A Deliberation on the Meaning of Rushd in the Stories of the Holy Qur an

The meaning and concept of the word rushd (= maturity, probity, certitude) in the stories of the Holy Qur'ān has been stated within nineteen verses which can be thematically divided into three major parts: the verses concerning the holy prophet of Islam (S.A.W.) and his umma (community of followers) – who possess the attributes and deeds of the rāshidūn (guided ones) –; the verses concerning the Divine Prophets such as Abraham, Lot, Jethro and Moses (A.S.); and the verses concerning the stories of the believers including the believers among the people of Pharaoh, Men of the Cave, and the believers among mankind and the jinn. In this research, first the verses concerning rushd in the Holy Quran are extracted and then thematically categorized. In the verses chronological order has been observed concerning the stories of the Prophets; and in order to clarify the concept of these verses, other verses are also employed. After categorizing, the meaning and concept as well as various applications of this word is examined. Making use of different Sunnite and Shī‘ite interpretations together has enriched this research.