Semantic Fields of Movement and Transformation in the Weak Verbs of the Holy Quran

Abstract

This research examines the semantic fields of movement and transformation in the weak verbs (al-afʿāl al-muʿtallah) of the Holy Quran in light of semantic field theory, which analyzes vocabulary within semantic systems linked by shared conceptual relations. The study aims to uncover the semantic dimensions performed by weak verbs — in both their basic (mujarrad) and augmented (mazīd) forms — in expressing meanings of movement, transition, and change in Quranic discourse, while showing the effect of the morphological structure of these verbs in directing and enriching meaning. The study adopts the descriptive-analytical method, based on surveying the weak verbs occurring in the Holy Quran and classifying them into closely related semantic groups according to their Quranic contexts. The analysis identifies three major semantic fields representing the most prominent manifestations of movement and transformation in these verbs: the field of walking and spatial transition, which embodies the meanings of movement and travel; the field of change and transformation, which expresses the passage of something from one state to another; and the field of entry, exit, connection, and separation, which reveals relations of attachment and detachment between entities. The findings show that the morphological structure of weak verbs contributes actively to expanding the semantic scope of the verb, since augmented forms play a clear role in deepening and diversifying meaning according to context. The study also reveals the precision of the Quranic employment of these verbs in depicting movement and transformation in a manner that combines concision with semantic richness. The research concludes that weak verbs constitute a fundamental element in constructing the semantic fields associated with movement and transformation in the Quranic text, reflecting the depth of its semantic system and the precision of lexical choice in the Holy Quran.