The Extended Meaning of the Quran

The Quran is a universal book. Its message is an eternal one. As well as having a primary meaning, the verses of the Quran have an extended meaning. To understand this deeper meaning of the Quran, it is very important to understand this fact.

For example, there is a verse in the Quran about the dawn prayer (fajr): “… the recitation at dawn is indeed witnessed.” (17:78) This means that the time of the dawn prayer is a time of tranquillity and solitude. That is why the recitation at dawn is given special mention.

This verse can have the extended meaning that the believer should say the morning prayer at the appointed time, and then go to a park to walk, or go to a place where there is greenery of nature. In the morning there is an angelic environment at such a place. In such an environment, a person should look at the signs of God. He should recite the verses of the Quran. He has to discover God in His creation. One scenario is that after saying the morning prayer, people should go to such a place together where they remember God collectively in that natural environment and talk about God. They remember the perfection of God in scenes of nature. They endeavour to get spiritual food for themselves in an atmosphere of spirituality. This is remembrance at dawn, which is an extended form of recitation of the Quran at the fajr prayer. Such a course of action is actually a way to increase faith, whether individually or collectively.

This is true of each verse of the Quran. One meaning of a verse of the Quran is that which is known through its particular cause of revelation. This is the initial or primary meaning of the verse. In addition to this, each verse of the Quran has an extended meaning. By taking into account these extended meanings it will be possible for the faithful to keep discovering new meanings in the Quran.