The content of surah Fussilat in terms of faith, morality and the hereafter, and the effects of qiraat (Quran recitation) differences on tafsir

This study aims to analyze the theological, ethical, and eschatological content of Sūrat Fuṣṣilat and to examine the impact of qirāʾāt (variant readings) on the understanding of this content. As one of the thematically rich chapters of the Qur'ān, Sūrat Fuṣṣilat emphasizes essential beliefs such as tawḥīd (divine unity), prophethood, and the Hereafter, while also highlighting individual responsibility, moral consciousness, and eschatological awareness. The study adopts a descriptive method and draws upon both classical tafsīr and qirāʾāt sources as well as contemporary literature in a multi-dimensional approach. The thesis consists of two main chapters. The first chapter presents an overview of the discipline of tafsīr, its definition, subject matter, and historical development, along with a general introduction to the science of qirāʾāt and major qirāʾa scholars. The second chapter addresses the characteristics of Sūrat Fuṣṣilat, its causes of revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), its names, and its virtues. Subsequently, the sūrah's theological, ethical, and eschatological dimensions are examined under four main headings. The analysis concludes by highlighting examples of qirāʾāt differences that contribute to a deeper understanding of the sūrah's message. As a result, the study finds that Sūrat Fuṣṣilat offers a holistic message that builds belief, ethics, and eschatological awareness in the individual, and that qirāʾāt variations enrich this message by adding deeper layers of meaning.