Moral Interpretation of the Meaning of Religion Using Structural Semantics in the Quran

The term Din (religion) in the contexts of belief and practice is among the fundamental concepts in the Quran. Due to the complexity of its semantic scope, the study of semantics is necessary. Non-systematic interpretations of this term throughout history have led to unscientific interpretations and extremist actions by believers of Islam. In this discourse, we aim to employ the method of structural semantics to analyze the semantic components of terms related to Din within the context and co-occurrences of words in the verses, in order to achieve a clearer understanding of the term's usage in the Quran. To achieve this, in the first step, we will explore its roots in Semitic and Arabic languages, and then its semantic domain will be investigated based on co-occurrence relationships, including complementary, contrastive, and intensified relationships. This research demonstrates that the term Din has the most significant associations, in order, with the terms monotheism, innate disposition, submission, excellence, polytheism, unity, the nation of Abraham, and difficulty. Furthermore, the term Din is found in adjectival combinations with the terms pure, lasting, and truth. A linguistic analysis of co-occurring terms underscores the necessity of an ethical reading of the term Din in the Quran. According to the research findings, the preservation of ethical values based on natural morality takes precedence over the beliefs of individuals.