Names divided into cosmic and sharia (legal) in the Holy Qur'an: A Collection and a Study.

Abstract

This study examines the concept of designations (al-musammayāt) in the Holy Qur’an by collecting and analyzing them within the framework of their division into universal (kawniyyah) and legislative (shar‘iyyah) categories, highlighting the essential distinctions between the two and their impact on understanding and applying the Qur’anic text. The research aims to clarify the difference between universal and legislative designations, explore the implications of this distinction for the believer’s comprehension of Qur’anic discourse, and determine the responsibilities that arise after such knowledge. The study adopts an inductive, analytical, and comparative methodology. The findings reveal that universal designations are synonymous with divine will and encompass everything that God decrees and creates in the universe, whether good or evil, beloved to Him or not, and they inevitably occur. In contrast, legislative designations are synonymous with divine love and approval, encompassing what God commands and legislates for His servants, whether by enjoining what He loves and approves or forbidding what He dislikes, and they may or may not occur—yet when they do, they fall within the scope of universal designations. The study further concludes that certain Qur’anic designations may simultaneously convey both universal and legislative meanings, reflecting the depth and comprehensiveness of Qur’anic expression.