From Khilāfah to ʿAhd: A Qur’anic Model of Conceptual Transformation

Kerdari, Somayeh; Khoshmanesh, Abolfazl

doi:10.22034/jksl.2025.509371.1440

From Khilāfah to ʿAhd: A Qur’anic Model of Conceptual Transformation

Authors

Somayeh Kerdari ¹

Abolfazl Khoshmanesh ²

¹ PhD Candidate in Quranic and Hadith Studies, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

² Associate Professor of Quranic and Hadith Studies, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

10.22034/jksl.2025.509371.1440

Abstract

The Almighty God refers for the first time to the notion of khilāfah in Q 2:30 and to imāmah and the concept of ʿahd in Q 2:124. A transformative progression can be identified across Q 2:30–124: God characterizes the human being initially as “khalīfah,” then as “imām,” and ultimately associates this development with the term “ʿahd.” This ordering does not indicate chronological or spatial precedence; rather, it reflects ascending degrees of human existential and spiritual perfection. This study seeks to clarify the nature of this progression by examining classical and contemporary Qur’anic commentaries and by formulating a coherent model of the khilāfah-to-ʿahd transition. The research adopts a grounded-theory methodology and is applied in nature; the dataset consists of Q 2:30–124. Qualitative analysis and model extraction were carried out using Excel and MAXQDA. The core findings highlight two central points: first, that the concepts of khilāfah, imāmah, and ʿahd are presented in the Qur’an with precise linguistic and conceptual intentionality; and second, that the category of qawl serves as a fundamental analytical key for unpacking the proposed model. The significance of qawl becomes evident across several dialogues, including God’s address to Moses (ʿa), Moses’ exchanges with the Children of Israel, God’s discourse with the Jews and the angels, and finally, His speech with Adam (ʿa). The research identifies forty-two major thematic categories within this model, such as fidelity to the divine covenant, avoidance of hypocrisy and sectarian discord, reflection upon divine power, wisdom, and miracles, trust in God’s will and wisdom, patience and gratitude, and abstention from disbelief and disobedience.

Graphical Abstract

From Khilāfah to ʿAhd: A Qur’anic Model of Conceptual Transformation

Keywords

divine khilāfah

Qur&‌‌‌‌‌rsquo

anic dialogue patterns

qawl

ʿahd

Subjects

The Holy Qurān (trans. Muhammad-Mahdi Fooladwand).

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