma’s theoretical foundations and methodology were critiqued; subsequently, each word of the aforementioned verse was examined within three linguistic contexts—Arabic, Syriac, and Hebrew—while taking into account the Sūrah’s contextual framework. A critique of Sawma’s underlying premises (such as the alleged borrowing of the Qurʾan from the Old and New Testaments and the claimed absence of Arabic script prior to Islam) was conducted in light of historical and archaeological evidence (including pre-Islamic inscriptions and first-century hijrī manuscripts), and these claims were refuted. The lexical analysis of the verse demonstrated that Sawma’s assertions lack a scientific foundation: 1. The roots of the disputed terms (such as salām and hiya) are common to Semitic languages, and their Arabic meanings are correct. 2. For certain words (ḥattā, maṭlaʿ), either the alleged Syriac/Hebrew equivalents proposed by Sawma were not substantiated, or no semantic connection with the Qurʾanic term was demonstrable. 3. Sawma’s proposed translation of the verse (“He completed faithfully until his body became weary”) is not only inconsistent with lexical evidence but also lacks semantic coherence with the context of the preceding verses of Sūrat al-Qadr. Gabriel Sawma’s claim concerning the Aramaic nature of the Qurʾanic language and his proposed alternative translations of Qurʾanic vocabulary lack scholarly credibility in terms of theoretical foundations, research methodology, and lexical analysis. The language of the Qurʾan is eloquent Arabic, and the prevailing Muslim interpretations of its verses are grounded in a sound understanding of shared Semitic roots and contextual analysis. This study underscores the necessity of systematic critique of similar views and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary studies (history, archaeology, and linguistics) in defending the authenticity of the Qurʾanic text.
 

Keywords

References

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  • Receive Date: 01 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 07 November 2025
  • Accept Date: 09 December 2025

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