Semantic Nuances of Marad, Saqam, and ‘alam in the Quran: A Linguistic and Thematic Analysis

Abstract

The study of disease-related terms in the Quran is essential to understanding expressions that appear synonymous yet carry distinct meanings. The terms marad, saqam, and ‘alam are commonly translated as “illness,” but their Quranic usage reveals diverse semantic layers depending on verse context. This study examines four aspects: (i) The meaning and distribution of marad, saqam, and ‘alam. (ii) Marad as a manifestation of physical affliction and moral deviation. (iii) Saqam as a symbol of bodily weakness and human trial and (iv) ‘alam as emotional and spiritual suffering. Using semantic analysis and synonym comparison based on classical Arabic sources and Quranic exegesis, the findings show that marad includes both physical and spiritual connotations, saqam refers to bodily illness, and ‘alam to deeper pain, including eschatological suffering. The study highlights that these terms are not mere synonyms, but function semantically to convey layered divine messages.