ملیکا بایگانیان

A sole focus on lexical discussions and dictionary meanings results in an incomplete and superficial understanding of Qur’anic vocabulary. One of the most important and effective ways to better comprehend Qur’anic terms is functional analysis, examining the roles words played within the socio-cultural context of early Islam. Despite the importance of considering functional dimensions in identifying the meanings of Qur’anic vocabulary, this aspect has received limited attention in lexical studies. Accordingly, the present study investigates the applicability of functional analysis in Qur’anic lexicology through a case study of one of the most frequently occurring roots in the Qur’an: Faḍl . Using semantic analysis, the findings demonstrate that the root Faḍl in the Qur’an does not merely mean "Bounty" or "Increase." Rather, as a dynamic concept, it performs a multidimensional role in addressing the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral gaps of the Qur’an’s earliest audience, as well as later audiences, while shaping a new discourse concerning the relationship between human beings and God and their ethical and social interactions