نشریه قرآن، فرهنگ و تمدن
سال پنجم شماره 3 (پیاپی 17، پاییز 1403)

From the perspective of the Holy Quran, motivation is considered one of the pillars of civilization-building in the establishment of an Islamic utopia. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to present a conceptual model of a motivational utopia in the civilization-building of the Holy Quran. The theoretical part of this goal is pursued by examining concepts extracted from the commentaries of exegetes, while the practical part investigates how motivation-based civilization-building, as rooted in the Quran, is achieved. The main research question is: What is the conceptual model of a motivational utopia in the civilization-building of the Holy Quran? This study is classified as fundamental-developmental research, utilizing qualitative content analysis as its methodology. The entire Quran (as the population) was analyzed, identifying the themes related to the "conceptual model of a motivational utopia" (more than 2,700 verses). Then, through examining commentaries, open, axial, and selective coding was conducted. To present a comprehensive model, three core themes—causal, structural, and consequential—were identified after coding. The validity and reliability of this model were initially assessed by 17 experts, with the CVR and CVI values confirming the content validity of this conceptual model. The findings indicate that from the Quran’s perspective, society and civilization-building represent a utopia where the motivational system is established across various individual, familial, and social domains.

Verse three of Surah Al-Tahrim reveals the secret of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and its disclosure by some of his wives, with traditional accounts attributing the disclosure and the conspiracy to a matter of female jealousy. Understanding the nature of this secret and the associated conspiracy is of special importance, as it has been reduced to an issue of female jealousy on one hand, while on the other hand, both Sunni and Shia commentators have linked the revealed secret to the caliphates of Abu Bakr and Ali (AS), influenced by these narrations. In this article, narrations of the causes of revelation from Shia and Sunni sources, relating to female jealousy and the caliphates of Abu Bakr and Ali (AS), are categorized and evaluated. Then, using the method of Quran chronology and the descending sequence of Surah Al-Tahrim, along with its proximity to Surahs Al-Munafiqun, Al-Nur, Al-Ahzab, Al-Fath, and Al-Saff, it is argued that the truth behind the conspiracy and the disclosed secret in verse three relates to the Prophet’s (PBUH) certain victory over the polytheists in the near future. Therefore, beyond the new interpretation of the disclosed secret under verse three, the method of chronology plays a crucial role in verifying the authenticity of the narrations of the causes of revelation, as the chronology of the surah clearly shows that the narrations of the causes of revelation were mistakenly attributed to verse three of Surah Al-Tahrim and incorrectly applied to it.

After the advent of Islam in Iran, architecture and urban design, including garden design, underwent significant transformations. Since then, the integration of Quranic themes with Islamic art has attained a sacred dimension, with the aesthetic embodiment of the verses of the Holy Quran becoming a key tool and source for artists and architects of gardens throughout the Islamic world. As the Quranic verses describing paradise offer the best depiction from a garden architecture perspective, this study seeks to analyze the alignment of these heavenly descriptions with the design of earthly gardens. It examines how these abstract, conceptual descriptions are reflected in concrete, visual representations. The research first explores a selection of Quranic verses related to paradise, then aesthetically and comparatively analyzes the symbolic and architectural elements of Islamic gardens inspired by these verses. The methodology is descriptive-analytical, with data gathered from library sources and analyzed based on Quranic interpretations, particularly Tafsir al-Mizan. The findings indicate the divine harmony between the promised paradise and the worldly and otherworldly lives of humanity, though the Iranian garden can only be considered a partial reflection of this ultimate truth.

The purpose of this study is to explain the role of the Quranic nutrition system in spiritual health, employing a descriptive-analytical method. The research focuses on carefully evaluating key concepts, including the cognitive and behavioral roles of the Quranic nutrition system and its impact on spiritual health. This analytical approach allows for a deeper understanding of how the cognitive and behavioral aspects of the Quranic nutrition system influence spiritual well-being. The findings indicate that the Quranic nutrition system, through its interconnected elements of objectives, foundations, and principles, significantly affects spiritual health by imparting knowledge and guiding behavior. Key cognitive roles include raising awareness about one’s food, warning against consuming unlawful sustenance, reminding individuals of God’s provision, human agency in choosing food, an innate inclination toward pure foods, and the bestowal of both inherent and acquired dignity. The behavioral roles emphasized by the Quranic nutrition system include adherence to lawful and pure foods, avoidance of unlawful and impure foods, gratitude, moderation in eating, and fasting, all of which contribute to spiritual health.

One of the frequently used forms of discourse in the Holy Quran is storytelling. The Quranic stories are a rich treasure trove of faith-based, ethical, and behavioral teachings, which are vividly portrayed to provide models for others to emulate. In a civilization-building rereading of the stories of the prophets in the Quran, the first step is to identify the recurring themes in God's narrative of the teachings and actions of the prophets. Approaches to thematic analysis in literary sciences, such as narratology, offer scientifically valid and reliable tools that can assist in this process. Accordingly, this article adopts a descriptive-analytical method and uses the motif element from narratology to reinterpret part of the story of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) in the Holy Quran. The findings of this study reveal motifs such as the establishment of a rational civilization-building mindset through the motif of debate, the affirmation of effort and struggle in the expansion of the civilizational mission through the motif of trial, and the concern for the continuation of civilization in future generations through the motif of prayer for offspring in the story of Ibrahim (AS).

The Safavid period is considered one of the significant eras in Iranian history. Understanding the characteristics of this period is possible through the preserved texts. Many frequently used concepts in these texts align closely with the religious approaches dominant within the power structure. The extensive use of Quranic verses and hadiths, especially those that underscore Shia rituals, is prominent in these writings. Among the notable sources from this period is the book Jahanara-ye Abbasi. This study aims to analyze the speech acts and Quranic citations of this text using a descriptive-analytical method and both quantitative and qualitative data, addressing the question: How are Quranic citations employed in this book, and what is the frequency of each speech act? It appears that, given the explanatory and descriptive approach of the writers and historians of the Safavid era, the most frequent type of speech act in the Quranic citations of Tarikh-e Jahanara-ye Abbasi is assertive speech acts.