Umum ifade eden nekiralar ve bunların Kur'an meallerine yansıması

The intricate structure of the Qur'an's language necessitates a profound mastery of Arabic linguistic sciences to properly understand its meaning. One of the key linguistic features in this regard is the function of indefinite nouns (nakirah) in expressing generality ('umūm). Classical Arabic grammar, tafsīr, and uṣūl al-fiqh literature all establish clear principles concerning this phenomenon. However, in the Turkish scholarly and translation tradition, only nakirahs in negative contexts are widely recognized as expressing generality, while other contexts such as prohibition, interrogation, conditionality, and contexts that inherently require generality are often overlooked. This study analyzes the contextual use of nakirah nouns in the Qur'an, focusing on their semantic scope in various grammatical environments. It investigates how these general meanings are reflected—or not—in 48 Turkish translations listed on kuranmeali.com, comparing each instance closely. The findings reveal a consistent pattern: many general expressions in the Arabic original are rendered in a limited or narrowed form in Turkish, which weakens the semantic richness and directive power of the divine speech. The study emphasizes that understanding nakirah is not merely a linguistic concern but a critical element in constructing meaning in translation. Therefore, it calls for a renewed approach to translation grounded in classical linguistic tools, contextual awareness, and a careful reading of the Qur'anic text. Keywords: Arabic Linguistics and Rhetoric, İndefinite noun, Generality ('umūm), Semantic implication, İnterpretive translation of the Qur'an