Semantic Evolution of the Words Nīkī, Khayr and jihad‎

This study examines the semantic evolution of some Qur'anic words and reveals the influence of Islam in the semantic development of words compared to the ignorance period. This research begins by examining the usage of the words during the ignorance period, then examines its meanings in the Holy Quran in order to achieve the semantic expressions of these words. The purpose of this study is to know the words’ meanings used in the ignorance period. Then Islam has added the second and third meaning to them or fundamentally changed the meaning of the words. Therefore, the common usages of the words were left out. Contrary to our imagination, when we follow the verses reached to us from the ignorance period, we come across the words whose meanings don’t correspond to this period, so it is necessary to be considered. Muslims wanted the Quranic culture to prevail, so they edited some verses that had a religious theme and attributed them to Jahili poets. Some intellectuals may disagree with this point of view and do not accept them, so it is safe to accept that Jahili poets also used these words as it was used during the ignorance period. In this research, the semantic evolution of the words nīkī, khayr, and jihad is investigated.