نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسنده English
Exegetes have enumerated various instances (maṣādīq) for the term “quwwah” (power) in the verse “Wa aʿiddū lahum mā istaṭaʿtum min quwwah” (Al-Anfāl, 60). Clarifying the instances of quwwah and its equivalent, “power,” in light of power theories—while adhering to the principles and foundations of exegesis (tafsīr)—can reveal diverse manifestations of quwwah, which would consequently lead to transformations in the political, defensive, scientific, cultural, social, and industrial policymaking of the Islamic ummah. The present study, aiming to identify the instances of quwwah, seeks to answer the following question: How do power theories influence the conceptual expansion of the term quwwah in verse 60 of Sūrah Al-Anfāl? To address this,
a combined methodology—encompassing semantics, comparative analysis, intra-Quranic exegesis (tafsīr
al-Qur’ān bi-l-Qur’ān), and interdisciplinary research—has been employed. The findings demonstrate that the semantic proximity between quwwah and “power” paves the way for utilizing power theories to elucidate and expand the instances of quwwah in the aforementioned verse. Furthermore, based on the contextual analysis (siyāq) of the verses, exegetes have cited diverse instances for quwwah, thereby opening the path for multiplicity in its interpretations within verse 60 of Sūrah Al-Anfāl. Additionally, the Holy Quran references instances of all three types of power—namely, hard power (e.g., executing punishment [Al-Mā’idah, 33]), soft power (e.g., unity and solidarity against enemies [Al-Ṣaff, 4]), and smart power (e.g., the combination of intellectual capability and physical strength in societal leadership and management [Al-Baqarah, 247], as well as the integration of jihad with wealth and lives [Al-Tawbah, 20])—across various verses. Consequently, the Quran employs diverse instances of power types—hard, soft, and smart—both horizontally and vertically. Divine intent entails mobilizing all forms of power, present and future; quwwah, as evidenced by Quranic verses and various segments of the mentioned verse, encompasses all instances of hard, soft, and smart power—and even transcends them. Accordingly, Muslims must continually enhance their preparedness across all domains necessary to confront enemies. Should adversaries employ any new form of power, it becomes incumbent upon believers to equip themselves with that new power. The objective of believers’ preparedness in all realms of power is not to deploy it in combat against enemies but to deter them and prevent them from harming Islam and Muslims. Moreover, the Quran, while emphasizing Muslims’ readiness in all instances of hard power, places particular focus on soft power—especially its spiritual dimensions—and consistently underscores the integration of both (with greater emphasis on soft power) and the attainment of smart power. In the language of power theories, and in the Quranic lexicon, this is articulated as the “power of faith” (quwwat al-īmān).
کلیدواژهها English
