The Concepts of Iṣṭifāʾ (choose) and ʿĀlamīn (people-of-the-world) in (Q. 3:42); A study and analysis of the Qur’anic Exegete’s viewpoints

eceived: 2021/5/19  |   Accepted: 2021/8/28One of the most important requirements of research in the field of interpretation is to study and analyze the contents of Qur’anic verses based on various interpretive principles and rules, including context, text structure, lexical implications, as well as interpretive narrations. The present article seeks re-reading the viewpoints of the Qur’anic exegetes in explaining (Q. 3:42), which reads “And when the angels said: O Mary! Surely Allah has chosen you, and has purified you, and has chosen you over women of the world”. Therefore, considering the repetition of the determining word Iṣṭifāʾ in this verse, its other Qur’anic applications have been conceptualized, and the different viewpoints of the Qur’anic exegetes about explaining the concept of Iṣṭifāʾ and ascertaining its various examples have been studied. In this regard, according to the various uses of the word Iṣṭifāʾ within different Qur’anic contexts, it has been suggested that some of the Qur’anic exegetes have specified that, due to its literal absoluteness, the first occurence of the word in this verse refers to the divine choice and the infallible personality of St. Mary (PBUH). However, the second one, due to being bound to the preposition ʿalā, indicates the superiority of St. Maryam (PBUH) over other human beings, as well as her specific characteristics and privileges. Davoud, E (2021) The Concepts of Iṣṭifāʾ (choose) and ʿĀlamīn (people-of-the-world) in (Q. 3:42); A study and analysis of the Qur’anic Exegete’s viewpoints.