The Secrets of the Quranic Lexicon: The Heritage of the Aramaic Language

Introduction

The Quran presents itself as a "clear Arabic recital," but for the historian and philologist, its text is a fascinating mirror of linguistic exchanges in Late Antiquity. One of the most significant contributions is undoubtedly that of Aramaic (and its liturgical variant, Syriac), which was the dominant cultural and religious language in the Near East at the time. Far from being merely "borrowings," these terms form the foundation of the religious terminology of early Islam.

1. The Pillars of Faith: Salāt and Zakāt

The terms designating prayer (ṣalāt) and almsgiving (zakāt) are among the most striking examples. Their very spelling in the Quranic text (written with the consonant wāw: ṣlwt and zkwt) is a direct calque from Judeo-Aramaic or Syriac spelling.

- Ṣalāt: Derived from the Syriac ṣlōtā (prayer). Pre-Islamic inscriptions in Yemen show that this word was already acclimated in Arabia at least two centuries before the Hijra.

- Zakāt: Comes from the Aramaic word zēkhūtā. While in classical Arabic the term came to denote the legal almsgiving, its Aramaic origin refers to the idea of merit, purity, or divine favor.

2. Naming the Book and Its Chapters

Even the most fundamental words for designating the sacred corpus seem to have Aramaic roots:

- Qur’ān (Quran): Most scholars agree that this term derives from the Syriac qeryānā, which designates a "scriptural lesson" or a lectionary (a collection of texts intended to be read during liturgical services).

- Sūra (Surah): Rather than deriving from an Arabic root meaning "row of bricks," this word might come from the Syriac surtā, meaning "writing" or "document."

3. Al-Raḥmān: A Divine Name from the North?

The name of God Al-Raḥmān ("the Beneficent" or "the Merciful") occupies a central place, being almost a proper name, much like Allah. However, philologists have noted that it is an ancient borrowing from the Aramaic Raḥmānā, used in the Talmud as an epithet of God. This term was already used by Christians and Jews in southern Arabia centuries before Muhammad.

4. A "Crossroads of Traditions"

The list is long: the word Injīl (Gospel) passed from Greek to Arabic via Syriac or Ethiopian; Furqān (the criterion) declines the Syriac purqāna (salvation, redemption); and Masjid (mosque) finds its ancestor in the Aramaic masged (place of prostration).

Conclusion

Why are these influences important? They prove that the Quran did not emerge in a cultural desert. It is set in a proto-Quranic multilingual milieu where Jewish and Christian concepts circulated freely. By reusing these Aramaic terms, the Quranic text gave itself an immediate legitimacy and authority with an audience already familiar with these religious categories. Understanding these roots means restoring the Quran to its place as a masterpiece of Late Antiquity, at the crossroads of the great civilizations of the written word.