ON THE DEPTH OF MEANING THAT THE QUR'ĀN ACRIBES TO TERMS: THE CASE OF FETĀ

Abstract

The Qur'ān, in the concepts it uses and the provisions it brings, taking into account the norms of the society in which it was revealed, conveyed its messages to humanity through them. By interfering with the events that developed in a period of twenty-three years, the understanding of life envisaged by Islam was gradually placed in the minds. The Qur'ān was downloaded in Arabic and used the concepts of the Arab society to which it was addressed. However, the Qur'ān uses some concepts, especially the words, Allah, Rab, etc. are used to place in minds the equivalent of religion, not the life style of the polytheistic society. Therefore, some concepts have undergone a process of change with the use of the Qur'ān and these meanings have settled in the minds over time. The concept of fetā, which expresses the young character with certain characteristics in the Arabs of the Jahiliyya period, has also changed with the use of the Qur'ān, negative features of the pre-Islamic period are excluded from this concept. Due to the change that the concept of fetā went through and its effect on social life, it also took on an institutional structure under the name of futuwwa in the post-prophecy period. In short, there are important differences between pre-Islamic and post-Islamic meanings and the messages that are intended to be given when fetā is said. In addition, the Qur'ān has added a new dimension to the concept by using this concept about distinguished people such as prophets. In our study, the concept of fetā has been examined in detail and its usage in pre-Islamic and Qur'ān has been compared. Based on the character traits of the fetā expressions in the Qur'ān and the personalities mentioned by these expressions, the change and breadth in the concept have been tried to be determined. In addition, it is understood that the use of this concept in the Qur'ān was in the second half of the Makkan period and in the time period close to the Hijra. In this direction, with the use of the related concept, it was emphasized which messages were given through the addressees of that day. Since it expresses youth in the most general sense, the concept of fetā was mentioned in the studies carried out in line with the Qur'ān and the main theme of youth, and it was also mentioned in studies on futuwwa. In our study, related studies were also used from time to time. However, in this article, in addition to the determination of the meanings of fetā and its derivatives, it has been tried to reveal the meanings meant by their use in the Qur'ān and their messages to the period in which they descended in context. We hope that our study will contribute to a better understanding of the meaning content of the related concept and the messages given by the Qur'ān by using this concept. Keywords: Qur'ān, Exegesis, Fetā, Makkī, Futuwwa.