Document Type : Research article
Authors
1 PhD Student in Persian Language and Literature, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, University of Tehran. Tehran. Iran.
Abstract
Highlights
Extended Abstract
Introduction
Qur’anic lexicography in Persian constitutes a valuable yet relatively less explored part of the Islamic scholarly heritage. This tradition not only served as an instrument for understanding and translating the Qur’an among Persian-speaking communities, but also provides a rich foundation for tracing the historical development of the Persian language, including its orthographic shifts, syntactic structures, and stylistic tendencies over different periods. Nuqūd al-Jumān fī ʿUqūd al-Turjumān is among the most prominent examples of this legacy, notable both for the date of its transcription and for the methodological approach of its author. In this work, the author adopted a pedagogical and explanatory perspective, systematically presenting Qur’anic words and expressions from the opening chapter (al-Fātiḥa) to the concluding chapter (al-Nās), accompanied by grammatical explanations and occasional exegetical remarks. The significance of the present study lies in the fact that, for the first time, one of the earliest extant manuscripts of this work—copied in 609 AH/1212 CE and preserved in the library of the Astan Quds in Mashhad—has been examined in detail. Beyond its antiquity, the manuscript is of considerable importance due to its particular orthographic features and numerous marginal notes, which together offer valuable insights into the intellectual and cultural milieu of medieval Khorasan.
Discussion
Internal evidence in the introduction and throughout the text suggests that the author lived in the late sixth and early seventh centuries AH. The manuscript also reveals that the book was written at the request of Abū Ṭāhir Sulaymān ibn Mujtabā ibn Murtaḍā for the education of his son, Ḥaydar. This clearly indicates that the work was not composed for a general audience, but rather within an educational and familial context, designed to serve the religious training of a younger generation. Other historical indicators—most notably certain lexical items that appear characteristic of Khorasani usage—suggest that the author likely belonged to the cultural sphere of Khorasan. In this light, Nuqūd al-Jumān emerges as an important link in the chain of Persian Qur’anic lexicons, with great potential for reconstructing the intellectual and linguistic history of its era.
2. Structure and Orthographic Features
The structure of the work follows the order of the Qur’anic chapters. Each entry typically includes a translation of a word or phrase, a brief grammatical or morphological explanation, and occasionally a citation of Arabic or Persian poetry or an exegetical note. Such an arrangement shows that the author intended the work to transcend the limits of a simple glossary, shaping it into a pedagogical and explanatory reference. Of special importance are the orthographic features of the manuscript, which display several characteristics of Middle Persian writing practices. These features, including diverse methods of representing certain letters and symbols, provide evidence of transitional phases in Persian orthography during the medieval period. The manuscript is thus not only significant for Qur’anic studies but also a key source for understanding the historical development of Persian script.
3. Grammatical and Phonological Dimensions
From a grammatical perspective, the text offers a wealth of material. The use of various verbal constructions, emphatic particles, and flexible approaches to word order reflect the syntactic norms of medieval Persian prose. Different ways of employing grammatical elements in sentences, as well as diverse methods of expressing numbers and quantification, present valuable evidence of the richness of the language at that time. On the phonological level, the manuscript contains indications of sound changes and variations in pronunciation that distinguish medieval Persian from its modern form. These data are particularly useful for reconstructing the historical phonology of Persian.
4. Lexical Precision and Scholarly Value
Lexically, the author’s precision in rendering meanings and capturing the functional nuances of Arabic verb forms is remarkable. He systematically translated the major Arabic verbal patterns—such as tafʿīl, mufāʿala, iftiʿāl, and tafāʿul—into Persian equivalents that also conveyed their syntactic functions. Verbs of reciprocity, for example, were rendered in ways that clearly expressed this sense in Persian. Likewise, verbs of proximity and temporal adverbs were translated with accuracy and creativity. This attention to detail made Nuqūd al-Jumān not only a tool for understanding the Qur’anic text but also a valuable repository for historical linguistics. Compared with other lexicons of its kind, the work occupies an intermediate position: on the one hand, it shares the conciseness typical of shorter glossaries, while on the other, it goes further by incorporating grammatical and syntactic analysis. The antiquity of the 609 AH manuscript enhances its value, bringing us closer to the linguistic and exegetical layers of the author’s own time.
5. Research Findings and Significance
The findings of this study demonstrate that Nuqūd al-Jumān is not merely a Qur’anic dictionary, but rather a multi-dimensional text of linguistic, stylistic, codicological, and pedagogical importance. The existence of such an early manuscript provides a sound basis for preparing a critical edition and for comparing it with other known copies, such as those in the Topkapi Palace. Moreover, the dialectal traces and regional vocabulary preserved in the work invite future research in historical dialectology and the mapping of vernacular lexicon across Persian texts. In this way, Nuqūd al-Jumān serves as a primary source for studying the interaction between Arabic and Persian, the evolution of Persian orthography, and the educational environment of Khorasan during the medieval period.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Nuqūd al-Jumān fī ʿUqūd al-Turjumān is a work that combines precise Qur’anic translation, grammatical insights, literary citations, and exegetical remarks, offering a vivid picture of linguistic scholarship and the intellectual climate of its time. The text demonstrates how Qur’anic lexicons could function simultaneously as pedagogical tools for understanding scripture and as enduring documents for linguistic and cultural studies. From this perspective, Nuqūd al-Jumān is of inestimable value not only for Qur’anic research but also for historical linguistics, stylistics of Persian prose, and the study of the evolution of Persian writing. A critical edition and renewed scholarly engagement with this work promise to open new horizons in both Qur’anic and Persian studies, revealing how a seemingly simple Qur’anic lexicon can serve as a window into the history of Iranian-Islamic culture and thought.
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