The Concept of the Hand in the Holy Qur’an: A Semantic Study

Abstract

The study "The Hand in the Holy Qur'an - A Semantic Study" examines the linguistic and interpretive dimensions of the word "hand" as it appears in the Qur'anic text, analyzing its various contexts and explaining its literal and metaphorical use. The study shows that the word "hand" appears in many places with multiple meanings, including those indicating power and strength, as in the verse: "And the heaven We constructed with power" [Adh-Dhariyat: 47], where "hand" appears here as a metaphor for power. The study also examines the use of "hand" as an attribute of God Almighty, such as: "Rather, His hands are spread out" [Al-Ma'idah: 64], which confirms the interpretation of these attributes in a manner consistent with God's greatness, without equating or imitating them. "Hand" also appears to express giving and withholding, such as: "And that bounty is in the hand of God" [Al-Hadid: 29], and other meanings related to stinginess, generosity, sovereignty, management, and punishment. On a rhetorical level, the hand appears as a symbol in metaphorical phrases such as: {And the Day the wrongdoer will bite his hands} [Al-Furqan: 27], indicating remorse. This study concludes that the word "hand" in the Holy Quran is not limited to its physical meaning alone, but rather extends to diverse semantic domains that enrich and deepen the meaning depending on the context.