The Meanings of “Ma” in Surah Al-Ankabut (A Semantic Analytical Study)

Abstract

This study aims to examine the word “Ma” in the Holy Qur’an, focusing on its occurrences in Surah Al-Ankabut from a semantic perspective. The study stems from the problem of the multifunctionality of this word and the variation of its meanings depending on the grammatical, syntactic, and rhetorical context, as its usage is not limited to interrogation or negation as commonly understood but varies among relative (mawsulah), negative (nafiyah), restrictive/preventive (kaffah), infinitive (masdariyyah), and other semantic functions. The study adopted a qualitative descriptive-analytical method by collecting data through library research, referencing the Qur’anic text, authoritative books of tafsir, and relevant linguistic references, followed by a contextual semantic analysis. The study concluded that the word “ma” occurred thirty-two times in the Surah, distributed across four main types, with notable diversity in its semantic implications, such as specification, emphasis, generalization, refutation, restriction, and indication of falsehood. The results showed that “ma” is not merely a grammatical tool but an effective semantic element that contributes to constructing and directing Qur’anic meaning, reflecting the precision of lexical choice in the Qur’anic text. This study enhances the semantic understanding of the verses and expands the analysis of multifunctional words in Qur’anic studies.