The Concept of Sultan in the Holy Qur’an: A Study of Contexts and Interpretive Dimensions

Abstract

The topic of “The Concept of Sultan in the Holy Qur’an: A Study of Contexts and Interpretive Dimensions” is among the Qur’anic topics that merit thorough study and investigation to clarify the term "sultan" as a Qur’anic concept, in both its general and specific meanings, as well as its contextual usage throughout various Qur’anic verses. Upon examining the interpretations of classical and modern exegetists, one notices significant variation in the interpretation of the word "sultan", primarily due to the linguistic and contextual variances in its occurrences within the Qur’an. As this variation is evident in the linguistic domain, its impact on the terminological understanding of the word is also clear, as the exegetical context plays a vital role in revealing the meanings of Qur’anic terminology. This study seeks to define the meaning of "sultan" based on its placement within different Qur’anic verses according to its contexts and interpretive dimensions with reference to Arabic lexicons and classical Qur’anic interpretations. The study adopts both a descriptive and an inductive analytical approaches. The key findings are as follows:

• The word "sultan" in the Qur’an carries a general meaning that includes: authority, sovereignty, power, and dominion—along with the connotations of proof, evidence, and argument.
• The specific meaning of "sultan" in the Qur’an refers to a person who possesses legitimate executive authority within the governance of the state, whether that authority is exercised justly or otherwise.
• The term "sultan" assumes eight distinct meanings in the Qur’an depending on its exegetical contexts which are proof and argument, authority and governance, evidence, power and might, monarchy, miracle, knowledge, and justification or excuse.