Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

The term “Essence of Scripture” has been used in three verses of the Holy Qur’an. Differing views have been articulated with regard to this term, and there seems to be no global consensus on the issue. Some consider the three occurrences of this term to be the same and in line with the Guarded Tablet. Others see differences among the three uses of this term. It seems that we should differentiate between the three uses, while we take all three into account. Focusing on the style of these verses, we can arrive at the conclusion that this term refers to different things in differing situations. Hence, we may claim that this term has a relative meaning in Quranic verses and in different contexts conveys distinct senses; for instance, in one verse it refers to a part of the book revealed to the holy Prophet (PBUH), in another to the origin of legislative affairs and in the third verse to the source of formative issues. All three uses of this term share a common meaning component: connection to divine source and revelation.

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