SEMANTIC STUDY OF THE TERM "AJR" BASED ON COLLOCATION AND SUBSTITUTION IN THE QURAN

Semantics plays an essential role in the precise understanding of Quranic verses. This discipline, relying on collocation and substitution relationships, facilitates access to the exact meanings of words by examining their semantic networks and analyzing their use in the context of verses. This article is formulated with reference to this discipline. The primary question is: What meanings does the word "ajr" convey in the Quran based on collocation and substitution axes? This study, conducted through a descriptive-analytical method using library sources, reveals that the term "ajr" refers to both worldly and otherworldly rewards, signifying compensation for good deeds and wages for worldly labor performed for others. Additionally, in its verbal form, it denotes the act of hiring and employment. The collocating words of "ajr" in the Quran include "great (azim), noble (karim), and so on." Its substituting terms include "reward (thawab)" and "goodness (khayr)," though these terms differ in that they generally refer to both reward and punishment, unlike "ajr."