Figurative meaning of cardinal numbers in Quran

Authors
H. khalaf 1
R. balavi 2
R. balavi 2
1 Mashhad Ferdowsi University
2 Persian Gulf University
Abstract
Religious scientists opinion about the numbers meaning in Quran is different. Some of them including Shahab-o-ddin Ebne Edris reject that the numbers shall go out of their main original meaning and shall be applied in their virtual meaning and some others agree that some numbers like seven, seventy, and thousands are indicative of figurative meanings and say about them: the meaning of these numbers is to exaggerate and express the plurality and not quantity determination.

In this research, we tried to support the second theory and say about figurative and allusive meaning of some cardinal numbers which are applied in Quran in the meaning of exaggeration and expression of plurality. Hence, we searched its various evidences and then we found that some verses which the numbers seven, ten, seventy, seven hundred, thousand and fifty thousand are applied in, the intention of them is not the real meaning of those numbers, but the intention is to express the plurality and exaggeration, because if the intention (of these numbers) is their real meaning, some contradiction will be seen in some of them. In this study, we dealt with studying these numbers in Quran verses relying on descriptive-analytical method.

Keywords

Subjects

1.The Holy Quran
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The Journal of Research in Humanities
Volume 23, Issue 2
January 2017
Pages 15-26