Quran, Culture And Civilization

Quran, Culture And Civilization

An analysis of the structural and meaning-making functions of Quranic data in contemporary fiction (study of the works of Sadegh Hedayat, Jalal Al-Ahmad, and Reza Amirkhani)

Authors
1 PhD in Quran and Hadith Sciences, Department of Education, Kermanshah, Iran.
2 Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Literature, Faculty of Literature, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
10.22034/jksl.2025.554253.1527
Abstract
Contemporary Persian fiction, as a newly emerging literary form in both structure and content, differs significantly from traditional and classical literature. One of the most notable distinctions can be observed in the treatment of religious concepts and values. In certain works of modern fiction, religious principles are either marginalized or entirely neglected, and at times even subjected to criticism or opposition. Nevertheless, many other writings within this domain incorporate Qur’anic verses, meanings, and allusions that are deeply embedded within the artistic framework and even the technical structure of the narrative.

This study, employing a descriptive–analytical method, examines the role of Qur’anic data within the artistic structure and semantic texture of contemporary fictional works. To achieve this, the works of three prominent authors—each representing distinct intellectual and ideological orientations—are analyzed as central examples.

It may be concluded that the aesthetic interpretation and functional use of Qur’anic elements in contemporary fiction, despite certain intervals of decline, have followed a continuous and developmental trajectory. In the early phases of modern Persian storytelling, Qur’anic verses and concepts were presented in a direct and rather unrefined manner. However, in subsequent stages, numerous writers have engaged with the Qur’an in more intricate and creative ways, employing literary and narrative techniques to produce their own distinctive aesthetic and interpretive readings of the sacred text.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 05 January 2026

  • Receive Date 01 November 2025
  • Revise Date 10 December 2025
  • Accept Date 20 December 2025
  • Publish Date 05 January 2026