The Concept of Girls’ “Wa’d” in the Quran and Pre-Islamic Culture

Subject Areas : -

فاطمه عظیمی ¹ , azam farjami ² , آذرتاش آذرنوش ³

1 - MD. Student in Quran and Hadith Studies, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor in Quran and Hadith Studies, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
3 - Professor Emirtus in Arabic Literature, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran.

Received: 2019-12-29 Accepted : 2020-03-03 Published : 2020-01-21

Keywords: Burial of the Girls, literary Commentary, Maw’udah, historical development of term, Arab Culture,

Abstract :

There is a difference of opinion about the interpretation and meaning of the Quranic interpretation of “Al-Maw’ud “. There are at least six different readings and interpretations for the word. The lexicographers referred to the three meanings of sound reflection on the earth, gravity, and covering. The derivation of the term from the three roots having the above-mentioned meanings for the Quranic meaning of a living girl buried  is a point of contention. For the first time, Mu’tazilite commentators in the fourth century referred to the meaning of “gravity”; and the weight of soil buried on the body of a buried girl. The method of performing the rituals and throwing the girls in two ways was to dig holes and to cover the child with dirt, or to throw the girls into wells and deep pits. Through the study of the interpretations of the Middle Ages and the study of the style of burying the girls among Arabs, we came to the conclusion that the concept of ‘Wa’d’ has nothing to do with gravity and is derived from the same basic concept of sound reflection on earth; Because the Arab, when buried the girl, threw her into a pit or well, which made her cry and her sound was echoed in the heart of the earth.