The Waqf (Pause) and Its Impact on Meaning: “A Semantic and Applied Study of Selected Qur’anic Verses”

Abstract

The science of waqf (pausing) is among the most precise Qur’anic sciences, playing a crucial role in preserving meaning and regulating semantic interpretation due to its close connection with understanding the divine discourse and ensuring sound exegesis. This study aims to examine the impact of Qur’anic pausing on directing meaning through an applied analytical investigation of selected Qur’anic verses. It elucidates the relationship between waqf, syntactic structure (iʿrāb), and contextual coherence, and how pausing influences semantic variation or leads to the preference of certain exegetical interpretations over others. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology, offering a theoretical foundation for the concept of waqf in terms of its definition, classifications, and significance, with particular focus on optional pausing (al-waqf al-ikhtiyārī) and its four categories: complete, sufficient, good, and bad pausing. The applied analysis demonstrates that variation in pausing positions results in semantic multiplicity or the prioritization of specific meanings in accordance with the syntactic and semantic context of the verse. The study concludes that waqf constitutes an effective semantic component in the construction of Qur’anic meaning, and that careful consideration of grammar and context is essential for correct pausing. It further emphasizes the need to strengthen contemporary Qur’anic and semantic studies through integrative linguistic approaches.