THE CONCEPT OF THE QURAN (PART 1)

 

CONCEPT

The word "concept" originally comes from the Latin word conseptum, which means something understood that has elements, components, and characteristics that can be given or named. In Arabic, this word is equivalent to mafhum (مفهوم), which refers to knowing or understanding something that exists, whether objectively or subjectively, whether tangible or existing in the idea.

Every concept must come from something that already exists or from a previously existing concept, and so on, until it reaches the eternal concept or ancient concept, or in theological terms, it originates from the Qadim, which comes from and exists outside human consciousness. This eternal concept is the beginning of everything that we can understand and think about.

So, in general, we can distinguish between two concepts: one that originates from and can be thought of by humans, and the final concept, which is the eternal (Qadim) concept that comes from and exists outside human consciousness.

The word Qadim simply means the oldest, the one that existed first or is available. Thus, there is the true Qadim or Eternal Qadim, which can be understood as something that has always been available, and the next Qadim, which originates from the Qadim that has already been available, often referred to in theological literature as Qadim Hadits. Therefore, we do not find in the Quran information about something coming from nothing or absolute emptiness.

If we borrow Aristotle's terms, then the form and relationship of the concept between Eternal Qadim and Qadim Hadits can be divided into four categories:

1. Material Concept: The substance or base material that has already existed as a foundation.
2. Formal Concept: The form or shape of something.
3. Efficient Concept: The explanation of how the formal concept is created and what devices are used as "agents".
4. Final Concept: The goal or objective that is intended to be reached or achieved.

This is what we must understand first before continuing the presentation of the Qur'anic concept. The purpose of this presentation is to build an "Islamic archaeology" so that we can understand how the past, present, and future are related through the Qur'anic concept.

All events after the Eternal Qadim, including the Qadim Hadits, are discussed. In Kalam Theology, the Qadim Hadits is divided into two types :

• Qadim Idhafi : The existence of something or an idea due to the continuation of what came before it. For example, the existence of a child is caused by the existence of the mother and father.
• Qadim Zamani : The existence of something limited by time, for example, the Pharaoh existed in the past, but no longer exists, or the present world will eventually disappear and be replaced by the afterlife.

"Continued"